Will we be able to reside in the home during the process? Do we need to leave during dry times?

Can we be in the house while you're working?

You are welcome to remain in your home during the sanding or installation process.  However, floor work is very loud and may disrupt your activities. Working from home may not be possible unless you have an isolated area to be. If we sand but don’t coat that day you can easily sleep in your home that evening. Although we don’t raise large amounts of dust, we often still hang plastic to quarantine sensitive areas. Normal movement throughout the home is generally somewhat limited, but we ask that any plastic barriers not be removed or damaged as it takes additional time to set it up.

How soon can I get back on the floor after you put down the finish?

You can get back on the floor when it’s dry. The size of the job determines when we coat but generally it’s on day 3 or 4. Once coating begins, if oil finish is being used, the fumes are very strong and the dry time is 8 hours. Many times it’s best to be away during this time. Alternate sleeping arrangements will likely be necessary. Water coatings may allow you to return sooner because they give off far fewer fumes and dry very quickly, typically about 4 hours. Regardless of the type of coating, it may not be walked on until after the dry time has lapsed. Most jobs require two incidences of drying time. We have additional information on dry and cure times here.