Hardwood floors are the pinnacle of style and the keystone of any Phoenix home’s aesthetic. When they look flawless, your whole house looks good. And everyone wants a gorgeous home–right? This is why homeowners fret so much over the care of their hardwood. One of the biggest fears being fading or sun bleaching. The sad truth is– there is no way to completely stop floors from fading and/or darkening over time. There, we said it. This is because the sun deteriorates every type of wood over time. That being said, you can slow down the process to a point you may not even notice the fading at all! Read on for some tips to stop the hardwood floors in your sun-drenched home from fading.
The Science Behind Hardwood Floors Fading
Wood is something called a photosensitive material. This means it reacts to the rays of the sun. Just like your skin gets darker when you tan in the sun, the UV rays affect wood on a cellular level too. Different wood species react differently. Some types of wood can withstand more UV exposure than others. In other cases, different types of wood fade while others darken. Regardless of how your wood floors react to the sun–the tips below should help your Phoenix floors fading.
Best Steps to Take to Keep Hardwood Floors From Fading
Since you can’t stop your floors from fading, here are some tips to help you aid them in fading very slowly. You can use all or some of these depending on your desired result.
Move rugs and furniture
It‘s very important to rotate your runs and rearrange your furnishings from time to time. This exposes different areas of the wood to the sun. Rugs especially need to be moved frequently to avoid sharp edges in discoloration
Buy Window Coverings
Drapes, curtains, shutters, or blinds offer a little bit of protection against UV rays. But work best when combined with other methods to slow hardwood floor fading.
Have UV Inhibiting Finishes Applied to the Wood
There are no wood finishes that completely stop sun-bleaching on the hardwood (although many claims to). However, there are some products on the market that do actually slow it. Look for high-end water-based systems for your Phoenix home’s hardwood floors. They will reduce ambering and fading and will also make your floors more durable.
Have UV Blocking Window films Applied
In our line of work we are very aware that –the most effective way to reduce fading of hardwood floor and furnishings by having UV blocking window tint applied. It stops harmful rays so it evens out the fading process and slows it down. Window films are made to block 99.9% of the harmful rays coming into your home. The best part? Window tinting costs way less than replacing your hardwood floor!
Keep your hardwood floors looking gorgeous and learn more about a window film option to stop hardwood floors and furnishings from fading by reaching out to us today for information on UV blocking window film for your Phoenix home and pricing!