Refinishing Floors – Should I be Concerned

[redfishbluefish]

Having all the hardwood floors on the first floor sanded and polyurethaned (oil base), with the exception of the fish room. What’s the feeling about the vapors and effect on my tank? I can close the door to the fish room and maybe crack a window, weather permitting. Has anyone else polyurethaned floors in proximity of their tank?

 

[downbeach]

Having all the hardwood floors on the first floor sanded and polyurethaned (oil base), with the exception of the fish room. What’s the feeling about the vapors and effect on my tank? I can close the door to the fish room and maybe crack a window, weather permitting. Has anyone else polyurethaned floors in proximity of their tank?

I think I'd put a window fan in the fish room with the door closed and the fan pulling air in from the outside, creating a little pressure in the room to keep the fumes out. What is the drying time for the polyurethane?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Good idea with maintaining positive pressure on the room. Just have to wait and see what the weather/temperature is like the days we’re having it done.

What is the drying time for the polyurethane?

Day one, sand, seal and first coat.
Day two, second coat.
Day three, letting it dry
Day four, walk with socks
Day five, furniture returned.

I’m sure you’ll still be able to smell the polyurethane a few weeks after it is applied. But day one and day two will be heavy “evaporation” days with plenty of VOC’s put up into the atmosphere. Maybe I’ll throw a fresh carbon on the tank as well.

 

[AJ1080]

My parents had there hardwood floors redone with the oil when I was living with them a couple years ago.

First off. Cover the tank. I would also seal that door off the best that you can. The sanding process alone will send dust everywhere. When our floors were redone we found dust everywhere and I mean everywhere. We found it in rooms even when we shut the doors to the other rooms. This dust could probably cause havoc on its own because its not just wood, its actually wood and sanded off polyeutherthane.

Second, in between coats they will do some more sanding which will put more polyeutherthane into the air which could get in the tank if its not sealed.

Be prepared to stay out of the house longer. When ours was done we stayed out of the house for two extra days. While we were able to walk on it and put our furniture back, we could not stand the smell. Its some really nasty stuff and felt like I was going to pass out if I was there any more.

If I was you I would seal up that tank as much as possible. I remember reading about someone sealing their tank off for another renovation and running an air pump from outside into the tank. If this is feasible I would say this is your best bet. Otherwise seal off that door as much as possible, Im talking all fours seams if you can, put a cover over the top of the tank loosely and every the refugium. Its some really nasty stuff I wouldn't take any chances.

 

[shipwrecked]

I agree with AJ on covering the tank and running an airline from outside to the tank,also refreshing the carbon would also be a plus(I changed mine daily back when I did my hardwood floors here.Also,the dust will def be everywhere.The company we use here at the apts usually does everything in one day and its dry in 36hrs and ready to move in...Paul just a side note,some companies dilute the poly with thinner to help spread it and keep costs down..gd luck on yr gig-you cant beat a newly reconditioned hardwood floor

 

[onefish2fish]

turn off the skimmer. the MRC pulls too much air.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

turn off the skimmer. the MRC pulls too much air.

Agree, unless you can run the airling from outside to it...If you can do air from outside I would think it would be beneficial to leave it on.