Walking on newly installed floors too soon can damage them and cause premature wear. It would be best if you wait the recommended time outlined by the flooring contractors before allowing foot traffic on your new floors. Professional Home Remodeling Contractors typically recommend a minimum waiting period of 24 to 48 hours, but this can vary depending on the type of flooring material. For example, hardwood floors require longer curing than laminate or vinyl flooring.
Here’s a quick guide to help you understand how soon you can walk after floor installation on your property, and before that, we will answer some important questions.
Why should you wait before walking on new floors?
Walking on newly installed floors too soon can damage them and cause premature wear. This is because the adhesive or sealant needs time to get fixed properly. If you walk on your new floors before they’re ready to use, you risk damaging them beyond repair. In some cases, you may be able to buff out minor scratches or scuffs. But if the damage is severe, you’ll likely have no choice but to replace the affected boards or tiles.
How long should you wait before walking on newly installed floors?
Most floor installation contractors recommend waiting 24 to 48 hours before walking on newly installed floors. However, this waiting period can vary depending on the type of flooring material. For example, hardwood floors require longer curing than laminate or vinyl flooring.
Here is the list of floor material times and recommended times to start walking on
– Hardwood: 3 days
– Laminate: 1 day
– Vinyl plank: 12 hours
– Carpet: 12 hours
– Title: 12 hours
Carpet Flooring:
If you’ve had carpet flooring installed, you’ll typically be able to walk on it within 24 hours. However, it’s important to avoid stepping on the carpet with shoes that could damage it. In addition, it’s best to keep pets off the mat for at least 48 hours to give them time to adhere to the floor fully.
Hardwood Flooring:
Hardwood flooring usually takes around 48 hours to be fixed. Once it has been set, you can walk on it as usual. However, just like with carpeting, it’s important to avoid wearing shoes that could scratch or scuff the surface of the hardwood.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is usually ready for use within 24 hours. However, as with carpeting and hardwood, it’s best to avoid walking on laminate with shoes that could damage it.
Vinyl plank Flooring
After installing your vinyl plank floor, you might be eager to start walking on it immediately. However, it’s important to give the floor time to set properly before putting any weight on it. Most manufacturers recommend waiting 12 hours after installation before walking on the floor. This will give the adhesive time to dry and bond with the subfloor. Once the adhesive is fixed, your vinyl plank floor can withstand heavy traffic.
So, even though it might be tempting to walk on your new floor as soon as possible, it’s important to wait a few hours to ensure that the floor is installed correctly.
Carpet Flooring
So you’ve just had your brand new carpet flooring installed, and you can’t wait to walk on it. But how long should you wait before walking on it?
According to most experts, you should wait at least 24 hours before walking on your new carpet. This gives the adhesive time to stick and bond with the subfloor properly. If you walk on it too soon, you risk damaging the carpet or loosening the adhesive.
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Tile Flooring
Generally speaking, most type of tile (including ceramic, porcelain, and quarry) needs at least 24 hours before walking on it. This gives the grout time to set properly and prevents the tiles from shifting or damaging. Some types of tile, such as natural stone, may take longer to get fixed- up to 72 hours in some cases.
Conclusion:
So there you have it! A quick guide to help you determine when you can walk on your newly installed floors without ruining them. Just remember: when in doubt, err on the side of caution and give your feet a little extra time before walking on them.
