At Hardware On The Square, the best hardware store in San Augustine, the question of the day is Spar Varnish vs. Polyurethane. We have a great selection of wood finish. The brand we carry is Varathane, which is made by Rustoleum. There are so many different products, and people are always confused about which product will work best for their project.

Craftsman Hand Painting Brown Color On Wooden Table

Joe and Buster have been working on projects together for over forty years. They have made mistakes and learned from them. They have had success and have made note of those moments too.

In this video, Joe and Buster talk about the differences in wood finish products. “Should I use Spar Varnish or Polyurethane?” Joe and Buster give a simple explanation that should make this choice as clear as the finish you want to use!

San Augustine Hardware | Hardware On The Square | Spar Varnish vs Polyurethane

At Hardware On The Square, the best hardware store in San Augustine, we keep a good supply of wood finish. We are here to help you make a great decision that will make your project turn out just right.

There are some things to keep in mind when choosing the right finish! Many of our customers come in and want a finish and stain in one can. These types of products are available, but we do not keep them at our hardware store. I do not stock this all-in-one product for one simple reason: it does not work as I think it should. The stain in this all-in-one product does not penetrate the wood; therefore, it leads to faster failure. It will look good right away, and it is faster; but it will fail very quickly, and it is much harder to refinish later.

Here are the things to keep in mind when choosing between Spar Varnish vs. Polyurethane:

    • Is this a new project or a refinish?
    • If it is a new project, you can use either oil or water-based products. It is your choice.
    • If it is a refinish, you need to know if the old finish is oil or water based and keep using the same thing.
    • Is the project going to be indoors our outdoors?
    • What type of finish do I want?
    • Gloss
    • Semi-gloss
    • Satin
    • Flat

Keeping these things in mind when you go to purchase your finish will help you make a better decision. For Rustoleum’s Complete Wood Finishing Guide, go to this site.

Visit Us At Hardware On The Square!

Because we want to you help you with your projects, we are always here to offer good advice at Hardware On The Square.  If you are having a hard time, you can call us at (936) 275-9474, or come in for a visit. You can see these products that we mention in this post in our store, or we even have a super online store you can visit at HardwareOnTheSquare.com. If you would like to leave us an e-mail, go to https://hardwareonthesquare.com/contact-us/.

I hope you visit us to see our great selection of lumber and other hardware items. We also have the best coffee shop in San Augustine as well as the top-rated pizza in town. Come visit us and enjoy the experience of an old-fashioned hardware store in the “Cradle of Texas!”