![\"Cure](\"https:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cure-Time-Dry-Time-Wood-Floors.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOne of the first things our clients will ask us once we put on the last coat of finish is \u201cWhen can we walk on the floors?\u201d The next question that usually follows is, \u201cWhen can we put the rugs and furniture back?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Good questions and ones that need a good answer.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s have a look at each closer.<\/p>\n
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First we’ll start with…<\/p>\n
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In a nutshell, cure time is the time it takes for all of the solvents or liquid carriers to evaporate from the finish, for the fumes and smell to stop being emitted and for it to fully harden.<\/p>\n
This all depends on the type of finish system you choose as well as things like the temperature, airflow and humidity levels.<\/p>\n
Below is a guide showing the average cure times for different finishes\u2026<\/p>\n
![\"Floor](\"https:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Floor-Finish-Cure-Time.jpg\")
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Once a floor has fully cured it can be subjected to long-term normal wear and tear without having to worry excessively about damaging it.<\/p>\n
But cure time shouldn\u2019t be used as a guide for when to move everything back into your home.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t<\/i> need to wait for a floor to cure 100% before you move back in and replace all your furniture and rugs. Your floors will be durable enough to move in way before the fully cured time.<\/p>\n
As you can see from the chart above, that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n
So when is the right time to move back in? Well that brings us to\u2026<\/p>\n
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Dry time is when you can put your hand to the floor and it won\u2019t stick or leave a mark. It\u2019s when a finish has dried and cured enough so that it won\u2019t sustain any damage from carefully<\/i> walking over it.<\/p>\n
The chart below shows the average dry time for different finishes\u2026<\/p>\n
![\"Floor](\"https:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Floor-Finish-Dry-Time.jpg\")
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Dry time allows us to have access to the floors in-between coats. That\u2019s how we can apply multiple coats in a few days. With water based finishes we can do 2 coats on the same day in some circumstances.<\/p>\n
We suggest you ask your refinisher for \u2018permission\u2019 before walking on floors between coats though.<\/p>\n
During this time floors are very susceptible to contaminants like outside dirt and oils stuck to the bottom of shoes and feet, to water and other liquids such as dog pee (don\u2019t ask!) and to whatever else can be brought in and trampled over them.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have to go on them until the finish application is completely done, then it\u2019s definitely better not to.<\/p>\n
After the final coat is completed, we strongly<\/i> suggest that there is no traffic on the floors for a full 24 hours. This will allow the completed finish to dry sufficiently enough to allow walking on it without damaging it.<\/p>\n
![\"Applying](\"https:\/\/napervillehardwood.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Applying-Finish.jpg\")
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Which brings us to the next obvious question\u2026<\/p>\n
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In an ideal world, we would love our clients to wait a week before replacing their furniture, but\u2026 we know that\u2019s not always convenient or even possible.<\/p>\n
The commercial grade water-based finish we use<\/a> is 100% cured after just 3 days. Within 24 hours you can carefully put your furniture back. It’s the fastest curing waterborne floor finish we know of. Very handy for floors that need to be back in action very quickly.<\/p>\n