One Easy Solution Can Help Prevent Your Hardwood Floors From Fading Over Time

There's no denying that floor-to-ceiling windows and hardwood floors make a gorgeous pair, but if you're not careful, it could bring about some unintended consequences. If your goal is to preserve their original color, you may be damaging your hardwood floors without noticing simply by letting the sun in. Hardwood floors are prone to fading as a result of three factors: excessive heat, moisture, and light. Too much sun will cause your hardwood to lose its original luster over time. Thankfully, you can preserve the color of your wood floors by being strategic with your area rugs and furniture. You can also try using window coverings and upgrading your windows with UV-filtering glass.

It's important to keep in mind that not all hardwood fades to a lighter color. Walnut, for example, is a rich brown shade that transforms into light honey-colored wood over time. Cherry and maple, on the other hand, will become darker with time. Fading is a natural part of the hardwood's aging process and many people find the effects beautiful. However, certain factors in your space will either speed up or slow down the fading of your wood floors. Even if you don't have the budget for fancy new windows, there's plenty that you can do to keep your floors as rich in color as the first day you had them.

As we've now established, light and heat can cause hardwood floors to fade over time, which means hardwood floors may not be the best option if your home is filled with natural light. Hardwood floors can be costly to install, especially natural solid wood. Fortunately, all you need to preserve your floor is a few area rugs, rearranged regularly over time. This way, you can minimize light exposure to the floor underneath and prevent uneven fading. The key is to use moderation and to stay ahead of the game. If only one area of your space gets direct sunshine, the flooring in that area is likely to show signs of fading faster. 

In addition to moving your area rugs around, choosing the right finish is a key trick to protect your hardwood floors; opt for a pigment stain and water-based finish, both of which will help preserve the color longer. Another solution is to modify the windows. Use window coverings as often as possible during peak sunshine hours. Translucent curtains or light-filtering blinds will still allow some natural light into the space and protect your floors from the full heat of the sun. If you're willing to make a bigger investment, consider fitting your windows with low-emissivity, or low-e, glass. Low-e windows reduce heat and UV light, which will preserve your hardwood and make your home more energy efficient in the process.