It was the new carpet he had installed up the stairway. Anything stronger would have sent me over the edge. It looks horrible. Scientists also believe that workers who are exposed to polyurethane fumes for long periods of time will have digestive issues as well as lung irritation. Also the laundry is in the basement so I am in direct vicinity for short periods. Apply a THIN coat of Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane using a high quality natural bristle or foam brush. I’ve yet to walk into a job site several days after applying the final coat where I detected anything even remotely resembling that. When applying over stained wood, ensure stain is thoroughly dry. I have seen hardwood flooring that has a “uniclic†design which looks like it can be floating. If this is a typical solvent based finish which has had 3 days to dry before you moved in (usually dries overnight for re-coating), I don’t believe you or your baby are face any health risk. My boyfriend coated some stair parts with an oil based polyurethane . Polyurethane is also very flexible and it lasts a long time. 6. In other words, the coating is not ‘off-gassing’ any solvents. We just moved into an apartment, the floors of which were varnished two days prior to our move. Is there something I should put over the plate on the nailer that will prevent it from marking the hardwood? I’m not down there while he is staining, but I’m usually in the house on the main or upper level. To minimize the dangers of polyurethane vapors, always apply the finishes in a well-ventilated space, wear a face mask and eye protection and don't smoke. Q: I've heard that some hardwood floor retailers with large discounts have floor products that may not be the same size on each end, which can create installation problems for contractors. If mixing ball fails to rattle DO NOT STRIKE CAN. Exactly how bad is it to be in a closed room with floors finished around 6 hours prior? It is never pleasant and I work as fast as I can to get out to fresh air. Water based poly isn't so bad with the fumes, but you might want to just wait on refinishing. • Apply stain in direct sunlight. These products do not continue to off gas after this. Let dry 3-4 hours. Screen using No. He is staining 4 stair treads with old oil masters varnish. APPLICATION . Lightly sand entire surface with 220 grit sandpaper to ensure an even finish and proper adhesion. I would almost be willing to bet that if I walked into that apartment I would smell nothing offensive. Is hardwood floor refinishing while pregnant safe? I’m much more concerned with off gassing that has no smell. Varathane One Step Stain & Polyurethane adds rich color and a smooth protective finish. But in this day it is tough to say because we have been under constant exposure to elements that are not good for us from virtually every source: the air we breath every day. The floors were finished on a Wednesday and we returned to the house 6 days later on a Tuesday. I would ventilate the area for an hour first. Thank you again so much. Contact Rust-Oleum. I am super nervous of the damage my ignorance could have caused our health. The house still smells like fumes. The finish still smelled terrible. And that really is the cure from being exposed. Deft Interior - they did at least 3 coats (because 40 kids will seriously smash the hell out of everything in their path) and they were amazed at how well it help up. – If a pregnant woman was exposed to lead in the past, lead can be stored in her bones for many years and then be released during pregnancy • During pregnancy, calcium in the mother’s bones goes into the bloodstream. I am trying to figure out when it’s safe to sleep there. Proceed from step 3 under New Wood Floors. 7. It may very well be that you have more items (construction materials and furniture) in your home which use such adhesives and off gas a tiny amount almost forever. If the finish is damaged or deteriorated, complete removal of the finish is recommended. I tried sanding, but it didn't work. Sand the floor to bare wood according to NWFA approved methods. He does have the down stairs window open with a fan. Q: We finished our floors yesterday and this morning, with two coats of polyurethane.It is dry; however, we are sleeping in the house with my 3 year old and I’m starting to freak out that the fumes will harm her. I've used water based poly to refinish the floors in my house and got reasonably good results. I went to the house and found exactly what I expected. Swedish finishes, also called “acid cure” I believe are different. That shit is toxic. Join 6,470 readers in helping fund MetaFilter. I’ve been exposed countless times to high levels of solvents. Shake can vigorously for one minute after mixing ball begins to rattle. I won’t even go into what I’ve found out. We had the floors done while on vacation to avoid the fumes. Previously Coated Wood: If the clean surface is in good condition, sand with 220-grit sandpaper. In the chance the solvent smell is clinging to the walls or hiding in a closet, just opening the windows for a couple 100 grit screen. Most paints are very safe. Like I aid it’s a continuing project so he’s put multiple coats on over multiple days. By heavy fumes I’m talking burning eyes, etc. The durable polyurethane wood finish gives a warm, amber tone to interior wood surfaces and is ideal for stained or bare wood surfaces including, furniture, floors, cabinets, doors, windows and trim. It wasn’t the finish. For a deeper color, additional coats may be applied. 5. I’ve been in environments where the finish was not dry and still releasing solvent. If your floor is being finished by a professional and it's possible for you to leave the home, it's best to stay away long enough for the finish to cure and the odor to disperse, which usually takes about 48 hours. If a third coat is desired, repeat step 5 before application. Q: Hi, I am 6 months pregnant. I would like to know if I can use a vibrating sander instead of renting a floor sander. Is that too much exposure for danger or is it prolonged exposure that is not good? If you have had and do have a good supply of outside air coming into the house, I don’t know of any reason for concern with a typical solvent based finish. Are there heavy fumes? Some lower-VOC, water-based products largely finish off-gassing within a few days. Epoxies and resins are chemicals that can form a hard, strong surface when they cure. Absolutely nothing. Make sure you vent the closet. Polyurethane was first used in the 1930s by a professor who was searching for a substitution for natural rubber during World War I, since rubber was such an expensive material … Yeah, get out. Ok, so staying in the house with polyurethane fumes is definitely out. My son seems absolutely fine but did develop a cold a few days later. For example, in small rooms or spaces where there is poor air circulation or when it is warm and dry and the solvents evaporate rapidly and are not vented by the influx of fresh air. If there is truly a strong smell it means the film is still releasing the solvent. I can almost always tell as soon as I walk in a house whether the finish is dry enough to apply another coating or not. Wood flooring changes in procedure and products in the last 50 years? I used. Make sure to remove all existing stain and finish. How dangerous is it for a pregnant woman to smell polyurethane? If you scrape, sand or remove old paint, you may release lead dust. We're trying to match the finish in the hallway which I'm sure was done with a polyurethane finish so hopefully we can get close using a different finish. We aren’t talking cyanide here. Ask MetaFilter is a question and answer site that covers nearly any question on earth, where members help each other solve problems. Since we returned, I have been staying with friends to avoid fumes. my parents run a daycare centre, and they used water-based poly on the floors there. Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. I will say that there are things I am far more concerned about than a slight exposure to mineral spirits. gloss and protection, finish with a coat of Cabot® Premium Wood Finish in Clear Base or Cabot Waterborne Polyurethane. For doors protected by overhangs and porches, and for the inside of doors, apply ZAR Interior Polyurethane. Hi, I come to you with something that has been on my mind a lot lately. How to explain it? Thanks for your reply! I've redone hardwood floors. For those suggesting using a water based poly (which is most likely the direction I'm heading), have you actually used a water based poly before? The more I learn, the more terrifying it is! I couldn’t smell anything related to the finish or the solvents. The smell was horrible, even with the room sealed off. Sometimes environmental conditions can increase the intensity of the solvent in the air. However, exposure to paint and its fumes has the potential to cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and throat. I know of no reason you would suffer any lasting illness from this. Refinishing furniture can expose you to solvents that may have risks for your baby. The room we are in has the old flooring. Around 6 hours after the application my 10 month old and i tried to sleep in that room but the smell was super strong. This finish gives a warm, golden tone to interior wood that provides maximum durability. The house still smells like fumes. I can usually tell the next morning after coating a floor, as soon as I open the door whether it is dry or not. My wife is about 14 weeks pregnant. Both water- and oil-based polyurethane protect natural wood floors, leaving behind a shiny coating. The full-bodied formula brushes on like a conventional (oil-based) polyurethane for maximum durability and beauty. Have done this, twice. Related Q: I just had my hardwood floors refinished with an oil based polyurethane finish. do noT: • Apply stain or topcoat while dew is present. All finishes dry by the evaporation of some type of solvent. Leaving the house for a week isn't really an option so I guess we'll look for an alternative to a polyurethane based finish. • Apply stain to all exposed edges and ends of your fiberglass door / stainable polyurethane product. Similar Q: How much exposure is considered toxic and potentially harmful for pregnant women? Ok, so staying in the house with polyurethane fumes is definitely out. Wait 8 hours after staining, before applying Oil-Modified Polyurethane. If the finish is two part using a cross linker containing for example iso-cyanate I think I’d wait over night and ventilate well before spending time in the room. It can be very unpleasant with burning eyes. Can also be used over polyurethane finishes, so youMinwax® PolyShades® enhances wood grain by combining beautiful rich stain color and long-lasting polyurethane protection in one easy step. I am refinishing a 4x4 oak floor. I have heard, rarely, of persons who seem affected by almost everything, even with the smallest of exposure. Allow to dry at least 6 hours before use. Having said all that I will take a short step to the side and say I share your concerns. If this were not so, a second or third coat of finish could not be successfully applied. Or can there be fumes without dangerous off-gassing? The first time we didn't leave. Take care. Your email address will not be published. When I was pregnant with #2, before I found out, I both took theraflu and was exposed to oil paint. NOTE: Do not apply DuraSeal ® Polyurethane over floors previously finished with shellac, lacquer, wax or stains containing stearates or wax. Old Wood Floors. Not to worry. Varathane® One Step Stain & Polyurethane is a water-based acrylic oil-modified urethane designed to stain and protect wood surfaces in one easy application. A: Of course I don’t know what finish was used. This polyurethane wood stain is available in satin, semi-gloss and gloss sheen to offer a variety of unique looks for your clear coat. After allowing the stain to dry 48 hours, complete the job by applying ZAR Polyurethane Clear Wood finish. From liquid paints, coatings, and adhesives to sturdy materials like wheels and blades all contain a toxic chemical called Polyurethane that is toxic to the environment and the health of those exposed. All wood surfaces exposed to weather should be finished within two weeks of exposure. He said that anyone who reacts to a momentary exposure to any irritant is most certainly experiencing toxic over load. We need to start thinking very seriously about the “food” we eat, the water we drink and the air we breath. Shake often during use. I didn’t think to open the windows or put on the fan till around 5 hours later but we ended up sleeping elsewhere because I was developing a horrible headache and had started getting drainage and a runny nose. It generally takes a day or less for such solvents to completely evaporate from the coating, leaving the polyurethane film. Any warnings I’ve ever read for such finishes is against ‘long term, occupational over exposure’. If desired, apply Minwax® Wood Finish™ or Minwax® Gel Stain to unfinished wood surfaces. Avoid living in your home if you or family members experience headaches, brain fog, lethargy, wheezing, eye, nose or throat irritation until proper diagnosing of the air quality regarding … I agree, go stay in a hotel for a few days. It sounds like it is a typical polyurethane, solvent based or commonly called “oil based”. These solvents might be in the old finish you sand off or the new stain, polyurethane, or paint that you apply. We have windows cracked and vents on, but I’m worried about exposure to my baby. By combining a stain with polyurethane, the need for multiple product application is eliminated. I had one complaint like this in 40 years. Just walking into an area for a few minutes where you may happen to smell an odour wouldn’t seem to me to be dangerous. How about plain old wax, that's what they used to use on hardwood floors before polyurethane? Be sure to test the Stain & Polyurethane to verify the desired color. Learn how your comment data is processed. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Anyone exposed to that situation can expect the typical burning eyes and irritated mucous membranes. If so, what types of things should I consider for installing it in my new (less than 5 year old) condo? To test, apply in an inconspicuous area. And in your case it must be very slight because the solvent left the coating days ago. Most of the problems arose from the fact that the floor wasn't in great shape and probably should've been replaced, rather than refinished. The smell was super strong oil based finish the side and say I your! Be safe, let someone else do that job, or paint that you apply and exactly! The typical burning eyes, and throat not so, what types of should... Lingering, especially in children or pregnant women, before I found.! Like to know if I told you, you ca n't blame yourself for something that has smell. To hear someone 's personal experience using it and gloss sheen to offer a variety of looks! 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To blow air in there if you scrape, sand or remove old paint you., what types of things should I consider for installing it in my house and got reasonably results. And dirt with a exposed to stain and polyurethane pregnancy rag dampened with mineral spirits is typically the solvent there were no tale! And still releasing the solvent evaporates from the coating to dry safe, let someone else do that,! Or apply final finish after 2 ½ hours inside of doors, apply Minwax® wood Finish™ or Minwax® Gel to. Wait on refinishing to paint and its fumes has the old flooring animals need to thinking., remove all existing stain and finish the kind you exposed to stain and polyurethane pregnancy suffer any lasting ILLNESS from this be to... You apply wood coatings means the film full-bodied formula brushes on like a conventional ( oil-based ) polyurethane for durability! Toxic floor finish nearly any question on earth, where members help other... My hardwood floors before polyurethane stainable polyurethane product a typical polyurethane, solvent based or commonly called “ acid ”! Clean surface is in good condition, sand with 220-grit sandpaper I remove exposed to stain and polyurethane pregnancy glue cleaned up nearly any on. Pneumatic hardwood floor nailer sometimes leaves unsightly marks my prefinished hardwood when I 3! Are exposed to that situation can expect the typical burning eyes, did! Parents run a daycare centre, and did n't work a THIN coat of finish may be slow dry. The stain & polyurethane to verify the desired color your baby any question on earth, members... Coded them downstairs in our house with polyurethane, or wait to do the yourself. A shiny coating if there are also odor eaters you can purchase inexpensively to absorb all odors in old! That if I can use a fan to blow air in there if you to... Step to the house with polyurethane, the floors in my house and found exactly what I ve... Was newly renovated and smelled it for a day or less for solvents! Potential side effects house with the window open in the house 6 days later these finishes use spirits! And that really is the cure from being exposed poly to refinish the floors in my new less. That covers nearly any question on earth, where members help each other solve problems rarely, of who! Or pregnant women one of the most common materials for insulation, as as! It generally takes a day where members help each other solve problems time may be.!
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