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.

Floor varnish fumes.

For the first few days airing out the house should be a priority. However exposure to paint and its fumes has the potential to cause irritation of the skin eyes and throat. Both water and oil based polyurethane protect natural wood floors leaving behind a shiny coating. This article is for information only.

Water based polyurethane creates a clear finish while oil based polyurethane dries to an amber. This is difficult during the winter months but keeping air moving is. Lacquer is a clear or colored coating called a varnish that is often used to give wooden surfaces a glossy look. Moreover the vocs that many paint products contain can.

Brush up on the basics of 8 popular options before choosing yours. Federal law requires varnishes to contain less than 450 grams of vocs per liter with. Green building council ranks varnish and lacquer as the worst offenders in terms of voc off gassing. Learn more about ecos paints water based varnishes.

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. Epoxy paint contains toxic chemicals known as isocyanates that help to create this effect. Most paints are very safe. Breathing in the fumes for a long period is also harmful.

The finished product is a smooth glossy and durable surface that is easy to clean. The solvents in varnish are extremely pungent and the fumes can cause drowsiness headaches skin irritation and dizziness. Many varnish products contain benzene which is a known carcinogen that is highly flammable. Lacquer is dangerous to swallow.

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. Do not use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure.