Question
How long does oil based wood stain off gas?
We had hardwood floor installed throughout the upstairs where the bedrooms are. I wanted to use non toxic products, but after it was all done I found out that oil based stain was used. The three top coats were Bona Traffic. I am hopefull that that will stop the off gassing of the stain, but the smell is still there, not as bad as it was but I can still smell it. It has been about 3 weeks now. I have a young child and I am worried about too much toxins in his room. Any suggestion on how I can make this work without refinishing the floor?
Answer
Use a high quality paste wax like Howard's to wax the floors. Rent a floor buffer and follow the directions on the can.
This should seal in most of the chemicals.
For more information:
Read Steve Rush's Q&A "How do you remove or encapsulate non-green wall and floor finishes?"
