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Minwax Polycrylic combines the hardness of polyurethane and acrylic to create a super durable finish. Application doesn’t get any easier than pressing a button on a spray can, and this water-based product dries so quickly that multiple coats can be applied in a single day.

Unlike some spray products, Polycrylic is rated only for interior use. Still, it’s one of the most popular and highly rated polyurethane sprays on the market. It’s also available in cans for brush applications. It comes in gloss, semi-gloss and satin finishes.

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Minwax Polyshades is a solvent-based polyurethane with various wood-tone tints. That allows you to adjust the color of your interior woodwork at the same time as you apply a protective coating.

This will never take the place of two-step staining and top-coating for wood finishing purists, because when the finish wears off, the color goes with it. However, it’s a great option for anyone with a lot of interior woodwork to stain without a lot of time to do it.

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TotalBoat Gleam 2.0 Marine Spar Varnish combines the hardness of polyurethane with the rich luster of tung oil and other additives. It gives a maximum protection coating for boat decks, railings and other above-the-waterline components.

Its high resistance to salt air and prolonged moisture exposure make it a desirable finish for all residential exterior woodwork in coastal communities. If you want a satin-sheen finish with maximum endurance, the manufacturer recommends applying undercoats of gloss and topping off with a final coat of satin.

What to Consider When Buying Polyurethane

Choosing the best polyurethane for a particular project involves the following considerations:

  • Use: Indoors, it’s good on furniture, woodwork and wood floors, or as a protective coating over a layer of paint. Outdoors, you’ll find it on woodwork, furniture, decks and railings.
  • Water- or solvent-based: Water-based finishes tend to have a more plastic-like appearance. Solvent-based products have more time to flow out before drying, creating a smoother finish. Solvent-based products tend to turn slightly amber after application, but water-based products don’t.
  • Drying time: Water-based products tend to dry to the touch faster than solvent-based products, so you can apply more coats in a day. Curing time runs three to five days for most products.
  • Sheen: Water- and solvent-based products come in a variety of sheens, including gloss, semi-gloss, satin and matte. Gloss finishes are more reflective and, hence more noticeable. They’re also a little harder.
  • Wipe-on, brush-on or spray-on: Wipe-on polyurethane products go on contoured surfaces (think turned chair legs), while brush-on polyurethane is generally for flat surfaces. Spray-on products work for both and guarantee stroke-free finishes but are usually more expensive. “With proper preparation and technique, applying polyurethane is straightforward,” says Palla. “Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use quality brushes or applicators for the best results.”
  • Interior or exterior: Never use an indoor product outdoors. It lacks the extra sun-blocking solids, wears off in a year or two and does little to protect the wood.

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