After the curing process, people often ask, when can we walk on the floors? o When can we put the rugs and furniture back?
In the flooring installation process, curing time is the time it takes for all solvents or liquid carriers to evaporate from the finish. For vapors and odor to cease, and for it to fully harden.
However, it will also depend on the type of finish system you choose. As well as temperature, airflow and humidity levels.
Once a floor has fully cured. It can undergo long-term normal wear and tear without having to worry too much about damaging it.
You don’t need to wait for a floor to fully cure to move in and replace all of your furniture and carpeting. Your floors will be durable enough long before the full cure time.
After the curing time. The drying time is carried out, it is when a finish has dried and cured enough so that it does not suffer any damage when carefully walking on it.
During this time, floors are very susceptible to contaminants such as foreign dirt and oils adhering to the soles of shoes and feet.
Water and other liquids like dog urine also count as damaging agents for your floor.
After the final coat is complete, we recommend that the floors be clear of traffic for a full 24 hours.
This will allow the entire finish to dry enough that you can walk on it without damaging it.
When can carpets and furniture be replaced?
Within 24 hours, you can carefully replace your furniture; but this will depend on the type of material used for the finish.
Being very careful with rolling and sliding chairs during the curing time is also necessary; in this way we avoid scratches on our new investment.
As far as the carpets go, we would really like to see a full week go by before they are laid on newly refinished floors.
Allow sufficient time for solvents and liquids used in the finish to evaporate unimpeded and for the floor to cure.
But just as with furniture, after 24 hours you can place them, taking into account the expert’s recommendations.