Newly-Refinished Hardwood Floor Care – Conti Oak Floor Refinishing (2024)

FAQs

How to care for newly refinished hardwood floors? ›

We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours before you walk on your floors– and 48 hours is even better. Start with socks only and keep pets off the floors for a few days. Wait at least two days for water-based finishes and four days for oil-based finishes before carefully putting furniture and back into the room.

Wait around 3 weeks before putting area rugs on your newly refinished/finished hardwood floors. Wait for 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.

Pay extra attention to any pieces that need to be rolled or slid into place. Though furniture goes back into the room after 2 days, area rugs should stay out for about 2 weeks. If they're placed on the flooring too soon, they can impede the curing process, trapping solvents in the wood.

After the final coat of finish is applied, we typically ask that you wait 24 hours before walking on the floors. You will also want to touch the finish and make sure it is not sticky or tacky to the touch. If it's not, than you can walk on the floors with socks or stocking feet (no shoes or bare feet).

For oil-based polyurethane, it can take up to 24-48 hours for the finish to dry and up to 72 hours for the fumes to dissipate completely. Therefore, it is recommended that you stay out of your home for at least 72 hours after applying an oil-based polyurethane finish.

Ventilation is Important: Always make sure the home is properly aired throughout the refinishing process and for a few days after. The vapors dissipate more quickly as a result of this. Utilize fans wisely: Place fans next to windows to expel odors and let fresh air in.

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.

The finish on your floors is still curing, and introducing moisture or cleaning agents can compromise the seal and durability of the finish. Stick to dry methods like sweeping or vacuuming with a soft brush broom to sweep dust and debris away. If you must wet clean, only use a damp cloth without any cleaning detergent.

Don't mop for a month

Until the finish is sufficiently cured, which can take up to a month, using any liquid to clean (including hardwood flooring cleaners) can weaken the finish. If you spill something on the floor, use a damp cloth on that spot only.

How do you protect newly finished hardwood floors? ›

Before it's time to sand the floors, many homeowners ask: “Can I stay in my house while my floors are refinished?” The answer is usually yes. If you'd like to read about the best ways to prepare for and manage the refinishing process, read on!

After you are done refinishing your hardwood floors, you must wait before walking or putting furniture onto the flooring. You should wait at least 24 hours before walking on the floors with no shoes on. If you have a dog, try to keep them off the floors for at least 24 hours, too.

A floor finish will be more susceptible to scuffing and scratching until it is fully cured. Your floor can be walked on with stocking feet in 3-4 hours and furniture can be placed back on the floor (not dragged) in 48 hours. Area rugs can be put down in one week when the finish is fully cured.

Yes, you can refinish hardwood flooring one room at a time by isolating each area during the process using plastic sheeting or drop cloths.

Post Project Clean-up

Even if the company you hire to refinish your floors touts a “dustless” process – there will still be dust. Just less dust. 🙂 After refinishing hardwood floors, be prepared to thoroughly vacuum and wipe down every last surface.

As a general rule of thumb, you should wait at least 24 to 48 hours before moving furniture back in. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your newly refinished hardwood floors.