When Can Dogs Safely Roam On Newly Refinished Hardwood Floors?

How long should I wait before walking on my newly refinished hardwood floors with shoes? After your floors have been refinished, it is advisable to wait for at least 6 hours before walking on them with socks to ensure the finish sets properly. However, you should allow a full 24 hours before wearing shoes on the refinished floors. For placing furniture and allowing pets to return to the room, it’s best to wait for a total of 48 hours to ensure the floors are fully cured and hardened. This waiting period is essential to protect the quality and durability of your newly refinished hardwood floors.

When it comes to allowing dogs to walk on a polyurethane-treated floor, timing is crucial. If you’ve recently finished applying an oil-based polyurethane coating to your floor, it’s best to wait for at least one week before permitting pets, especially dogs, to walk on it. This waiting period allows the polyurethane to fully cure and harden, ensuring that your floor remains in the best possible condition.

In contrast, if you’ve opted for a water-based polyurethane finish, the timeline is different. Typically, for a natural wood floor without any stain, a professional can sand and apply three coats of water-based polyurethane in a single day for areas ranging from 100 to 1,500 square feet. This faster drying time can be more convenient, but it’s still important to exercise caution and avoid allowing pets onto the freshly coated floor until it has had sufficient time to dry and cure properly.