Preventing Wood Floor Fading: What You Need to Know

Reduce Fading in Wood Floors: Key Maintenance Tips and Care

Hardwood floors add warmth, sophistication, and classic beauty to any home. They come in a multitude of colorful, grains, and species that allow homeowners to adapt and match any interior style. The unfortunate part about hardwood is the UV light from the sun, extra moisture from air or other factors, and wear and tear from everyday life can lead to dulling exhaustion of the floor, even if they were once stunning and colorful upon installment.

Knowing why this happens will also help you protect your solid wood investment, and maintain its beauty for a lifetime. There is some flexibility here — by implementing steps to reduce or avoid wood floor fading, you will be able to better protect your wood floors, and keep them looking fresh and clean for years to follow.

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Wood Floor Fading Causes

Identifying the causes of fading will help minimize fading sooner. These are the main causes:

1. Direct Sunlight
   Excess exposure to sunlight is the biggest factor in fading wood floors. All types of sunlight (UV rays, visible light, and infrared heat) contribute to fading, but UV rays have the largest effect on fading. After months, even moving a rug will show a darker area underneath vs. the exposed area. Limiting sunlight exposure is still one of the best ways to protect your floors.
2. Moisture
   Moisture due to spills, leaks, or humidity can cause fading, warping, and other discoloration. Sealants can help, but they wear out. Sealed floors can also absorb a lot of moisture via humidity. Prompt clean-ups and climate control for your space make a difference.
3. Dirt, Grit, and Debris
   Dust and grit may not seem like a big deal but it can wear down the protective finish over time. Once the sealant has worn away, the wood is exposed to sunlight, stains, and moisture damage — all of which can damage a wood floor. Routine maintenance cleaning and care will slow down fading.
4. Road Salt
   If you live in a cold climate, the salt from your boots can corrode sealants and stain the wood. Road salt can ruin finishes quickly because of its abrasive qualities, so floors can be at risk for fading again. If you use entry mats and do routine cleaning, this can mitigate that risk.
5. Aging
   Even with the best of care, natural aging will occur on wood floors. After years of use, the floor surface will dull — this is a natural process. Foot traffic, sunlight, and the environment all affect fading.

How to Avoid Fading of Wood Floors

By taking great care, you can prolong the life of your floors, and how they look.

1. Limit Sunlight Exposure
   The best way to avoid fading of wood floors is to block or filter sunlight. Use curtains, blinds, or UV protective window film during peak sunlight hours. Move furniture and rugs in certain areas to reduce sunlight exposure.
2. Move Rugs and Furniture Regularly
   Moving rugs and furniture from time to time will ensure sunlight is distributed evenly across the floor. Unequal sunlight exposure will cause one section of the floor to fade in comparison to other sections, making it much harder to correct when the fading darkens up those sections. Just moving the rug every few months will help maintain a more uniform color.
3. Refinish and Reseal the Floors
   Resealing every 2 to 3 years protects against UV and moisture damage. If your floors have begun to fade, refinishing the floors can restore a fresh look with new stain. Use a water-repellent sealant that protects against UV for the best defense.
4. Consistently Clean the Floors
   Daily sweeping and weekly mopping will remove dirt and debris prior to it scratching your finish. Each time you walk on the floor, even tiny particles can grind your sealants down and allow sun and moisture to damage the wood.
5. Keep the Floors Dry
   Water is the enemy, leading to swelling, stains, and warping. Clean up spills as they happen and use a dry cloth to clean up excess water. Employ a wet/dry vacuum when necessary for larger amounts. Stagnant water, i.e., leaks, can lead to a buildup of moisture that will warp wood, so fix leaks quickly and keep humidity levels indoors controlled.
6. Protective Rugs and Mats
   Mats serve to protect floors from the sun and also wear. Use rugs that are open backed to allow trapped moisture to escape. Move rugs regularly to evenly distribute exposure to light.
7. Control Indoor Humidity
   Humidity levels should be kept within the range of 30% to 60% to prevent damage to wood. Too low of a humidity level causes wood to dry out, while high levels can result in warpage. Use humidifiers or dehumidifiers to maintain humidity within that range.

Other Elements That Affect Fading

1. Species of Wood
   Different species of wood fade at varying rates. Some species of wood such as maple, red oak, and hickory fade slowly and usually just become lighter. Brazilian cherry and tigerwood fade at a much faster rate because they are sensitive to UV light. In rare cases dark woods can get darker as opposed to fading or getting lighter.
2. Type of Seal
   The sealant can define how well your floors will resist fading. Seals that are both UV-resistant and moisture blocking offer extra protection. It’s important to reapply the sealant regularly to strengthen the protection barrier.
3. Condition of the Floor
   Floors that are damaged or worn look worse more quickly as the sunlight and moisture penetrate unprotected areas. Ongoing maintenance and re-sealing controls environmental conditions so that floors do not deteriorate prematurely.
4. Foot Traffic
   High-volume traffic areas wear down protective finishes quickly. Place runners or mats to protect floors from excessive wear and tear in high traffic areas.

Practical Ongoing Care

To make it easier for practical ongoing care, just follow this process:

• Sweep daily to remove dirt and grit.
• Mop floors weekly with a cleaner safe for hardwood.
• Move rugs, furniture, and other items every three months.
• Reseal floor every two or three years, or sooner if you see excessive wear.
• Inspect the floor each season for moisture or damage from sunlight.

By adhering to this timeframe, you mitigate fading of wood floors while keeping the overall value of your property.

Mistakes to Steer Clear Of

A lot of homeowners unknowingly facilitate faded wood floors through the following behaviors:

• Rugs left in one place for years.
• Forgetting seasonal maintenance checkups.
• Using extreme cleaners which remove finishes.
• Being careless and letting in sunlight when it is most intense.

Avoiding these habits is a great way to help the beauty of wood floor last much longer.

Final Thoughts

Hardwood floors are a luxurious investment and require attention in order to keep the vibrancy. Knowing the causes of fading and being proactive will help keep the hardwoods looking gorgeous for decades to come.

You can take practical steps with everything from blocking sunlight to controlling humidity — grounds for happy hardwood in your home. Use these habits in your home and enjoy the lasting beauty of healthy hardwood floors.

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