How to protect timber floors from sunlight
Timber floorboards are a popular choice due to their durability, however, like any organic material, timber floors can undergo changes over the years, including the potential for fading and discolouration.
These changes are typically due to moisture, heat and UV rays, and we’ve outlined how sunlight can affect your hardwood floors and how to prevent damage to keep your floors looking beautiful for years.
How does sunlight affect timber floors?
Sunlight can have a significant impact on hardwood flooring due to its inherent photosensitivity. Here are some ways in which sunlight affects hardwood flooring:
Fading and Discoloration
Hardwood floors are composed of natural wood fibres, which contain pigments that give the wood its characteristic colour. When exposed to sunlight and its UV rays, these pigments can break down over time, leading to fading and discolouration. The extent of fading is dependent on the wood species, the intensity of sunlight, and the duration of exposure.
Darkening
In some cases, sunlight can have the opposite effect, causing the wood to darken rather than fade. This darkening occurs due to the reaction of certain wood compounds to UV exposure, resulting in a deepening of the wood's colour.
Sunspots and Patterns
If you have rugs or furniture that cover certain parts of your floor, they can create sunspots or patterns over time. The blocked areas remain unaffected by sunlight, while the exposed areas experience fading, resulting in distinct patterns or marks.
Weakened Finishes
Sunlight can also contribute to the breakdown of the protective finish applied to hardwood floors. Over time, UV rays can weaken the finish, making it less effective in shielding the wood from further sunlight damage.
How to prevent timber floors from fading
Adding window treatments
Install curtains or blinds that offer UV protection. Closing these coverings during peak sunlight hours can reduce the amount of UV rays entering the space and reaching the hardwood floor.
Protective coatings
Ensuring your floorboards have been professionally polished and finished with quality products will be beneficial in safeguarding the wood from UV rays.
Routine maintenance
This is general advice, but ensuring that you follow a regular cleaning and maintenance routine will help ensure your floors are in the best condition to prevent sun damage.
Rearrange your furniture
Consider rearranging some of your furniture periodically (similar to rotating your mattress). This can be as simple as moving a rug, chair or side table to a different spot. This will help ensure that all areas of your floor receive varying degrees of sun exposure and prevent distinct patterns from forming.
What do I do if my floorboards are faded?
If your floorboards have areas of fading, yet it’s still subtle, we suggest trying the above tips to help even out the discolouration over time.
If however, the colour difference is very dramatic or repositioning your furniture isn’t helping to blend the areas as quickly as you’d like then the only option is to sand and refinish the floorboards. This is the fastest and best solution to the problem.
If you do decide to refinish your floors we recommend implementing the 4 preventive tips to reduce the risk of needing to restore your floors again in the near future.
Sydney’s Floor Sanding and Restoration Experts
Servicing Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore, Pittwater Eco Floor Sanding have a team of specialists who can provide you with the most up-to-date advice. If you have any questions about your timber floors, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
