Hardwood floors, frequently preferred in living spaces today, are a flooring alternative that requires special care due to the fact that wood is a living material. Keeping parquet floors, which must be kept at certain humidity and temperature levels from the production and application stages, in accordance with humane climatic conditions is a significant factor for the longevity of the material.
In addition to taking extra care of the health of hardwood floors, hardwood floors can change due to some influences, even if used very carefully. For example, it is very normal to have a difference in the color of a parquet that is protected by furniture that has been sitting on it for a long time and a parquet that is directly exposed to sunlight.
When it comes to flooring, we prefer the word "protect" when talking about the effect of the sun. Because although the sun has many benefits, it does not create a good effect on the parquets. On parquet floors exposed to direct sunlight, discoloration occurs over time, such as fading or darkening. Although there are several reasons for this, the main reasons are UV rays (ultraviolet), infrared rays, and visible light.
Since wood is a very light-sensitive material, it reacts to sunlight more quickly than other factors. Especially UV rays can be said to be the primary cause of this color change. To experience how quickly this effect pays off, you can test a small piece of wood by placing it under direct sunlight.
Although we talk about the light sensitivity of wood in general, the tree species preferred in the parquet also determine how much sunlight will affect the floor. There are differences according to tree species. Just as people differ in the degree of exposure to the sun according to their skin color, wood reacts to light in different ways according to color tones.
Performing the parquet application according to the purpose and density of the rooms is one factor that will determine our parquet's life. For places where children are active, and circulation is frequent, choosing durable wood species such as maple, beech, and oak will help preserve the colors of hardwood floors.
How Should We Protect The Hardwood Floors?
Since elements such as windows, doors, and flooring are included in the structure as a whole, if a parquet is preferred for a floor covering that includes all of them, unfortunately, there is no option to protect the parquet floors from the sun one hundred percent. If we are not talking about a windowless and four walls house, there is no matter how strong we keep the protection shield with various separators and the parquets in an active and heavily trafficked place, it will inevitably be affected by the light.
What needs to be done is to include parquet floors in our living spaces without hindering the benefits of wood for human health, and to extend the life of our parquets by paying the utmost attention. Living wood, which even regulates the air quality in the environment, should be treated very gently if the material is properly preserved in its nature.
The Furniture
By replacing the places of the furniture in the living areas at certain intervals, every point of the parquet floors should ventilate and breathe at the same rate. That will prevent color inequalities in the parquet by helping the sunlight enter the space and the UV rays, which indirectly affect the parquet, to affect every part of the floor equally.
The Windows
It is not possible to completely block the windows and daylight, for that it is necessary to try to manage the incoming light in a controlled way. First of all, installing films that will prevent the permeability of UV rays on window glasses is one of the measures, we can take on windows. Apart from films, it is also possible to use low-emissivity glasses that prevent the transmittance of UV rays. However, although this is not an economical solution, it is not preferred in homes. Compared to these, one of the more popular solutions is the blinds, which are known for their success in cutting light. Shutters are also frequently preferred in houses due to eliminating wind and adverse weather conditions. By playing with the angle of the blinds, it is possible to reflect the light from the ground to high places by entering in a controlled manner.
Another alternative to blinds is awnings or tarpaulins to be mounted outside our windows. The light transmittance can be substantially prevented by keeping it closed at the maximum level during hours of intense sunlight.
It would be beneficial to use curtains actively to keep the parquet's health and sun damage to a minimum. If there are areas with direct sun, we should know that pulling the background curtains when the sun is at its highest will extend the life of our parquets.
If we approach the parquet, one of the interior elements that best reflect the care we show to our living spaces, with the same gentle attitude from the very beginning, and take care of it, it will preserve its first-day quality for many years.
As Dendro Parquet, we share the maintenance conditions with you according to the numerous parquet alternatives you prefer, and we provide consultancy for parquet health with our expert team.
References:
https://napervillehardwood.com/
https://davesfloorsanding.com/
https://www.biboya.com.tr/
