Sun damage can be a serious issue for homeowners with hardwood flooring.
Summer is finally here and the heat of the sun has begun to come to our attention. Not only that, we have also begun to worry about the damage the sun can do to our skin – hence, we put sunscreen on before we go outside for extended periods of time. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the sun can damage more than our skin. In particular, it can damage our home’s hardwood floors! And while you can’t rub down your floors with sunscreen to protect them, there are ways to protect your wood floors from fading and sun damage.
Why Do Wood Floors Suffer Sun Damage?
Wood floors are susceptible to the same thing that skin is – namely, ultraviolet (UV) rays. Studies have shown that about 40-60% of flooring damage in total is caused by UV rays. Heat and humidity are the other two primary drivers of damage.
Methods of Protection
One of the best ways to protect your hardwood flooring from fading and sun damage is to keep the blinds and curtains on your windows drawn. However, while this does prevent UV rays from entering your home, it isn’t exactly an ideal situation! If you want to continue enjoying natural light indoors this summer without damaging your wood flooring, there are a few methods you can try.
- Windows: Energy efficient windows are not only great at lowering your utility bills, they can also extend the life of your flooring. Look for Low-E coated glass, which is specially designed to filter over 95% of UV rays from entering your home. While this option costs more upfront than traditional windows, it can pay off in the long term by saving your wood floors from sun damage.
- Moving Furniture: A practical method of protecting your floors is to move the furniture in your room around regularly. This helps create more even sun exposure around your room and prevents fading spots.
- Floor Treatment: Ask your wood flooring specialist about sun-resistant wood floor finishes, which may be able to protect your floors from sun damage.
Trust Jason Brown Wood Floors for All Your Hardwood Flooring Needs!
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 3 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
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