As evidenced by my other threads, I'm at the site almost every day, as I only live two miles away and pass it going to/from shopping etc. It's a spec town home being built in the builder's development, and they have a great policy of letting you visit as often as you wish, as long as you suit up in a hard hat. Now I also have to pick up a key since it's done enough to be locked down when workers aren't there. I've taken full advantage of this policy and have videotape and photos of everything behind the walls and even of the shared wall with the next door unit, as well as detailed photos from every stage of the build. I've also caught a couple of incorrect things early, like an incorrectly placed hose bib, so they were able to be corrected before it became a lot of time and trouble later. Because I don't own the home yet, I can't really tell the workers what to do. I say "hello" and chat with them about their work if they bring it up themselves, but mostly I try to stay out of their way. Still, it's handy to be there sometimes, like when the electrician was putting in the hot tub box, as he had a question that it was easiest to ask us (we paid for that added work, so I felt comfortable talking to him about the specs). Even though I have some minor bones of contention with the builder at the moment, overall the policy of letting me have unlimited access to the construction site has given me a lot more confidence. I marvel at people who don't get a good look before the final walk-through, as that's much too rushed and stressful of a time to get a good look at everything. I plan to go through by myself a few days before that so I can test and scrutinize things at my leisure. That way, I'll know exactly where to focus on that final day.

Relax. Folks have gone overboard about mold and mildew the past several years. Can you tell it apart from mildew...they appear the same visually to many folks? There are many different types of mold and most types don't cause any health issues at all. You don't even know what you have and chanced are very, very likely that is is harmless. Also what brickeye says above is correct. The poster that says run away is simply fueling the fire with this fear of anything in the mold/mildew area. If you are really fearful, get it tested to see what it is(is it the bad mold, and how to remedy). ServePro is a nationwide franchise that does cleanup for mold and also fire clean up, and all kinds of clean-up. They can test it and even suggest ways to clean it, remove it,prevent it if it is indeed problematic. Again, what brickeye says is real important. Don't stress over this.

Even the water based polyurethanes require sanding prior to use. The sanding machines are going to be LOUD. If you are BELOW them you are going to think their machines are going to come down on your head at ANY minute. It would be best to take a day or two off and be elsewhere while the work is happening. I like to see customers stay in town during a flooring refinish. It means they are close enough to visit the site in the morning and evening. They can keep an eye on progress and are within a short drive should the installers come across something unusual that needs the owner to view it and then approve it. Dogs are territorial. They can be traumatized by super loud events in their home that they are not allowed to 'deal with' (ie. not allowed to bark, not allowed to chase the people away, etc). Again it is a good idea to have dogs and cats out of the space while the work is being done. The 'fumes' of the water based polyurethanes can be bad (if your finishers went cheap) or it can be tough but with enough dry time/airing out time it is livable within a day (high priced stuff). Without knowing what product you are getting on your floors, we cannot comment any further on odour. Odour is the number 1 cause for homeowners to leave the house for the first few nights after the job is finished (and the nights DURING the work). Again, the PRODUCT dictates odour...not your nose or your lungs. Personally I would make sure I have a stay-cation during the work/application of the finishes. And remember: the colder it gets the longer it takes for the finishes to cure and the less likely you are to open up all the windows (yet keep the heat pumping) to let the house air out. All of those factors will add up. Dogs' noses are many thousand times more sensitive than ours and their lungs are smaller. That means they can have more issues then humans when it comes to odour and off-gassing. Cats are the same. Besides, you need to stay off the floors until the full cure happens. The dogs have to as well....and the furniture. Area rugs are to stay off for SEVERAL months (many refinishers will tell you to leave the rugs off the floor for 6 months or more). As you can see, all of this adds up to the decision to leave the home (overnight stays) during work and while the floor is curing/off-gassing. Please tell us which finish you have paid for.

With those window stickers they look more like the tops of heads with hats to me. If any of the spaces are bedrooms, I'm surprised the windows would meet the emergency escape ahd rescue opening requirements.