If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...
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.
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.
No. By all means, avoid sleeping in the house after refinishing surfaces using oil-based products. Oil-based polyurethane emits a strong smell that's uncomfortable to be around. It is neither safe nor smart to expose yourself and others to such a highly toxic environment.
#2 It can get loud
You and your family might be able to live around the hardwood floor mechanics while they do their work. However, all the equipment that they use can get quite loud. Instead of making your hearing suffer, you could be on a vacation with your family while the professionals go to work on your floor.
If you've lived in your home for a long time or weren't able to refinish the floors before moving in, you'll want to be sure that refinishing is the right route. Moving all of your earthly possessions out and then back into the rooms that need attention is no walk in the park!
Do expect dust
Yes, when you are sanding the floors, dust is created. That is just part of the process and there is no way around it. However, there are some ways to minimize it. We always put plastic around the areas not being done, and our machines are good at collecting a lot of the dust.
We recommend a minimum of 2 days of socks-only traffic for floors finished with oil polyurethane. The house is not inhabitable for a minimum of 2 days after the job is completed, and better to stay out for at least 5 as the fumes/off-gassing is not advisable to breathe in, even if there are other rooms to sleep in.
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. Keep a steady temperature and humidity within your home.
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.
When not fully cured, Polyurethane fumes have several side effects such as asthma and difficulty breathing for people with respiratory conditions. The polyurethane fumes can also cause irritation of the eye, nose and throat; vomiting; headaches; shortness of breath and dizziness.
While these oil-based products can off-gas for months or years, the most severe off-gassing occurs in the first few days after application. For a greener alternative to traditional floor finishes, stick to water-based products, which contain around 50 to 250 grams of VOCs per liter.
Antique or fragile furniture should be removed from the house during floor refinishing, as the furniture could collect stray wood dust, chemical scents and scuffs in the process. In addition, you may prefer to dispose of old or poorly constructed furniture that will not match the newly refinished 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.
Note that while oils on the floor can damage rugs, a rug can also damage a refinished floor. If the oils have not sufficiently dried, the imprint of the rug's texture on the floor can become a permanent feature, requiring another round of refinishing.
As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. Depending on how the painters prepped your base, you can actually cause more damage to the base and walls by removing it.
Masking tapes prevent your skirting boards, beadings, walls, doors, door frames and fireplaces from being damaged, scratched or stained while our experts are sanding, staining and finishing the wood flooring. The standard masking tape usually used for these purposes is made of paper.
Typically, 24 hours after the last coat is applied your floors should be dry enough to walk on and place furniture on. Even though the floors are dry, it will take the finish about 21 days to fully cure. Wait at least 10 days before you place any area rugs down.
If I had to pick an ideal time, I would say spring or fall when the indoor temperature is most consistent with outdoor temperature and it's often easy to open the windows (after the work is complete) to help air out the smell faster. But, really, sanding and refinishing hardwood can take place any time of year.
The answer to the question is, “do the floors first!” Here's why: Removing and replacing flooring or carpeting is dirty work. If you paint first, and then do floors, there is a good chance that a lot of dirt, dust, sawdust or tile/stone dust will end up on your freshly painted walls and trim.
Use Fans. Use overhead fans, table fans, or place a box fan into a window and let it run for as long as necessary to help banish polyurethane fumes. This will help to promote air circulation and get the bad air out.
The only way to refinish one room is to install a transition piece (or if there's one in place already). Therefore, it's best to refinish all your wood floors rather than one place such as the hallway or kitchen. If unsure, call a professional for a consultation.
These fumes have a harsh smell that can be irritating. But this isn't the only way wood stain fumes impact our health. Along with degrading indoor air quality, they can potentially cause: Breathing issues.