Over time direct sunlight can have lasting effects on your home’s hardwood floors. Have you ever noticed your upholstered sofa or decorative rug fading more and more after being in direct sunlight over the years? Well, the same thing happens to your hardwood floors. And you may not notice but overtime direct sunlight can even change the color of your wood floors completely.

Nearly 40 to 60 percent of flooring damage is caused from the sun’s ultraviolet light, the rest of the damage is caused by factors including heat, humidity & artificial light. Sun damage isn’t only unsightly, it is also costly and will likely force you to replace your hardwood floors well before their original life span. So help protect your investment with these tips!

Upgrade Your Windows: Windows are your first line of defense between sunlight & your hardwood floors. Help reduce the UV light that can travel through your windows with laminated or Low-E coated glass. This type of glass can filter as much as 99 percent of harmful UV radiation that can cause damage to your home’s floors.

Install Window Film: If you aren’t ready to replace all your windows you may want to consider window film. Window film is a much cheaper option in which you can complete on your own. You can purchase film specifically for reducing UV damage.

Apply Sealant to Floors: Protect your floors by applying a sun resistant sealant directly to your wood floors. Depending on the type of floors and their style, you can apply varnish, lacquer, polyurethane, shellac or wax or oil finished that will protect your wood floors.

Move Furniture Around: Sun exposure lightens certain types of wood and darkens other. Be sure to move furniture around regularly so as to create more even sun exposure throughout the room.

While you may not be able to completely eliminate sun damage to your floors you can prevent and reduce a great deal of it.