5 Ways to Prevent the Sun from Ruining Hardwood Flooring

We all love it when sunlight pours in from a window, instantly brightening up a room. But the effect it has on your hardwood floors, furniture, upholstery and any appliances or accessories near the window is undesirable. Yes, we are talking about the uneven and unsightly fading that diminishes the beauty of your home, irrespective of the efforts you put into creating a mind-blowing interior.

What Causes Fading?

The sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, rays are the primary reason behind the uneven fading of furniture and upholstery. The fading is due to UV’s bleaching and corrosive effect. Whether you leave your windows open or shut, if there is no kind of screen for the sun or similar preventive mechanism, preventing damage can be difficult. But there are precautions you can take to slow down the process.

5 Tips to Prevent Sun Damage on Hardwood

The following are a few things you can do to prevent sun damage on hardwood flooring and furniture:

1. Run the A/C

Keeping the A/C on is the best way to control the temperature indoors and remove humidity. When humidity is under control, it protects hardwood flooring. An indoor humidity level between 40 and 60 percent is best for maintaining hardwood in mint condition. When humidity is absorbed by wood, it can expand and contort.

2. Use awnings

Installing awnings can seem like a big commitment, as they are expensive and impact the external look of your home extensively. But they also help prevent hardwood from fading as they provide shade against harmful rays. Faded hardwood looks unattractive and adversely affects the resale value of your home. As southern facing rooms usually gets the most sunlight, consider installing awnings over south-facing windows.

3. Use window film

Even when windows are closed, light filtering through glass can damage hardwood floors. Window films with UV protection are the best barriers against this situation. They are affordable and easily applied.

4. Cover up

The floor around the window that gets the most sunlight will fade the fastest. A quick fix is to hide the fading with furniture, carpets or area rugs. If the area is not yet faded, this will also act as a preventive. While using an area rug is the most practical solution, the fabric will also eventually fade and need to be replaced.

5. Landscaping near windows

This is a long-term plan and particularly useful if you are building a new home. Large trees provide shade if you give them enough time to grow. Shrubs and bushes serve the same purpose when placed strategically near and around the window. They help block sun rays, keep your home cool and add beauty to your home’s surrounding.

When choosing a flooring, consider the factors that affects its lifespan. With hardwood, fading is a major problem, and keeping the above-mentioned tips in mind will help you avoid this trouble. Taking the right precautions and using the right accessories can ensure that your floors last for years and do not look faded or discoloured just because you are enjoying the sunlight.