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What would be a reasonable curing time for hardwood floors being refinished in early July in New Jersey? I expect it will be in the 80s by then but more than likely humid as well. My fiancee and I are buying a home and we want to get the floors done before we move in. With a semi-gloss finish how long until we can start with heavy traffic (going in and out with shoes on, carrying boxes, and *carefully* moving furniture in) on the floors without ruining them?
What would be a reasonable curing time for hardwood floors being refinished in early July in New Jersey? I expect it will be in the 80s by then but more than likely humid as well. My fiancee and I are buying a home and we want to get the floors done before we move in. With a semi-gloss finish how long until we can start with heavy traffic (going in and out with shoes on, carrying boxes, and *carefully* moving furniture in) on the floors without ruining them?
think I would consult the folks that you buy the product from. They will be able to advise you , make sure you buy the product from someone that knows the product, I would have a de-humidifier running, too, it will cut down the time, as well as making sure the air is on.
Well a number of factors will determine the answer to your question. What type of finish your looking at using is the biggest one, temp and relative humidity are second to that.
Overall, I'd give it at least a week. Everything should be fine after that for light traffic. I'd also keep the air conditioning running in there too, that will help significantly.
Depends if oil base or water base poly.Water base will dry to touch quicker and oil base will fully harden quicker. The brand makes a difference so read the label because the dryers in oil base make a difference.Air condition iof you have it but not too cool. Again reaqd the label.
If it is an oil-base, you can buy a small can of dryer [a catalyst/curing-accelerator] and add some to the oil-base finish to speed its cure. Most building supply stores or hardware-paint stores carry Japan Drier. Read the label instructions for how much to add.
When we had our oak floors re-finished last year, the flooring people used a product which cut curing time down a lot. Can't remember the name of it, but we were able to walk on the floors with socks after about 12 hours. We moved the furniture back after 2 days. The floors look beautiful. We didn't have any issues.
Floors I have refinished, I used an oil base for sure. There are rapid drying formulas out there already mixed. I would give the floor 5 days. I would also protect areas where heavier traffic will be entering or moving throughout the house. You can buy carpet runners to lay in these areas. I would also suggest putting plastic under whatever runner you use, as sometimes the back can scratch the service or worse yet stick to it.
I am sure you will enjoy your wood floors, wood floors make a home a home.
Location: Sometimes Maryland, sometimes NoVA. Depends on the day of the week
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We* refinished ours then headed out on a week's vacation. Didn't move the furniture until we got back. But, it was 12 hours to walk on the first coat.
Don't forget 30-60 days for rugs (talk to your finisher). Even after they are safe to walk on, there is still some long-term curing that needs to take place. We were told that rugs, but covering up such a large area so the floor can't breath, that you will end up with different colored spots where the rugs were.
* by "we" I mean my husband and his best friend, who is in the floor refinishing trade and we flew in to help us.
We were also told not to put rugs down for about 60 days.
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