Question from amie
Hi Debra
I am moving into a house that was refinsihed with polyurethane on the wood throughout the house. They did this last April so it has been 3 months. I was diagnosed with MCS six years ago. I tolerate more these days but am afraid that this will affect me. Besides heating the house do you recommend I use safecoat product to seal in offgasing or do you think this is enough time for it to cure. I did have a light reaction when I first got into house. They have since aired out and it felt better. Would love your advise
thank you
Debra’s Answer
Oil-based wood finishes and paints take a very long time to cure, many months.
Once I advised a client with oil-based paint to “bake” his house to remove the odor. This actually speeds up the outgassing process. He baked his house for two weeks and that totally handled it. Odor gone.
I can’t tell you how much heating it will take. But once it is completely outgassed it won’t be toxic. Polyurethane actually isn’t toxic. It’s all the solvents and additives that are in the finish. If you had a “light reaction” and felt better after it was aired out, it may be well on it’s way to being fine and you might only need a week or two of baking.
I don’t recommend that you put another finish on top. It’s better to cure this one to complete outgassing.
I second Debra’s advise to not install another finish over these floors.
But in my experience working with people who have been chemically injured, the ability to tolerate even water based polyurethane finishes is highly variable. If you live in a climate where the house will be closed during cooler months, continuing to take advantage of every opportunity to ventilate now will help.
But please remember that an inability to detect an odour is not assurance of health. If headaches, body aches, excess fatigue, changes in tolerance levels, etc. occur with less ventilation, be sure to increase it and monitor if that helps.
The good news is that, if this is water based polyurethane (and it may well be if you’re doing a bit better after only 3 months), it (and you!) will continue to improve with time.