Finishing a bathroom vanity

[Crockett]

I just made a small vanity for someone (plywood carcass, poplar drawer boxes, cherry face frame, cherry door and 3 drawer fronts). I have applied 3 coats of General Finishes poly/urethane satin mix. Will that be sufficient in a bathroom setting? Someone just told me I should have used some sort boat varnish. I didn't want a high gloss look to it. But now I am concerned it won't hold up to the moisture. Am I in trouble here?

thanks for any input!
Al

[cgallery]

I guess it depends on their bathroom. If they have poor ventilation I don't think any finish will stand-up to it. If, OTOH, they have an exhaust fan I think you will be fine.

[drumpriest]

It wouldn't hurt to add more coats of arm-r-seal. David Marks once used a gel poly for a bathroom cabinet saying that it was tougher than arm-r-seal, but that you'd have to reapply coats every several years.

I did my wall cabinet for the bathroom in polycrylic, and it's held up OK for 3 years, getting close to needing another coat though. I have an exhaust fan, but it's nowhere near as large as it should be, I don't think.

[drumpriest]

Oh, and the finish to which they were referring is probably marine spar varnish, which is used for things that are going to get wet. If your top is wood, it isn't such a bad suggestion, I wouldn't think. Or the bar top finish, but that's definitely glossy.

[Cheeky]

high gloss finishes dry harder and offer more protection. what i do (thanks to a flooring pro), is apply the 1st couple coats with a semi or gloss (sand inbetween obviously) and then finish with the satin finish.

i'm not a fan of gloss finishes, so this is really the best of both worlds.

I'm currently a fan of MacKenzie and Stewart poly.

oh ya, tell them to get a Panasonic bath exhaust, and they'll never have a problem.

[cabinetman]

I just made a small vanity for someone (plywood carcass, poplar drawer boxes, cherry face frame, cherry door and 3 drawer fronts). I have applied 3 coats of General Finishes poly/urethane satin mix. Will that be sufficient in a bathroom setting? Someone just told me I should have used some sort boat varnish. I didn't want a high gloss look to it. But now I am concerned it won't hold up to the moisture. Am I in trouble here?

thanks for any input!
Al

Use an interior type polyurethane, not an exterior or any spar type varnishes. All the outside orientated finishes remain somewhat flexible to bear with environmental changes. The interior finishes will dry hard and offer good protection.
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[Crockett]

thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it as always!
Al