If you’ve just installed a flawless, shiny hardwood floor, then the first thing on your mind would probably be maintaining the color and shine of your wood planks. One element that can stand in your way of achieving that is sun damage, which can easily affect your hardwood floor with enough daily exposure.
Luckily, there are a couple of solutions that homeowners swear by. If you want to know how to prevent sun damage to your hardwood floor, check out the following 7 solutions.
1. Window Treatments
First things first, get an adequate window treatment. One of the easiest and most common steps to take when preventing sun damage is using curtains, shades, or blinds. Whichever suits your taste should help limit sun exposure.
Whenever your hardwood is exposed to direct sunlight, window treatments must always be drawn to avoid most of the sun damage.
Limiting your exposure to sunlight might need some getting used to at first. However, if you can’t stand not getting exposed to sunlight, you can get light curtains, which will diffuse sun rays to some extent but not block them altogether.
2. Window Films
Wood is highly photosensitive, irrespective of what type of wood you’re getting. However, every type of wood will react differently, meaning that sunlight can either darken or lighten your wood to varying degrees.
That happens mostly due to the sun’s UV rays, which can’t be fully blocked out without proper repellant or filter. This is where window films come in.
Since most sunlight affecting the hardwood floors gets into your house via the windows, installing window films with protective layers is an excellent idea for blocking UV rays. Be sure that you purchase quality window films with UV blocking properties that can block up to 99% of the UV rays.
Additionally, window films will also add a slight tint to your windows, so if you don’t like the sunny glare, these films will tone them down for you.
3. Window Awnings
Another protective measure you can take is installing window awnings. This might work if you don’t want to purchase window films. Although they might slightly alter your home façade, they can still offer top-notch protection against sun rays by adding much-needed shade.
Unfortunately, window awnings might limit how much sunlight filters into your house, but if protecting your hardwood floors is a top priority for you, this will be an excellent solution.
Plus, window awnings reduce heat and sun rays in summer and increase them in winter, so you won’t have to spend as much money as you used to on energy bills.
4. Window Replacement
If you’re about to replace your windows, you might as well pick new ones that are sunray and UV-resistant. This can be a helpful solution for anyone who’s recently moved in or upgrading their home.
You can upgrade your window glass to a low-E coated glass or laminated glass, each with UV radiation protective properties. Note that not all manufacturers will outright state how protective their glass is against UV rays, so this matter is worth inquiring after.
You should also bear in mind that laminated and low-E glass might not be budget-friendly instead of traditional options, but they’re certainly more protective.
5. Rugs
Since sun rays are bound to beat on your hardwood floor one way or another, you might want to cover it up with rugs or carpets. Covering areas of your hardwood floor that receive too much direct sunlight is highly important.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that your rugs will sustain sun damage, especially if you keep them in one place for an extended period.
If you don’t want to rely on rug protection, you can use a spray-on protector, especially those receiving sunlight and UV rays the most. You should also rotate your rugs or move them from one place to another to prolong their life expectancy.
6. Furniture Placement
Your furniture probably takes a large portion of your floors, serving as a means of protection against sun damage. However, this way, only the exposed areas of your floor will be damaged, making them distinct from the rest of your hardwood flooring.
Nonetheless, the same principle of moving rugs around applies to furniture. If you want to reduce the UV ray effect on specific areas of your floors and furniture, you’ll have to change your furniture placement yearly.
Indeed, this method won’t entirely prevent sun damage, but it disperses the effect of UV rays so no distinct tan lines will be created, and your hardwood floor will be as clean as ever.
7. Products With UV Protection
The market is stacked with an array of products. Natural or chemical-based products are usually the go-to options for most homeowners, but since your hardwood floors can be a bit more delicate, investing in products with UV protection will be an optimal solution.
Cleaners and finishes that offer UV or sun protection for hardwood floors are designed precisely for your needs, so be sure to invest in a quality brand cleaner to up your UV protection. Just make sure that the cleaner isn’t potent enough to cause fading.
As for finishes, it’s also best to invest in materials that are scratch, moisture, and sun-resistant. Of course, refinishing your hardwood floor should be done before using any cleaning products to minimize significant damage to the wood itself.
Bottom Line
It’s probably best that you use a combination of solutions instead of only one. For example, using both rugs and window treatments is the easiest and budget-friendly solution homeowners can use.
However, if sunlight is particularly harsh, you can use more effective methods, like using UV-resistant products or window awnings.
Once you’ve determined your budget and how much sunlight your hardwood floor is being exposed to, protecting your hardwood floor will be as easy as pie!