give it more time. since it was humid and you had everything closed up during that time, it's just been sitting there. open windows, doors and have multiple fans running if you can. or call the guy back out and ask him what you're supposed to do. you can't bring kids into that environment. especially a baby.

If you have to have them re-sanded, use a water based polyurethane. I don't know why they did not do that in the first place.

Another reason for oil based paints and finishes to be taken off the market in Canad. There is no proof that oil based floor finishes are one bit better than non oil and yes it will stink sometimes for months especcially if you go out and leave all the windows closed for any length of time. So open all the windows as often as you can for at least week.

Cover the bottom of a shallow bowls with vinegar and place them around your house. We have found this helps remove the oil based odors.

There is a good possibility the finish used was past the Use By date and will not properly cure. Yes, even oil based poly has a shelf life.

I used an oil based floor poly on our flooring when I installed it ten years ago. The applications had to be 12 hours(+- an hour) between applications and the smell was gone in three days. I did get one gallon that was outdated and had to remove it after it would not cure.

If the finish has to be removed, use water based and buy from a paint store, not a home improvement store.

I don't think it was given sufficient time to dry between coats.

Sanding "off" means right down to raw wood and a complete start over - with the full cost carried by the homeowner. And yes, sanding off = smell is gone within a day or two.

A 3 coat application with water based polyurethane (the real stuff, not the "look a like" oil modified stuff) will take 2 days to complete and then full cure = 7-10 days. Then you can move in. The odours should be gone before you move in. That's how good the odours are with proper water based products (Bona, Loba, Vermont Natural Coating's Polywhey, etc). These are expensive products for a reason: they have EXCELLENT properties (quick dry times, very low VOCs, low odour, excellent wear, etc).

Wouldn't start over. Baking soda supposedly absorbes smells. Another option might be to set containers of a good quality odor absorbing, moisture absorbing, cat liter in every hidden place (under beds, etc.).

Yes, the Use By date is usually on the container. If out dated finish is the problem, it must be removed, as it will never cure properly.

Your problem is the finish trapped in the gaps of the floor. It takes a long time for the finish to cure in those locations. The smell is coming from there.

A high quality oil base polyurethane would cure in 14 days. The low end stuff will take 30 days or more.Unless you can remove the finish in the gaps, even if you re-sand and start all over with a water base finish. You will create a new problem - possible white line syndrome.

The uncured oil base urethane in the gaps will prevent the water base finish to bond properly over the gaps. I recommend you, ride it out. Use baking soda or silica packs to remove the odor. It's going to be a while.

If you have any gas appliances, like a cooking range or vented gas clothes dryer--any open flame, even candles, operating them will help burn off the VOC's faster. Even an electric clothes (vented) dryer will help burn them off but open flames work better and faster.

There will be a different odor from the burned VOC's that normally ventilating (open windows) will dissipate.

Photos please.

The "washboard" floor is a bigger issue than the smell. The cupping in that area is substantial. Wood will show you the DIRECTION that the moisture is coming from. Cupping like yours (the centre of the plank is LOWER than the edges...or the edges are sitting higher than the centres) is and excellent indicator as to where the moisture is coming from.

If you imagine the centre of the plank as an arrow head, you can see that the arrow head is pointing "down". That means there is a LARGE SOURCE of moisture sitting BELOW the floor. How that happened or why is another story. But the fact that you have moisture issues BELOW that section of flooring is "clear as day".

I'm sorry but you have multiple issues going on here. I would agree that 4 coats is causing a curing delay = LONG TIME getting rid of the smell. And the oozing from between the planks is an indication there is FAR TOO MUCH product on this floor (again, causing curing delays = lingering odours).

But the BIG issue is the lack of humidity control in your home. The cupping in your floors indicates there is too much moisture BELOW that area of floor (do you have a basement or crawl space???) that MUST be looked at.

Dehumidifiers need to be employed to get the moisture levels DOWN. And the dehumidifiers need to be used in the space BELOW the floor (pay close attention to the area below the cupping planks). The bonus being the finish will dry FASTER and will help reduce the smell FASTER.

You can use/rent temporary dehumidifiers running 24/7 (remember to empty the water tanks twice per day or you run the risk of a mini-flood = not helpful) for a quick fix. This will allow you time to find/pay for a permanent solution to the problem.

Please, please please investigate the MOISTURE problem BEFORE you try to fix the finish on this floor. If you sand down now, you run the risk of doing ++ damage to the cupped planks.

Is there cupping throughout or is it concentrated to an area? Picture 2 and 3 does not show cupping.

Check for leaks in that area: nearby appliances, bathrooms, windows and doors.

Just wondering if you ever found a solution to your problem? We have a similar problem and are trying to figure out possible solutions.