Keep the hardwood floors in your place looking pristine for years .

Adam Albright

Hardwood floors fall in awide variety of colouring material , patterns , and wood species , allowing homeowners to select a look that attract to their personal predilection and matches their home esthetical . Unfortunately , woods floors can fleet over clock time , cause the Mrs. Henry Wood open to take care aged and haggard . However , by determining the campaign of blow over story , you’re able to take appropriate action to protect your home ’s floors . utilise this guide to memorise more about what get wood floors to fade and how to keep them see their best .

White kitchen with wood flooring

Credit:Adam Albright

What Causes Wood Floors to Fade?

1. Direct Sunlight

2. Moisture

Moisture is another cause of attenuation and discolouration . This can be due to little spills , leakage , flooding , or long - term exposure tohigh level of humidness . broadly , a wood floor has a protective sealer to facilitate prevent damage to the Mrs. Henry Wood , but the sealant can wear off over time , especially in high - traffic field of the home . However , even if the story is sealed right , high moisture levels in the air can ooze into the Sir Henry Wood , so it ’s essential to address wet - relate issues as presently as possible .

3. Dirt, Grit, and Other Debris

Usually , dust , dirt , backbone , and other junk that tend to accumulate inside the dwelling does n’t strike the people of colour or quality of woodwind floors due to a protective sealer . However , when a floor is not regularly resealed , this protective level gradually wears down to the point that the wood is exposed . Once the Mrs. Henry Wood is break , it is more vulnerable to sun , moisture , and stains . Dirt and grit contribute to previous article of clothing of the sealant , make the accelerated fading of the wood , and may alsostain the unprotected wood .

4. Salt

route and pavement salt is commonly used in colder areas of the country to melt icy surfaces and make it safer to walk and drive . regrettably , entering the house with a slurry ofice and salt on your bootscan damage the wood floor . The corrosive nature of the road saltiness can consume away at the protective sealer on the floor , damage any expose wood , and cause staining or discoloration .

5. Age

The sr. a level gets , the more likely you will see the wood fading . Even with proper care and regular upkeep , floor gradually break out with keep use . The speed at which this occurs depends on the amount of animal foot dealings through the area and the quality of care the floor incur . Ultimately , whether it ’s the sun , moisture , or childlike unconstipated usance , the Ellen Price Wood will get down to fade , indicating that it may be clock time for an update .

How to Prevent Wood Floors from Fading

1. Limit Exposure to Sunlight

The best way to preclude wood floors from pass is to protect them from verbatim sunlight . ultraviolet illumination radiation has a consistent prejudicious consequence on Mrs. Henry Wood , causing discoloration and attenuation . To stop this from occurring , householder can position furniture and floor rugs to limit photo to sunlight , close drape or blind during the day , or instal UV - freeze window flick .

2. Move Area Rugs and Furniture

Since some sunlight will enter the home , parts of the floor will start to slice before other expanse . shift the area rugs and piece of furniture around occasionally can equalize the UV vulnerability while slow down the overall fading of the Sir Henry Wood story . Even if the infinite is too small or cramped to move the piece of furniture , spread out the country rugs for a more even appearance is a good idea .

3. Refinish and Reseal the Floors

Part of woods base upkeep is resealing the floor every two to three yr or as needed . If the floor have already bug out to fade , householder can refinish them , use a young stain to restore the show , and then reseal the storey with a UV - resistive and moisture - resistant sealant . Remain uniform with wood storey maintenance to keep the trading floor in well condition as long as possible .

4. Clean Regularly

keep the level clean reduce the risk of fading by transfer dirt , dust , and grit that might otherwise damage it . Keep a broom nearby to sweep the Ellen Price Wood flooring once a mean solar day , and plan to mop it every one or two weeks , depending on how frequently it is used . This basic maintenance task protects the sealant and underlying wood base from strong-arm damage .

5. Keep the Wood Floor Dry

Moisture can cause many problem for a Grant Wood floor , let in swelling , warping , and discoloration . That ’s why it ’s necessary to take maintenance of wet - bear on issues as soon as they hap . This can be anything from cleaning up a pour forth glass of water to handling a leaky pipe or dealing with a small inundation .

practice a dry fabric to clean up lowly spill and leaks , but flip to a more appropriate cleaning option , like awet / dry vac , to houseclean up a enceinte amount of water .

6. Protect the Wood Floor with Area Rugs or Mats

Area rugs and MAT protect wood level . The padded Earth’s surface blocks ultraviolet light radiation and reduces the wear and tear the floor normally receives through regular utilisation . However , using rugs with an open funding to prevent moisture from building up underneath the matte or rug is important . to boot , it ’s necessary to spread out the perspective of the rugs to equalize the ultraviolet radiation exposure .

7. Control Indoor Humidity Levels

forest floors are design for controlled climate with humidity degree array from 30 to 60 pct . If the humidity indoors is too mellow , it can have woodwind discoloration , warping , and buckling . Similarly , if the indoor humidity is too low , the wood floor can crack and dry out out . Protect the woodwind floors by controlling the indoor humidityusing a humidifierto treat low humidity levels and adehumidifier to deal with gamy humiditylevels .

Factors That Can Affect Fading

Wood Species

The case of wood used to make the floors can touch the speed at which the floor start up to evanesce . Some specie , like maple , red oak tree , and hickory wood , tend to pass at a relatively dull rate , gradually becoming a lighter spectre . In contrast , other species , like Brazilian cerise or tigerwood , are more susceptible to UV radiation , causing them to evanesce faster . Some drear woods may turn darker instead of getting lighter over time .

Type of Sealant

In most case , a wood floor has a protective sealer to forbid impairment from ultraviolet light radiation syndrome , moisture , and regular habiliment . However , the case of ending put on to the floor can motley , causing a difference in how cursorily the Sir Henry Joseph Wood fade . Moisture and ultraviolet radiation luminousness are the most significant causes of attenuation , so sealing the floor with a UV - resistant and water - repellent sealant is recommended .

Condition of the Wood Floor

When the Sir Henry Joseph Wood floor has n’t been resealed since it was install , there is a higher luck that the wood will languish due to vulnerability to ultraviolet light radiation . likewise , if the floor iscracked or inscribe , this creates opening in the sealant where wet and dirt can enter , cause the floor to well up and become discolored . However , if the wood floor is kept in excellent condition and on a regular basis resealed , you may be able to retard the effects of UV exposure and deoxidize the charge per unit at which the Ellen Price Wood fades .

Foot Traffic

Wear and snag affect the condition of a wood floor . The more frequently a specific sphere of the floor is used , the quicker the protective sealant wear out down , which is why it ’s a good idea to use carpeting or mats in high - traffic sphere to help oneself foreclose premature wear to the wood base . blue-ribbon story coverings with an opened backup to preclude wet from building up and on a regular basis sporty under the mats so the floor can not be damaged by excess dirt and grit trap under the mat .