How to Protect Your Hardwood Floor from Sun Damage  

10/21/2024

If you have hardwood floors in your home or office, you are probably aware of the fact that direct sunlight can cause significant damage to your floor. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can very easily cause discolouration, fading, and even warping. After moving a piece of furniture or a rug, many of us have noticed that the floor’s covered part is either darker or lighter compared to the rest of the floor. The longer the wood remains covered, the more prominent the colour difference.  

Fading, darkening, and bleaching in hardwood floors because of sun exposure is a complex phenomenon. This is the result of overexposure to visible light, infrared (IR) light, and ultraviolet (UV) light. Out of these three factors, UV light has the highest impact on the colour of hardwood. All wood species are photosensitive, but different species don’t react similarly to UV light. For example, many tropical wood species such as Tigerwood or Brazilian Cherry react very fast to UV exposure. On the other hand, Maple, Hickory, and Red Oak bleach out at a much slower rate. Discolouration because of sun exposure also depends on the type of finish on the hardwood floor. Combined with visible and UV light, infrared light reacts with the finish and turns it yellowish or darker.   

It is definitely possible to protect your hardwood floor from sun damage, but there is no single solution to fix this problem. If you are able to follow a number of preventive measures it is possible to minimise and slow down the impact.  

Measures to Minimise Sun Damage 

Try to rearrange your floor coverings and furniture from time to time. This will expose the previously covered floor areas to sunlight and equalize the IR and UV light exposure. As the fading process evens out, the floor colour throughout the room will remain consistent.  

Some of the best protections against direct sun exposure are curtains, shutters, blinds, or drapes. This is one of the simplest ways to significantly reduce the amount of UV and IR light reaching your floor. If you have the budget, you may consider installing motorized shades or screens for more convenience.  

Another excellent solution is the application of multi-layered, specialty films on the windows. While these films allow visible light to enter the room, they can prevent the UV and IR light from entering to a great extent. 

You can also protect hardwood floors from sun damage by blocking the sun’s harmful rays even before they reach your windows. Retractable or stationary awnings are great options in this regard. 

There are some finishes that can significantly slow down the fading of sun-exposed hardwood floors.  You may opt for a high-end water-based system because these systems are extremely durable and resistant to ambering and fading.    

If you have already tried removing and/or moving the furniture and rugs and still there is a very prominent colour difference across the floor, you may have to consider sanding and refinishing your floor. In case of any hardwood flooring-related concerns or doubts, please contact our experts at Enoak.