I've done the spray bottle trick too—thought I was the only one! But honestly, I've had decent luck with oil-based poly if I plan ahead. Did a client's living room once, and yeah, drying took forever, but the depth of color was worth it...mostly.
Haha, the spray bottle trick—I thought I was a genius until my neighbor caught me spritzing my floors like they were houseplants. Awkward moment. But yeah, oil-based poly does give that deep, rich finish that's hard to beat. I did our dining room once and spent two days tiptoeing around like a ninja trying not to disturb the drying process. Worth it? Mostly...until the dog decided to chase a squirrel across it on day three. Lesson learned: squirrels and shiny floors don't mix.
Haha, pets and freshly finished floors...been there. If you're looking for something easier to maintain, try a water-based poly next time. It dries faster, smells less intense, and touch-ups aren't as stressful. You won't get quite the same amber glow, but honestly, the convenience factor is huge—especially if squirrels and dogs are regular visitors at your place.
Water-based poly is definitely easier, but honestly, I miss the warmth of oil-based finishes. Had water-based in my last place—practical, sure, but it always felt a bit...flat? Guess it depends how much that amber glow matters to you.
"Had water-based in my last place—practical, sure, but it always felt a bit...flat?"
Yeah, I get what you're saying about the warmth of oil-based finishes—I used to swear by them myself. But after restoring my old Victorian, I've actually come around to appreciating water-based poly more. Hear me out: the floors here were original oak from around 1890, and initially, I was dead set on oil-based for that traditional amber glow. But then I saw a neighbor's place where they'd gone water-based, and honestly, the lighter finish let the natural grain stand out beautifully. It felt authentic in its own way—not flat at all.
I think sometimes we associate warmth with tradition because it's what we're used to seeing in older homes. But maybe warmth can also come from highlighting the wood's natural character without adding too much tint? Anyway, just another perspective—every home has its quirks and every homeowner their preference.
