For water-based finishes, the recommended wait time is 4-8 hours. For hard wax oils, this increases to 4-24 hours. Finally, for oil-modified Polyurethane, the surface will take between 12 & 24 hours to dry. The benefit of the dry time is that it allows us to access our floors in between coats.

Besides, How long before dogs can walk on polyurethane floors?

Length of time to dry for water based polyurethane:

Avoid shoes and bare feet. And, make sure your pets don’t walk on the floors during this interval. After 2 days, you can move furniture back. It takes a full 30 days for the floors to cure, so it’s ideal to wait 30 days before putting area rugs on the surface.

Keeping this in mind, How long should you wait to put rugs down after refinishing floors? Wait 3 weeks before putting area rugs on newly refinished/finished hardwood floors. Wait 48 to 72 hours after the hardwood has been refinished/ finished before “PLACING” furniture back in its place.

How long do you have to wait to put polyurethane after staining?

If its warm and dry and you are using an oil based polyurethane than 2-3 hours is sufficient. If it’s cool or damp you probably should wait overnight. If you are using a water based polyurethane then the stain should dry 7 to 10 days.

Can you live in a house while refinishing floors?

The strong scent of polyurethane and stain lingers in the atmosphere for very long and can kick-start a migraine any time or all the time. Even if it’s not causing migraines, it’s still uncomfortable to live in a house where the floor is being refinished and there are strong odors in the air.

How long should dogs stay off refinished hardwood floors?

Dogs should stay off refinished hardwood floors for at least 24 hours. This will be the amount of time that an oil-based polyurethane coat needs to dry all the way. If you plan on adding more coats, you will need to keep your dog off of your refinished hardwood floor for however many days they need to dry.

When can dogs go on refinished hardwood floors?

Q: How long until pets can be on the floors? A: Cats can be on the floors after around 48 hours. Dogs on the other had, we recommend that they stay off the floors for up to two weeks. The reason being their nails can be harsh on the new finish while setting up.

How long before pets can walk on refinished hardwood floors?

How long do I have to wait to use my room after my floors are refinished? We recommend waiting 6 hours before walking on your new floors in socks. After 24 hours you can walk through with shoes on. Allow 48 hours before setting furniture and returning pets.

How long do you have to stay off refinished hardwood floors?

A: It is recommended to stay off the floors for up to 24 hours after the final coat is applied to the floors. For the first 48 hours we recommend that you wear socks only, no shoes or bare feet.

How long does it take for polyurethane to dry on hardwood floors?

Polyurethane dries in 24-48 hours and takes about 30 days to fully cure. Your new hardwood floor is installed, and just one more thing needs to be done to protect the wood and bring out that beautiful grain. It’s time to apply the polyurethane varnish.

Do area rugs damage hardwood floors?

Area rugs can cause damage to hardwood floors. … The best way to protect your hardwood floors from damage is to use a high-quality rug pad which is the appropriate size and specially made for hardwood floors. Felt and rubber are the best materials for a rug pad for hardwood floors.

Can you apply polyurethane over stain?

Water-based polyurethanes don’t match well with oil-based stains, so if you’re applying over stain you’ll want to “rough up” the stained surface slightly before applying your water-based polyurethane, using some synthetic steel wool. … Apply a very thin coat of polyurethane with a fine brush, foam pad, or cloth.

Do you need to sand after staining before Poly?

In fact no sanding of any kind is required between coats of varnish to ensure bonding of the next layer. Ideally the one, and only, reason you should sand between coats of varnish is to ‘de-nib’ — to sand off minor surface blemishes, e.g. from dust particles landing in the finish before it has dried.

Are floor refinishing fumes harmful?

Many common products used to refinish wood flooring contain harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. The off-gassing from these chemicals pose a variety of long-term and short-term health effects—from headaches and nausea to damage to the liver, kidneys and the central nervous system.

Is it bad to breathe in floor stain?

Direct contact with the chemicals can cause skin irritation, and exposure to the vapors during installation and before the finish cures may cause eye, throat and nose irritation, breathing difficulties, headaches, nausea, asthma attacks or dizziness.

Is floor stain toxic to breathe?

Conventional floor sealers, finishes and stains are a source of indoor pollution. This is because they contain high levels of volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde, toluene and various other solvents. These VOCs are often termed as greenhouse gases and toxic to your health.

How long do you have to stay off wood floors after refinishing?

Wait 48 to 72 hours after the hardwood has been refinished/ finished before “PLACING” furniture back in its place. Keep a steady temperature and humidity within your home. Dramatic swings in temperature will cause hardwood to shrink or to cup. Sweep/dust and mop often.

How long does it take for the smell to go away after refinishing hardwood floors?

The smell of polyurethane should be mostly gone within 5-7 days of applying it to your wood floors. However, there may be remnants of the smell in your house for up to a month. You may be able to speed up this process by airing out your home with fans and open windows or by keeping your home warmer than you usually do.

How long do refinished hardwood floors take to dry?

The cure time for refinished hardwood floors when you’re using water-based finishes, for example, is anywhere between seven days and 14 days – and sometimes even longer than that (depending on things like temperature and humidity).

Can polyurethane fumes hurt dog?

Polyurethane glues can actually expand in the stomach in cats and dogs,” Dr. Wismer cautions. This can lead to foreign body obstruction in the stomach and will require surgery.

Do dogs ruin hardwood floors?

Not really. Dogs could possibly cause some minor damage to hardwood floors, and in some cases, it will be more obvious than in others. … In general, textured and lower-sheen floors will hide any imperfections. Fortunately, all it takes to prevent a dog from scratching your floors is to clip his or her nails regularly.

How long until polyurethane is safe?

The initial curing time of the polyurethane after it has been applied to a large portion of your home’s floor can be up to 5 to 7 days. After this 5-7-day timeframe most of the polyurethane should be dry on the surface, and able to be lived on once again.

Is polyurethane toxic after it dries?

Is polyurethane toxic after it dries? Once the polyurethane finish has dried and cured, it is generally considered to be safe, but during the drying and curing process, the finish releases potentially harmful chemicals into the air via evaporation, a process called off-gassing.