Blog · Stains & Finishes
PolyWhey® Natural Floor Finish
PolyWhey Floor finish is an evolved clear coating that uses recycled whey protein to make a durable and safe sealer and topcoat in one.
By David Brannan · Published February 11, 2015 · Updated August 2, 2026 · 3 min read
- 500+ Google Reviews
- Featured on TV Multiple Times
- 25 Years in Business
Description:
PolyWhey Floor finish is an evolved clear coating that uses recycled whey protein to make a durable and safe sealer and topcoat in one. Available in semi-gloss, satin, and matte finishes in quarts, gallons, and five gallon pails.
Where to apply
Use PolyWhey Floor on new bare wood flooring or previously stained or coated wood floors.
Features
- Durable coating seals and protects
- Coverage of 500-600 sq. ft. per gallon
- VOCs less than 180 g/L
- Scratch and chemical resistant
- Can be applied over oil-based stain or finish, as well as other waterborne finishes
- Non-yellowing
- Clear finish for maximum visibility of wood grain
- Easy, single product application
- Dry time under 2 hours
- Neutral odor
- Fast, easy cleanup with soap and water
- Made from a renewable resource
Want to See These Finishes on Your Own Floor?
We bring real stain and finish samples to every free estimate, so you can see the look before committing to it.
Where PolyWhey Fits Today
PolyWhey was one of the earlier plant-based finish systems we carried, and the idea behind it — a durable, lower-odor topcoat that does not sacrifice protection — is exactly what drove our finish lineup forward since. Today we carry Bona's full water-based system (Traffic HD, Mega Clear HD, and Traffic Naturale) for homeowners who want that same low-odor, non-yellowing result with a commercial-grade wear rating behind it.
The dry-time-vs-cure-time distinction that made PolyWhey attractive still matters with any finish you choose. A floor can be dry enough to walk on in a day or two, but it can take up to 14 days to fully cure on a waterborne finish and up to 45 days on an oil-modified polyurethane before it is ready for rugs or standing liquids. We walk every customer through that timeline before the crew ever starts sanding.
If you are choosing between a water-based, oil-based, or hardwax oil finish for a new floor or a refinish, our side-by-side comparison covers how each one performs, smells, and ages over time so you can pick with your eyes open rather than guessing.
Choosing a Finish With Confidence
Bona designed its sealers and finishes to work together as one system: the sealer improves adhesion, depth, and color, and the finish adds the wear layer on top. You do not have to pair them, but doing so is how the system performs best, and it is how we install it on most jobs. Bona Traffic HD is the most durable, fastest-curing finish in that lineup, built to protect floors that see heavy foot traffic, whether that is a busy family home or a commercial space.
Modern commercial-grade water-based finishes like Traffic HD have closed most of the durability gap that used to favor oil-based polyurethane, while curing far faster and without the ambering that gradually warms a floor's color over the years. For a house with kids and pets, that combination of durability and quick turnaround is usually our recommendation, though the right choice always depends on the specific floor and stain.
If a natural, low-sheen look is more your style than a traditional polyurethane finish, hardwax oil systems like Rubio Monocoat, Pallmann Magic Oil, and Bona Craft Oil are a different category entirely, with faster cure times and a matte finish that lets the wood grain show through. We will always walk you through the real trade-offs between all of these options at your free estimate, using physical samples on your actual floor's wood species and grade.
The Hardwood Guys Finish Standard
Whichever finish ends up on your floor, it goes on the same way after 25 years and more than 50,000 completed jobs: bare or prepped wood, the right sealer for the system, and a topcoat matched to how you actually live in the space. We bring physical finish samples to every free estimate rather than describing sheen and color over the phone, so you can see the real result on wood close to your own floor's grade before committing.
Backed by 25 Years of Real Reviews
None of this is guesswork on our end. The Hardwood Guys have completed more than 50,000 jobs across Woodstock and North Metro Atlanta since 2001, earned more than 500 five-star Google reviews along the way, and our work has been featured on TV multiple times. That track record is exactly why we can look at a floor in person and tell you honestly what it needs, rather than guessing from a phone call or a photo.
Every project starts with a free, on-site estimate — no obligation, and a written number before anything begins. Call 470-826-3581 or request an estimate below to get started.
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