This time of the year in Michigan, there’s nothing more pleasing than opening the curtains and allowing the spring sunshine to enter your home. However, it’s not very pleasing to hardwood floors.
Too much UV exposure can damage hardwood floors. Extended exposure to UV rays causes hardwood floors to lose their color and fade over time. Take a look at the following tips to ensure your hardwood floors remain safe from overexposure to sunlight this spring and fall.
Stains & Finishes
Using stains that have pigment (as opposed to dyes) and finishes with UV inhibitors can help slow down the process of fading of your hardwood floors.
Drapes, shutters & blinds
You don’t have to shut out all sunlight completely, but by using drapes and blinds, you can ensure your hardwood floors are safe from overexposure to UV rays. Light curtains are a great option because they’ll let some natural light in without directly exposing your floor to harmful UV rays.
Window films
Essentially this is a sticky material you can place on the inside of your windows that will lower the UV rays.
Fading from direct sunlight and UV exposure is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t limit it and extend the longevity and color of your hardwood floors. On a sunny day, take note of areas where direct sunlight is hitting your hardwood floors and use some of the strategies above to keep them safe.