However, you should consider that the sunlight may damage your hardwood floors. In order for you to continue to do so, you need to take precautions.

To do so, we recommend that you read the following guide. And also, don’t forget to check out all the posts on our blog!

How can sunlight damage hardwood floors?

First of all, you need to know that wood floors are light sensitive, so they react to sunlight. Damages such as discoloration, darkening, or white spots are caused by ultraviolet (UV) light rays, heat, and moisture.

The exposure time to serious damage varies with the type of wood and its thickness.

Install blinds and curtains

Now, to prevent or minimize these changes as much as possible, the blinds are a big ally. By placing blinds or curtains on your windows, you will make sure the floor is not constantly exposed from sunrise to sunset.

Remember to close them whenever you leave or when you are not using sunlight. Transparent curtains even allow light to go through without it being directly against the floor. You can also place horizontal curtains that allow you to direct the entrance of light towards the wall or the ceiling.

Window films

You can put in window film. They consist of sheets of several thin layers, which are glued to the window glass, and what they do is a rebound effect of UV rays or infrared lights, preventing a large percentage of them from entering the room and touching the floors. These sheets can be transparent or darker than glass.

UV light inhibiting finishes for your floors

There are also other ways to take care of your floors, such as finishes with UV inhibitors that are placed directly on the floors, such as lacquers, varnishes, or wax or oil finishes.

This protective finish layer will prevent the UV rays that enter from directly affecting the wood because it will make it more difficult to penetrate, which will reduce the color change of the wood by a high percentage.

Low-E glass windows

If you are renovating your home or you have in mind to make a change in the windows, do not hesitate to replace the windows with low-e glass.

These glasses have a special coating that reduces the entrance of rays that damage the layers of wood. We recommend advising you about this, as there is a large amount in the market.

Modify the organization of your furniture

Finally, a good idea is to modify the distribution of the furniture in your home. Make sure to place them so that sofas or carpets can prevent direct sunlight from coming into contact with the wood. In this way, the floors will last longer in your house with the colors intact.

This was some advice to help you minimize the damage to your hardwood floors! Don’t forget that we do refinishing work for your house! Ask us for a free quote today!