Polyurethane is widely used for making wood floors and furniture looks shiny. You can use polyurethane in almost all wood surfaces. Did it ever happen like you have stained your wood project perfectly, but suddenly you noticed you have bubbles on the surface?
However, it’s a common scenario to get bubbles on the wood project if they are not stained properly. Probably now you are looking for a solution on how to fix polyurethane mistakes, and gladly you will find the solution here.
In this article, we will give simple steps that you can utilize to get rid of polyurethane mistakes. Besides, we will give you the top 5 tips that will help you avoid making polyurethane mistakes.
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Things you will need to fix polyurethane mistakes
Don’t worry or get afraid if you see some polyurethane mistake appearing on the surface where you have applied it. It’s a very common scene when you are new to applying polyurethane on the floor. There are a few steps that you can follow to get rid of the mistakes, but first, you will need to grab these below items:
- Fine-grit sandpaper.
- Brush.
- Clothes.
- Polyurethane.
How to fix polyurethane mistakes?
It’s polyurethane that makes your wood projects look shiny and protects them from scratches for a long time. As polyurethane is famous for making furniture and floors looking shiny, mistakes in polyurethane are popular too. And the popular polyurethane mistake is to find traces of bubbles on the surface.
Once you have gathered all the above things, you need to follow the below steps to get rid of polyurethane mistakes:
- Step 1: First, you need to detect the uneven area or where the bubbles are formed. However, if you pop the bubbles while applying polyurethane and let it dry naturally, you can avoid this mistake in the first place. Use fine-grit sandpaper and try not to sand too harshly unless you want to remove the full coating. So you need to keep in mind that you are trying to remove the bubbles and make the surface finish even.
- Step 2: Now the next step is to clean the area where you have sanded. However, if you don’t have a vacuum, use a clean cloth first to remove dust and debris before cleaning with a broom. It will help you to clean the area more neatly, then mop the surface to double cleaning. Also, it’s a necessary step to get a clean and beautiful finishing.
- Step 3: The last step is to re-apply a polyurethane coat again on the sanded area. Make sure you apply thin layers of coatings by using a brush. The brush has to be lint-free; otherwise, it will ruin the coatings again. Now let the layer of polyurethane dry properly; do not use a fan to fasten the drying process.
Now check if the layer you have applied is too thick or not. If you see the new coat is too thick, then re-sand the area again to even the surface. But if the layer is too thin, then don’t be afraid to apply another coat. In a word, you need to make the floor or furniture even.
- Suggested >> Can You Paint Over Polyurethane?
Check out this video to know more about – How to Fix Poly. Mistakes:
Our 5 Tips to Avoid Polyurethane Mistakes
If you follow some tips while applying polyurethane on the wood floor or home furniture, then the chances of getting bubbles will decrease. Here are the top 5 tips that you should do to avoid mistakes in polyurethane:
- Always sand the floor before applying polyurethane and sand the floor again in between each coating.
- Mix the polyurethane liquid properly by using a stirring stick to remove bubbles from the liquid. Do not shake the polyurethane bottle to mix the liquid.
- Give your wood surface a neat clean before applying each coat; it will help you to get perfect finishing.
- Give your wood surface enough time, if possible more time than the label says to dry the surface after applying the coatings.
- Do not use any incompatible products and use enough coats to get a smooth and perfect finish.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Can you touch up polyurethane?
Yes, there is a way to touch up polyurethane before it dries. Generally, water-based polyurethane requires more touch up than oil-based ones. Dab the area lightly where you need to make the surface even and let it completely dry. If you still have some unevenness after it dries, use 0000 steel wool to get rid of the patch, then re-apply the second coat.
Can you put polyurethane over old polyurethane?
Yes, you can put polyurethane over the old polyurethane. But there are some conditions. You can do it only if your previous coating’s finish is completely even and smooth. Another condition is your wood surface’s current condition. If the surface condition is bad, then you will have to remove the old layer of polyurethane.
Is it better to spray or brush polyurethane to reduce the chances of bubbles?
Among these two applicators, a spray is a great option for getting a smooth finish on the surface without getting any bubbles. Even spraying can create a more precise and even coat than a brush. Also, there are many polyurethane available that come in a spraying container.
Why is your polyurethane rough?
Let us get it straight to you; if you apply polyurethane on a rough area, your polyurethane coatings will be rough. So before you apply polyurethane on the surface, make sure you give the surface a real clean. Use a damp cloth, and it will help you to get a neat and clean surface without any kind of dust.
Conclusion
So here is the solution of how to fix polyurethane mistakes in simple steps. Though it requires plenty of time, you surely will be able to get a satisfying result. However, no need to hurry the process as it will only create bad finishing.
That’s why you should start working with polyurethane on your desired area only when you have enough time. You can also split the work by applying one coat each day, and it will make the job lengthy but easier. Hope these steps of fixing polyurethane mistakes were helpful enough.