I've noticed an overwhelming odor from what I believe is a varnish, and it's been three weeks since its application. How can I tell if it's really a water-based varnish, or did someone lie and use an oil-based one instead?
2 Answers
From my experience, water-based finishes usually off-gas within a few days to a week at most. If it’s still that strong after three weeks, it’s probably oil or solvent-based. It’s not typical for water-based products to last that long with an odor.
I totally agree! If it’s oil-based, the smell can linger much longer. Just walking into the apartment and having the odor stick around means something isn’t right. You shouldn’t be tasting it either!