When Can I Put Furniture on Refinished Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors are aesthetically beautiful, but they need high care and maintenance. A simple miss-step can ruin your expensive hardwood floor. Most people often end up ruining the hardwood floors they try to enhance by placing furniture way before the finish has been set in and thoroughly dried. Hence, one of the most common questions often asked by homeowners with hardwood floors is, “When can I put furniture on refinished hardwood floors.?

It would help if you waited 4 days to move the furniture back in. Four days is enough time to allow the floor dry and cure naturally. When moving furniture around, avoid pulling or dragging it. Your feet may be already dry, but this doesn’t eliminate the risk of creating scratches, scuffs, and dents.

Each refinished floor is different and might need an additional period to cure fully. Therefore, In this article, I will discuss in detail the length of time your refinished hardwood floors will be ready to accommodate your furniture. So, let’s dig into the topic in detail.

Also Read: Can You Put Rubber Backed Area Rugs on Hardwood Floors?

When Can I Put Furniture On Hardwood Floors?

Your furniture may have jagged edges. These corners can do irrevocable harm to your new wooden floors. If you put it back too soon, it will affect both its durability and attractive appearance. The amount of time you need to wait before putting furniture back on refinished hardwood floors depends entirely on the thing- the type of Polyurethane used.

Typically, there are two main types of polyurethanes-

Oil-Based Polyurethane
Water-Based Polyurethane

Oil-Based Polyurethane- When To Put Furniture On Refinished Hardwood Floors

Oil-based polyurethane generally takes more time to dry completely. In addition, you must apply more finish coats to ensure longevity. For example, if three coats are to be applied, the application made done in 3 consequential days. Each coat must be given at least 24 hours to dry. Stains also require at least 24 hours to dry. Color stains may require more time.

Factors such as humidity may affect the set drying timeline. If the weather is humid, it will take longer for the finishes to dry. Other factors that may affect the drying time may also depend on factors such as the type of wood and species of wood. Wait at least 2-3 days after the last coat before placing the furniture.

Water-Based Polyurethane- When To Put Furniture On Refinished Hardwood Floors?

Water-based polyurethane generally takes much less time to dry off completely. Each coat needs between 2-4 hours to dry. So within 48 hours, the floor should be dry, and you can safely put the furniture back. Still, wait at least 3-4 days if you have applied water-based polyurethane, and remember to use furniture sliders when moving the furniture back in to avoid ruining the floor. Also, place high-quality woolen furniture pads to protect your floors and help keep them in place.

Also Read: What Kind of Rug Pad is Safe for Hardwood Floors?

When Should You Put Furniture On Refinished Hardwood Floors?

Ideally, you should weigh at least 4 weeks before placing heavy furniture on your refinished hardwood floors. Since dragging heavy furniture can leave scratch marks. To avoid it, use high-quality furniture sliders for hardwood floors to make the moving process much easier and hassle-free and protect your hardwood floors against damage from furniture feet.

Use felt furniture pads when you finally place the furniture on the floor. These pads will create a strong shield between your furniture feet and the hardwood floor, thus protecting the floor against dents, scratches, and scuffs. It will also protect your floor from furniture stains. However, these furniture pads should always stay in place to protect and prolong the life of your beautiful hardwood floors.

If you have dogs, consider having them walk on the floor- not until at least 2 weeks are over. Dogs and hardwood floors just don’t mix. Dogs’ nails can scratch the floors. The last thing you want is unsightly scratches over your feet after the expensive refinishing process.

Of course, you don’t need to wait 2 weeks to get your furry friend back to the house. Since it’s okay to walk on a refinished hardwood floor after just 24 hours (you need to wear socks, though), your dog can wear doggie boots.

You just have to ensure that they have them on all the time. Unless you install a carpet or rug on your hardwood floors, moreover, always have your dog wear some doggie boots.

How Long To Wait Before Putting Rug Back On Refinished Hardwood Floors?

You’ll need to wait at least 4 weeks before installing the rugs back on refinished hardwood floors. It will allow it to cure completely.

Also Read: How to Keep Furniture from Sliding on Hardwood Floors

But why wait this long?

You see, rugs made from natural fibers such as wool or silk can easily get damaged by the new finish, especially if dyed with organic dyes. It is unlike rugs made with synthetic fibers and dyes.

The petroleum-based varnishes, waxes, and solvents can penetrate the rug fibers and dissolve into the dyes. It damages the rug and discolors your newly refinished hardwood floors. That’s why it’s essential to wait until the 4 weeks period elapses to install the area rugs. You should especially be cautious about synthetic fiber-backed and rubber back rugs.