HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HARDWOOD FLOOR FROM THE SUMMER SUN

12 April 2012
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HARDWOOD FLOOR FROM THE SUMMER SUN

The majority of people know that getting their hardwood floor regularly wet is a sure way to cause damage. Wooden flooring can warp and swell if it is subjected to regular moisture. However, did you know that direct sunlight can also be a problem for your hardwood floor?

Most of the UK has seen a good deal of sunny weather already this year and it’s hoped the warm weather will continue throughout the summer. But whilst you may enjoy the sun, your hardwood floor might lose some of its surface lustre if it’s constantly subjected to direct sunlight.

Why is my floor affected by sunlight?

If a wooden floor is subjected to too much sunlight the surface of the floor can discolour, either darkening the surface or bleaching the surface. We didn’t say this discolouration of the wood is a bad thing, to the contrary, in some cases the aging process due to direct sunlight can actually bring out the wood’s natural colours.

All natural wood will show signs of discolouration over time but there are a few things you can do to slow the process down.

How can I stop sunlight damaging my wooden floor?

It’s a good idea to try to minimise the amount of direct sunlight your hardwood floor receives. You can do this easily if you close blinds or curtains before leaving the home. It’s also a good idea to move rugs and furniture around the room from time to time. This means that if the floor is discoloured you won’t get darker or lighter patches on the floor surface and the entire floor will age as one entity.

There are also products on the market that can be applied to the windows as a clear film and block out 99% of the damaging ultraviolet light.