Made of strong wood with finishes that are more protective than ever,hardwood floors areextremelydurable.
But when the finish is fresh, it’s much more sensitive than it will be after itfullycures.
Duringthisbrieftime,werecommend thathomeownersfollow theseguidelines:
Maintaina warm roomtemperature
Once the floor is finished, theroom temperature needs to remain between 68-75 degrees for one week. The floor must be warm for the finish to cure properly.
(Fornew sand-on-site floors or refinishjobs that involve re-sanding, theroomtemperatureshouldalso bebetween 68-75 degrees for at least one day prior to the sanding.)
Helpyour floors dry
Ventilation helps finish dry. Italso helps get rid of thestrongfinish smell. So,six hours after thelast coat of finish has been applied,go by yourhome and openany doors or windows you can without entering the home—creatingas muchcross-ventilation as possible.Let the air flow for 15-30 minutesbefore closing up again.
The next day, you canreturn homeand begin walking on the floor.Open all the windows and doorsfor a half-hour to an hour, turning on any fans to help with the ventilation, and then close up again.Heat also helps the finish dry.
Wait to move in furniture
Don’t put furniture(or appliances)inthe room for at least 24 hoursafter thefinal application of finish.And when you move it in, set it in place rather than dragging it across the floor.If it’s too heavy to lift, useplywood over blanketsor some other method ofprotecting the floor while youmove the heavy load.
Wait to cover the floors
Rugs on hardwood floors are a great way to protect floors and add to their beauty. But for the first two weeks after finishing, the finish is still curing. So, for two weeks,don’t cover thefloor(s) withrugs, or anything else (such as cardboard boxes during a move).
An exceptionis when construction isstill going on. In that case, cover the flooring with softrugs, sheets, blankets, etc., during the day but take them up at night.
Don’t mop for a month
Until the finish is sufficiently cured, which can take up to a month,using anyliquidto clean(including hardwood flooring cleaners)can weaken the finish.
If you spill something on the floor, use a damp cloth on that spot only.
Getready to enjoy
Hardwood floors with modern finishes willlookwonderfuland resist damage for many years—often decades—without any need for refurbishment.
So, be patient as you follow these guidelines. A month of pampering yournew finishis a small price to pay for thelastingenjoyment you’ll gain.
