The sun can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to hardwood flooring. On one hand, natural sunlight can bring warmth and beauty to your home. But on the other hand, it can cause sun bleaching, fading, and discoloration of your wood floors.
Understand how the sun affects wood flooring. This knowledge can help you protect your floors, furniture, and rugs from damage.
Discover what you can do to minimize the sun’s effects. Sunlight affects wood flooring. UV rays break down the coating, causing it to fade and discolor.
This process happens gradually over time. To prevent this from happening, you should invest in window treatments like blinds or shades that will block out direct sunlight. You can also
Regular floor sanding is important for maintaining the appearance of hardwood floors. This helps to remove any damage caused by UV rays or other factors. Take these simple steps to protect your hardwood floors from sun bleaching. This will keep them looking beautiful for years.
Signs The Sun Is Damaging Your Wood Floors
The Floor Is Fading
The most noticeable sign that your wood floors are getting bleached is when the color of the wood starts to fade. The floor may appear lighter in areas exposed to sunlight. Its wood stained color is not as rich or vibrant as before. It may appear as an irregular pattern or shape.
Discoloration Of Your Flooring
Sunlight can cause the wood floor to become discolored, especially when exposed to water or other liquids. You may notice stains or dark spots on the surface of the floor that appear oddly shaped.
Cracks In The Floor
Sun bleaching can sometimes cause hardwood floors to dry out and shrink, leading to small cracks and separation between the boards. This can also cause movement and noises when walking over the floor.
Change in Texture
Prolonged exposure to sunlight can dry out the wood. This can make the texture rough and can lead to splintering or even breaking. You may also notice creaking or cracking noises when you walk on the wood floors.
Prevent Sun Damage To Your Floors
Exposure to sunlight can cause wood flooring to fade and bleach. Over time, this can lead to permanent damage. There are steps you can take to prevent this. Here are a few:
Install Window Treatments
The easiest way to prevent sun damage to your hardwood floors is to block the sunlight from entering the room. Installing window treatments, such as curtains, blinds, or shades, can be an effective solution.
Close the window treatments during the day when the sun is strongest. This will reduce the direct sunlight that reaches your floors. This is also a cost effective way to save your wood floors.
Use UV-Resistant Film
UV-resistant film can be installed on windows to block harmful UV rays from entering the room. The film is transparent, enabling light to pass through without distortion. Additionally, it can block up to 99% of UV rays. Many newer windows allow to have this feature.
Apply a Protective Coating
Applying a clear, UV-protective coating to your wood floors can help protect against sun damage. The coating helps to protect the wood flooring from the sun’s bleaching effects. This reduces color fading, preserving the natural look of floors.
Rotate Rugs and Furniture
Rearranging area rugs and furniture can help to prevent uneven fading across the floor. Rugs and furniture protectors that block light reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the wood floors. This can be an effective way to protect them from sun damage.
Use Window Tinting
You can install tinted windows that absorb UV rays, reducing the amount of light that penetrates the window. This approach has multiple benefits. It reduces the sun’s impact on your floor, increases energy efficiency, reduces room glare, and improves your home’s privacy.
Routine Hardwood Floor Maintenance
There’s no reason to just ignore your sun bleached wood floors. Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for many Minnesota homeowners, but it requires regular maintenance to keep it in good condition. To ensure your hardwood floors look great for years, get maintenance from a professional. Regular hardwood floor care is the best way to keep your floors looking great.
Good maintenance includes sanding and refinishing the floors every few years, as well as deep cleaning them on a regular basis. Routing maintenance will help you maintain the beauty of your hardwood flooring and make sure it lasts for many years.
Twin City homeowners are aware that hardwood flooring is an attractive and long-lasting option for their homes. However, it can be prone to sun damage, even in northern Minnesota. It is essential to take the right measures to safeguard your hardwood flooring from the sun’s strong rays. This will help keep it looking great and last for many years.
Dave’s Floor Sanding in the Minneapolis area is here to help you. We provide tips on how to maintain and protect your hardwood flooring from sun damage. Dave’s offers different types of wood flooring.
Dave’s has engineered hardwood, solid wood, with a variety of wood stains available. These products help create a comfortable home atmosphere. We can install hardwood floors, or fix your faded hardwood flooring. Contact us today to get started!