Updated November 6, 2026
Why there is no single answer
How long refinishing takes depends on the area, the floor's condition, whether stain is involved, the finish product, the number of coats, and the temperature and humidity in the home. A small room with a clear finish and a large connected main floor with a colour change are very different schedules. Your written scope should state the expected sequence for your floor.
The working stages
- Assessment and scope. Rooms, wood type, condition and access are confirmed, and the plan is written down.
- Preparation. Rooms are emptied and openings protected. See the preparation guide.
- Sanding. Progressive passes to clean wood, plus edges and corners, with vacuuming between steps. The sanding page covers what happens here.
- Stain, if chosen. Samples are reviewed on the floor, then stain is applied and must dry before finish goes on. See staining.
- Finish coats. Each coat needs drying time before the next; humidity and cold extend it.
Four milestones after the last coat
| Milestone | What it means |
|---|---|
| Light foot traffic | Walking carefully in clean socks; no shoes, pets or dragging anything |
| Furniture return | Lifting pieces back in place with felt pads, never sliding |
| Rugs back down | Usually later than furniture, because rugs can trap the finish while it cures |
| Full cure | The finish reaches its intended hardness; until then it marks more easily |
A real example of product timings
To show how far apart these milestones can be, one manufacturer's published sheet for a waterborne finish, Bona Mega ONE, lists a drying time of 2 to 3 hours between coats, walking after 24 hours, careful furniture return after 3 days, and full cure after about 5 days, with rugs kept off until then. It also notes that high humidity or low temperatures extend drying (Bona Mega ONE sheet; see also Bona finishes overview). This is an example only. It is not a statement of the product HFR Ottawa will use, and other products have different instructions.
Questions to ask before the work starts
- Which finish system is planned, and what are its stated drying and cure times?
- How many coats, and does the plan include stain?
- Which rooms are out of use, and for which stages?
- When can pets return to the floor?
- What indoor temperature and ventilation should we keep?
- When is it safe to put rugs back?
Planning tips
- Book the move-back of furniture for the furniture milestone, not the first day you can walk on the floor.
- Plan routes to the kitchen, bathroom and exits if you are staying at home.
- Leave buffer for weather: humid or cold spells slow drying.
Ready to plan? Request an estimate and mention any dates that matter. Floor condition may need assessment to confirm scope and pricing.
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