How long to let the coating cure?

[BaggyRed]

We are getting our floors polished, finishing on the 29th Dec (yes a fantastic tradie doing it over christmas - woo hoo).

How long do you think we should let it set before moving heavy furniture over it?

[Wongo]

They say light traffic after 24 hours and back to normal use after 7 days. I reckon 2-3 days will do.

[BaggyRed]

They say light traffic after 24 hours and back to normal use after 7 days. I reckon 2-3 days will do.

Okay - thanks for that.

Our coating guy said 10 days - and I had thought it was only about 4-5 days.

We were hoping to move in on the 6th Jan - looks like it will be the 12th!

[jmk89]

2-3 days is what we gave it the last time our floors were done (about 6 months ago) and that was fine. Obviously, lift and place the furniture as much as possible, even to reposition it a couple of inches - DAMHIK.

[Dusty]

Here is a snippet from the web site of one of the coating supply companies.

This pretty much applies to all of the coatings used to finish flooring with.




[ Customer Guide ]

A Toby coated floor is a thing of beauty, both enhancing your lifestyle and adding value to your home.

Toby floor coatings provide an extremely tough finish that will last for years.

This web page provides some simple guidelines to assist you in maintaining your Toby floor in �as new� condition.

SANDING AND COATING OF TIMBER FLOORS

The purpose of this web page is to provide information that will assist you, the customer, in preparing to have your floors sanded and finished and to give you an understanding of what is reasonable to expect from a professional applicator.

PREPARATION FOR SANDING AND COATING

■ If building or renovating, the start date for sanding and coating floors is critical particularly in relation to other trades.
■ Carpentry, electrical, plastering, plumbing and glazing must be completed before work on the floor can start.
■ Any silicone or silicone based product which comes into contact with the floor after sanding but prior to any of the 3 coats will cause rejection of the coating. Silicone is often found on the footware of plumbers and glaziers.
■ It is recommended that all painting except the final coat on skirting boards be completed. The final coat can be applied to the skirtings after completion of the floors.
■ Carpets should be laid after the floors are finished.
■ Unless specifically agreed to and quoted for, all furniture should be removed together with all floor coverings including staples, tacks etc.
■ Gas and electrical appliances are to be disconnected by qualified personnel and removed. All pilot lights (including hot water system) are to be turned off.
■ Adequate lighting and power to be available.
■ Arrangements made for clear and safe access to the site.
■ In many instances arrangements should be made for alternative accommodation, bearing in mind the wet floor areas which cannot be walked on and the likelihood of strong fumes.

PREPARATION HINTS FOR THE HOME OWNER

■ Seal any access areas such as fireplaces and vents that could allow dust to enter the room � use masking tape and paper.
■ Cover light fittings to prevent dust from gathering on them.
■ Fold curtains into green garbage bags and seal at the top.
■ Cover all non-moveable furnishings using paper, drop sheets or plastic (using masking tape to secure).

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN YOUR FLOORS ARE PROFESSIONALLY COATED

Sanding and finishing a beautiful timber floor is a skill acquired over many years. Bear in mind that, as all the work is done by hand controlled machines and applicators, there will be evidence of this in the floor. Further as you live on the floor it will gain a character and feel that is unique to your home. This is all part of the beauty of owning a timber floor.

■ A thorough explanation of the work to be carried out at the time of quote.
■ A comprehensive quote detailing all work to be carried out.
■ Expert sanding and coating.
■ Nails punched.
■ Nail holes, knot holes and gaps at the end of boards to be filled with the appropriate filler.
■ A coating that will provide many years of beauty providing it is properly maintained. (Refer to maintenance web page).

WHAT NOT TO EXPECT

■ A completely dust free environment. Modern sanding machinery is fitted with dust collecting equipment and sanders will endeavour to clean dust away by vacuuming and wiping down surfaces. It is virtually impossible however to totally eliminate dust from the job which has a couple of consequences:

a. there will always be some dust particles that settle on the newly finished surface.
b. there will be an amount of dust throughout the rest of the house.

■ Removal of deep cuts such as those from carpet trimming knives or deep gouges in the boards.
■ Removal of stains from within the boards and around nail holes such as animal urine and water marks.
■ Filling gaps between the boards. These gaps are not filled because subsequent shrinkage and expansion in the timber will cause cracking in the filler.
■ Do not expect boards damaged by borer to have the same gloss level as those in good condition.
■ Do not expect any areas filled with putty to have the same feel as the timber after application of coatings.

THINGS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF

■ Any silicone on a floor will cause rejection of subsequent coats of polyurethane. Silicone or silicone based products also include Fabulon, hair spray, fly spray etc.
■ 12 volt downlights produce a cobweb effect on the coatings.
■ You may get slight markings on skirting boards from contact with the Edger. That is why it is recommended to leave painting on skirtings until after the floors are finished.
■ Black Japan or stain around the perimeter of some older timber may produce a two tone effect.
■ You are likely to get some variation in colour and grain between new and old boards.

[ Keeping your Toby floor looking like new ]

USE MATS

Shoes carry sand, grit and small stones which will abrate the floor surface in the same way that sandpaper does. Place mats at entrances and where possible place a mat on the inside as well as outside. Use runners and rugs in high traffic areas.

DIRECT SUNLIGHT

Like any quality furnishing or floor covering in your home, direct sunlight will cause discoloring over time. To avoid fading and discolouring, filter direct sunlight with curtains or blinds.

MAINTENANCE PLAN

The most important thing you can do to keep your Toby floor looking like new is to establish a regular maintenance/cleaning programme. Just how regularly you need to maintain/clean the floor is totally depen-dent on the environment the floor is in. Factors such as the level of traffic, the degree of grit carried onto the floor, pets and children, the condition of the immediate outside area etc. all have significant influence on the wear of the floor.

DAILY/WEEKLY

Use an anti-static dust mop to collect dust and dirt. Note some people use a vacuum cleaner, generally we recommend against vacuum cleaners because often the brushes on the vacuum head wear thin and the floor is scratched by the metal.

WEEKLY/MONTHLY

Wash the floor. Avoid harsh detergents and abrasive cleaners. We recommend Toby Polyclean which has been specially formulated for the maintenance of polyurethane coated floors. Your sander can arrange to get a bottle for you. You only need to use Toby Polyclean diluted to 1% in warm or cold water i.e. 50ml per 5 litres of water. Apply with a mop. Wring out the mop in clean warm water and wipe off excess, leaving only a damp finish on the timber surface.

RECOATING

It is advisable to apply a maintenance coat before the surface has been excessively worn. This will save the need for expensive resanding. Just when this maintenance coat will be required is again entirely a factor of wear and care. Obviously the greater the traffic the sooner the need for a recoat.

(Ensure your sander puts the details of materials used and date of application on a Toby cupboard sticker. This is then stuck on the inside of a conveniently located cupboard for future record. This information is vital at recoat time as it can save expensive resanding because the applicator knows what recoat material is compatible with the original coating).

[Your new Toby floor]

Toby floor coatings dry within 24 hours but they will take approximately 10�14 days to fully harden. It is important to follow these guidelines:

■ When necessary you can walk on the floor in stocking feet after 24 hours. Avoid walking on the surface with street shoes for 7 days.
■ 90% of the curing takes place within 24 hours, but care should be taken for the first 2 weeks until the floor has fully hardened. Light furniture can be replaced in this time � use protective felt pads, and avoid dragging furniture as it may scratch the surface.
■ Heavy items such as fridges should be moved carefully ensuring they are not dragged over new floors.
■ Wait 2 weeks before laying rugs.

[Larry McCully]

geeeze mate, did ya get sore fingers writting all that.
Merry christmas to you bro, its a season to reflect on the reason.

[Dusty]

geeeze mate, did ya get sore fingers writting all that.
Merry christmas to you bro, its a season to reflect on the reason.

Have a great Chrissy, yourself, Larry.

All that writing is a cut n paste from the Toby web site. So for me it was done in two or thee clicks.