Are there any smells or fumes associated with refinishing hardwood?
Yes. There are always some fumes or smells associated with the coating of hardwood floors. If you choose to alter your floors appearance with stain, these are oil based and therefore do have a smell to them. Even when using water based Poly Urethanes, the first coat is usually an oil-based sealer. This gives the wood a richer look and serves to seal the grain from subsequent coats of water-based finish, which can raise the grain, giving the floor a slightly rough texture. I would compare it to having your residence painted with either an oil or water based paint. There is an initial smell that soon dissipates over time.
