Water-Based Varnish: Pros and Cons

You may be using water-based varnish on some of your furniture or other household items. What you may not know is that water-based varnishes are used as lacquers and are made up of solvents (which are mostly water) as well as resins. For the resins to work well with the water solvent, water-based varnishes are also composed of other chemicals that create emulsion. Consider the following pros and cons to determine whether you want to continue using water-based varnish.

Advantages of Water-Based Varnish

Water-based varnish dries very quickly. It does not affect the color of the surface on which you applied it. It is not a fire hazard. It builds up quickly as well because it has a high solid content. After use, water-based varnish is easy to clean up. Application of water-based varnish does not pollute.

Disadvantages of Water-Based Varnish

Water-based varnish is difficult to apply when there is humid weather. It does not have a significant advantage over other varnishes when it comes to acid, humidity, water, or heat resistance. It gives off a dull appearance after application, and is difficult to remove once it has dried.