Did you find hardwood onsite finishing manageable in terms of drying times and fumes? I've seen some low-VOC claims that still smelled pretty strong... ended up using cork tiles myself, easier install and surprisingly durable.
Totally agree with you on cork tiles—used them in a recent build and clients loved the comfort factor. As for hardwood onsite finishing, even the low-VOC stuff can be a bit misleading. A few things I've noticed:
- Drying times aren't usually the big issue; most modern finishes dry pretty quickly these days (within 24-48 hrs).
- But fumes? Yeah, that's another story... even products labeled "low-VOC" can still have a noticeable smell for days. Ventilation is key.
- One thing that helped was scheduling finishing work right before clients went away for a weekend or short trip. Gives the home extra time to air out without disruption.
- Also found water-based polyurethanes tend to have fewer fumes compared to oil-based ones, though durability varies.
Overall, manageable but definitely requires some planning ahead and realistic expectations about odor levels. Cork is honestly underrated—easy install and holds up surprisingly well over time.
We went with cork tiles in our kitchen reno last year, and honestly, best decision ever. Super comfy underfoot, and bonus points for being budget-friendly. On the hardwood finishing front, yeah...those "low-VOC" labels can be sneaky. We ended up doing water-based poly ourselves—definitely less smelly, but durability-wise it's been a mixed bag. Still holding up okay though, just gotta be gentle with furniture moves and stuff. Overall doable, just gotta plan ahead and keep expectations realistic.
Interesting to hear about your experience with water-based poly—I was considering it for our upcoming flooring project, but durability is definitely a concern. Did you find that applying extra coats helped at all, or was it more about the product itself? We're aiming for minimal VOCs too, but with kids and pets running around, durability is pretty high on our priority list...
I've used water-based poly quite a bit, and honestly, extra coats can really help with durability. But the key is proper prep—clean thoroughly, sand lightly between coats, and don't rush drying times... makes a huge difference with kids and pets in the mix.
