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Customer Reviews for Varathane 1 qt. Clear Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Internet #100169146

Model #200241H

Store SKU #420301

  • Easy to apply superior poly protection for interior wood surfaces
  • Self leveling, smooth clear finish with max top coat durability
  • Fast dry, durable formula covers up to 125 sq. ft. per quart

Customer Reviews

  • 4.5
    out of 2,961 reviews
  • 84% recommend this product
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Showing 1-30 of 2,961 reviews
Works great. Easy to apply.
Really surprised at how easy it was to work with. Applies evenly. Dries quick. Applied 2 coats. Waited about 2 hours in between. Was dry to touch after 2 more hours. Then fully dried overnight. It kept the original color of the wood. Maybe a slight shade darker, but barely noticeable.
by
    • Recommended
    I loved the Polyurethane! It made my project look great. And it’s durable!
    by
    • Verified Purchase
    Very smooth
    I used the Matte poly on a new, bare, pine table top. Stained with Varathane carbon grey. I used 9 coats. Very little sanding with 2000 grit between the first 3 coats and then no sanding with the other 6. I final buff at completion. I let it cure for 6 weeks. It’s so smooth it looks like Formica. It dries fast! Easy to apply with a foam brush.
    by
      • Recommended
      3 found this review helpful
      yes
      Great! We used this to seal our bucher block and it woked great!
      by
        • Recommended
        delivery problem
        I can’t speak to the quality of the product, but the packing was apparently insufficient since the box arrived leaking on my porch.
        by
        Response from Rust-OleumSupportFeb 19, 2024
        Oh no this is never what we expect to hear. For issues regarding shipping we ask you reach Home Depot directly at (800) 466-3337, and they would be more than happy to assist you further.
        -Rust-Oleum Product Support 14 Rustoleum
          • Recommended
          Spray with Caution
          I tried to spray this product with an airless sprayer, but it was way too heavy and wasted a lot of product. I switched to an HVLP gravity feed sprayer. You do need to spray closer to the wood than with other paints. Turned out better after switching to that method.
          by
            • Recommended
            Amazing finish
            I refinished a desk from the 1950’s. This was the finishing touch. I had never used it before and 2 coats was enough. Super easy to use and finish looks amazing
            by
              • Recommended
              great product
              This is my go-to varnish for my furniture painting business. Only complaint is that my closest store no longer carries it (because they're switching to another brand ONLY) and I have to travel a distance to get it or have it delivered.
              by
                • Recommended
                Great product for sealing painted furniture!
                by
                • Verified Purchase
                2 found this review helpful
                We used this as a finish coat for painting our half bath floor tiles. A top coat wasn’t suggested to us, but once we finished painting, it was obvious we needed it. A quick google search suggested a water based polyurethane top coat. This was perfect. It was pretty easy to use. I would suggest however, if you need to “touch up” a spot, that you just do an entire extra layer. We have one square of tile w an extra coat and you can see it from certain light angles It dried quickly, it’s holding up great and it’s really what we needed to complete the project . It feels sturdy, like it will last a long time. The Matte is perfect
                by
                • Verified Purchase
                1 found this review helpful
                Quick and easy, nice looking and durable finish
                Used for dining room table. Tried spray oil based first which was bad; sputtered a lot. Sanded off worst of sputter blobs and then used this water based stain with a brush. It was easy to apply & dried fast. Put on about 7 coats; have been using the table w/ no apparent scratches or wear so far. Some coats I didn't apply uniformly and you could see different sheens, but was easily fixed by just applying another coat. So really you only need to get the last coat right.
                by
                  • Recommended
                  2 found this review helpful
                  Excellent, smooth finish. Always dependable....
                  Excellent, smooth finish. Always dependable.
                  by
                  • Verified Purchase
                  Quick and Glossy
                  I tried out the Clear Semi-Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane, and it's pretty awesome. This stuff gives a nice glossy finish to my wood projects without the hassle of oil-based products. It's water-based, so clean-up is a breeze, and it dries super fast too. The only downside is that it can be a bit thin, so you might need to apply a few coats for a really smooth finish. For the convenience and quick drying time, I'm willing to overlook that. It's a solid choice for my interior woodwork.
                  by
                    • Recommended
                    Nice finish
                    [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have been painting some of my older furniture to update my decor. This is the first time I have used a polyurethane to “finish” the look and protect the finish. I love this crystal clear satin finish. Very low odor and dryer clear and very easy to apply (I used foam brush). I worried when I opened it and it was white but it helps to let you know you have it all covered. It goes on white but dry fast and clear. Will buy more.
                    by
                      • Recommended
                      Smooth, beautiful finish!
                      [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I’ve used lots of clear coat finishes….and this one is one of my favorites to date! It’s very durable, dries fast, and leaves a smooth finish. It goes on white and dries clear. I love the satin look, and I’ve found that this finish is super easy application. It’s thick, but spreads like butter!
                      by
                        • Recommended
                        So far so good
                        So far it looks okay. Waiting to see how well it holds up. However, i needed more 1 gal product and no stores carry it and it will take a week to get it. That's just not acceptable.
                        by
                        Response from Rust-OleumSupportApr 17, 2023
                        Thank you for reaching out! We appreciate you sharing your experinece with Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane!
                        - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3 Rustoleum
                        • Verified Purchase
                        Will continue to use this product.
                        [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Varathane polyurethane product has served us well with application on multiple pieces both new and restored. We have been using it for years with great results, either applied by brush or with a microfiber cloth. It goes on easy, and with a light sanding between coats using 0000 steel wool, the finish is both attractive and smooth to the touch. I recommend this product for all your finishing needs. It works, and the finish lasts.
                        by
                          • Recommended
                          Varathane Polyurethane
                          [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Varathane Polyurathane water based is as good as the oil based. And it cleans up so much faster and easier than the oil based. My project came out perfect. It was so easy to use with a brush. Spread so even and looks like glass when I was done. It's the first time I used this product but it will definitely be my go to poly from here on out. Thank you for such a great product
                          by
                            • Recommended
                            Dries fast to touch
                            refinished countertops with granite-look contact paper. Used water-based gloss polyurethane to seal the seams, for added durability/protection and the keep glossy look of the contact paper. I also coated peel-and-stivk PVC tile used as kitchen backsplash. Again to seal the seams, for added protection and to extend durability. The backsplash tile was slightly textured, which minimized the gloss, which was good. I usually also add a coat to spray-painted wallplates to help the spray-paint last.
                            by
                              • Recommended
                              2 found this review helpful
                              Works easy, looks great!
                              Applies easily and dries smoothly with multiple coats and light sanding between. Looks AMAZING!
                              by
                              • Verified Purchase
                              • Recommended
                              1 found this review helpful
                              Worked perfectly. Sanded, cleaned, 1st coat, lightly sanded, cleaned, 2nd...
                              Worked perfectly. Sanded, cleaned, 1st coat, lightly sanded, cleaned, 2nd coat, lightly sanded, cleaned, final coat, light polish. Beautiful on the red oak library ladder!
                              by
                              • Verified Purchase
                              1 found this review helpful
                              Excellent poly. Dries super fast and looks awesome. ...
                              Excellent poly. Dries super fast and looks awesome. Use this on most of my “indoor” projects!
                              by
                              • Verified Purchase
                              1 found this review helpful
                              Worked perfectly forgot I needed
                              I needed to refinish a dining room table and a butcher block countertop with a resilient finish, protective wood from scratches and hot items. I did a lot of research and decided not to pay attention to negative reviews because it sounded like the problems came from user error. This product is perfect. It is easy to apply with a high-quality, synthetic, bristle brush, it dries very fast. The finish strong and smooth and beautiful. Just remember to stir frequently when applying.
                              by
                                • Recommended
                                1 found this review helpful
                                gloss finish
                                I needed a high gloss finish on a table I was repurposing. I knew I needed multiple coats. The water based Varathane worked well
                                by
                                • Verified Purchase
                                • Recommended
                                NOT Scratch resistant, very soft
                                I followed the instructions on the can to the letter. I applied three coats, with ample drying time (4 hours between coats). Then I applied 2 more coats, sanding before each. Then I let it dry for three days to cure before normal use. So far it has been soft to the touch, scratched by my fingernail and soft, blunt, plastic objects, and gouged by my cat. Very unhappy with this finish.
                                by
                                Response from Rust-OleumSupportSep 12, 2022
                                Let's talk about this, Jamie! While Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane does fully dry after 3 days in ideal conditions, a complete cure can take up to 7 days. Once fully cured, the coating will have reached full hardness. We recommend avoiding scratching the surface before that point.
                                - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3 Rustoleum
                                  4 found this review helpful
                                  Perfection
                                  I sanded and stained a wine barrel lid. I didn’t want shiny, glossy, or even a hint of satin but I did need to protect it from water marks. This was going to be a table top on a pool house. This made the wood look so natural and raw. No sheen whatsoever. It dries fast and had practically no odor. Love this stuff!!!!
                                  by
                                    • Recommended
                                    1 found this review helpful
                                    Not good!
                                    Turned all the bits of grain on my project yellow. Totally destroyed my fireplace mantle
                                    by
                                    Response from Rust-OleumSupportAug 15, 2022
                                    We need to know more to get to the bottom of this, Tyler. Varathane Water Based Polyurethane dries to a crystal clear finish when applied as directed on the label. Give us a call at 800-901-0411, so we can hear more about your application and try to make things right.
                                    - Rust-Oleum Product Support 6 Rustoleum
                                    • Verified Purchase
                                    1 found this review helpful
                                    Best Water Based Poly!
                                    Great product! Goes on very smooth, dries fast! Nice clear finish that doesn't detract from the natural look and feel of the wood. Only downside is that I can't seem to find it in a gallon sized can!
                                    by
                                    • Verified Purchase
                                    Do not use over paint or over white surface
                                    This has turned my white painted floor yellow since first painted July 2021. It wasn't too bad because the bright white became a cream with the poly added. But overtime it has turned yellow with obvious large patches of yellowing where it settled-NOT self leveling over wood. Luckily the bathroom is small. But I will need to sand this off and repaint.
                                    by
                                    Response from Rust-OleumSupportJul 19, 2022
                                    That is not what we like to hear! While our Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane should not be applied to floors, it should not yellow unless applied too heavily, or exposed to sunlight. If the polyurethane is allowed to pool in uneven sections of the flooring, these thicker areas may yellow. For the best results, apply multiple thin, even coats. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 2 Rustoleum
                                      1 found this review helpful
                                      Soft and Scratches Easily
                                      Feels like soft plastic, and scratches very easily. Gently rubbing a fingernail on it to test the surface hardness, and it scrapes right off without much effort. Other objects resting on the table left deep marks. Very disappointed.
                                      by
                                        Showing 1-30 of 2,961 reviews

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