How long does it take polyurethane to dry on the floors?

When it comes to sanding and refinishing hardwood floors, one of the key questions customers ask me is "how long does it take for the floors to dry?"

Well this of course depends on the type of polyurethane you are using - is it oil based or water based polyurethane?  And, this article on "How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?" should come in handy for an overview of the whole process from start to finish.

For purposes of this post, this timeline is from the time the last coat of polyurethane is applied.  Please note that these times are estimates and times can vary, especially based on humidity levels.

Length of time to dry for oil based polyurethane:

Oil based polyurethane takes longer to dry than water based poly.

• 24 hrs before you can walk on the floors
• Hours 24-48, you can walk on the floors with socks.  Avoid shoes and bare feet.  And, make sure your pets (who usually have bare feet) do not walk on the floors during this time.
• 48 hrs you can walk on it with shoes
• After 4 days, you can move furniture back on to the floors.
• It's ideal to wait 1-2 weeks before dogs walk on the floors (unless they use doggie socks)
  
• It takes a full 30 days for the floors to cure, so it's ideal to wait 30 days before putting area rugs on the surface.  If you need to/want to put them on sooner, 2 weeks is another good benchmark, but 30 days is better.

Length of time to dry for water based polyurethane:

Water based polyurethane dries faster

• 4-6 hrs before you can walk on the floors
• Hours 6-24, you can walk on the floors with socks.  Avoid shoes and bare feet.  And, make sure your pets don't walk on the floors during this interval.
• 1 hrs you can walk on it with shoes
• After 2 days, you can move furniture back.
• It's ideal to wait 1 week before dogs walk on the floors (unless they use doggie socks)
• It takes a full 30 days for the floors to cure, so it's ideal to wait 30 days before putting area rugs on the surface.  If you want to put area rugs back sooner, than 2 weeks is another good benchmark.
  

How long for polyurthane take to cure?

Oil based finishes dry/cure in 2 phases. First, the thinners evaporate and the finish becomes tack free (see above). Then, oxygen begins to combine with the varnish and curing process starts. It's the curing that makes the finish hard, durable and creates the full adhesion with the floor. This curing process can take up to 4 weeks or so depending on environmental conditions (e.g. humidity) and how thick a film was applied and number of coats of polyurethane. As long as the poly is emitting an odor (even if it's mild), it's still curing.

• Oil based or water based polyurethane - which is better for hardwood floors? 
• How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?
• Can you change the color of your hardwood floors?
  
• Hardwood flooring Stain Color Trends
  
• FAQ’s for hardwood floor refinishing
  

If you live in Westchester area and need help with your floors, feel free to give The Flooring Girl a call at 914-937-2950 or visit our website.

Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl
Floor Coverings International
41 N Lawn Ave
Elmsford, NY 10523
914-937-2950

How long does it take polyurethane to dry on the floors?