Floor Varnish Fumes

Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours.

Floor varnish fumes.

Overall investing in a low voc or eco friendly polyurethane clear coat is the ideal treatment for hardwood floors because it s the only way to keep your home free of unnecessary toxins and fumes. Lacquer is dangerous to swallow. Learn more about ecos paints water based varnishes. The finished product is a smooth glossy and durable surface that is easy to clean.

Green building council ranks varnish and lacquer as the worst offenders in terms of voc off gassing. The floor should be mostly cured enough to live on in the first 5 7 days but it can take up to a month for the odors to be completely gone and for the finish to reach its maximum hardness. Federal law requires varnishes to contain less than 450 grams of vocs per liter with. Hardwood floor finishes have varying levels of ease durability even glossiness.

Lacquer is a clear or colored coating called a varnish that is often used to give wooden surfaces a glossy look. Breathing in the fumes for a long period is also harmful. Epoxy paint is typically used to cover concrete floors because of its ability to keep the concrete from becoming damaged due to water absorption over time 2. However exposure to paint and its fumes has the potential to cause irritation of the skin eyes and throat.

The solvents in varnish are extremely pungent and the fumes can cause drowsiness headaches skin irritation and dizziness. Both water and oil based polyurethane protect natural wood floors leaving behind a shiny coating. Epoxy paint contains toxic chemicals known as isocyanates that help to create this effect. Water based polyurethane creates a clear finish while oil based polyurethane dries to an amber.

Most paints are very safe. For the first few days airing out the house should be a priority. Moreover the vocs that many paint products contain can. This is difficult during the winter months but keeping air moving is.

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. 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.