How Long Should I Let Freshly Coated Walls and Floors Off-Gas?

QUESTION:
We are moving to a new house and had the floors redone with a water based coating (3 finishes) and rooms painted with low VOC paint. I am six months pregnant and have a 3 year old daughter. How long should I stay out of house to prevent harm to my baby?

ANSWER:
I can't give you a definitive time, as the amount of time it takes for a finish to completely cure depends on the conditions, but you want to allow time for the finish to completely cure and stop outgassing volatile vapors. 

Heat will speed the process. I would say that if you heated the rooms for about a week, they should be safe at that point.

Debra :-)

This answer was provided by our friend, Debra Lynn Dadd. Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a pioneering consumer advocate since 1982, specializing in products and lifestyle choices that are safer for human health and the environment. She is the author of Home Safe Home.