Wood is a completely natural product and as such, it’s colour will be affected by light and by time. When it comes to choosing the colour of your new floor, it’s useful to not only look at what you will get at the start, but also at what your floor colour might develop into in the longer term.
Regarding changes in your floor caused by light, there are several things you can do to avoid excessive colour changes. These include closing curtains to block light and moving furnishings around so that light gets the chance to flood your floor in its entirety, and not just in certain areas. What we mean by that is that if you have a rug on a floor and you leave it in the same spot all the time, then it is reasonable to expect that when you finally move the rug, there will be a telltale spot on your floor. This effect can easily be avoided by simply moving furnishings and rugs around to make sure that the light effect is entire.
You can also avoid excessive colour changes to your floor caused by ultra violet light by opting for a UV filter in your flooring finish. Whilst this mightn’t be necessary in certain rooms in the home, there is no getting away from the fact that choosing this option in rooms where you either have a particularly sunny aspect or where you have a significant number of windows is a great idea.
At Wood and Beyond we stock Oak and Walnut wood flooring and both species will undergo some colour change over time. Generally speaking oak wood will undergo a medium degree of colour change and will tend to become more amber or golden over time. Walnut flooring on the other hand tends to change colour more noticeably and the most significant difference is that it is likely to go from a very dark brown at the start to a more golden brown over time. However, there is more than just the species of the wood itself that will impact on the long-term colour change in any wood and here are some tips and hints that will help you predict the future colour changes in your wood flooring:
- It is common for any wood floor to take on a yellow-ish tone over time. To avoid this, you should choose a floor with a UV filter.
- Prime grade wood will retain its original colour better over time than rustic grade wood.
- Generally speaking, flat or satin finishes will darker for longer. Gloss or semi-gloss finishings on the other hand will appear lighter over time.
- Stained wood flooring will retain its colour longer than naturally coloured wood; this is particularly true with darker tones of wood.
Against this backdrop, it is important to say once more that wood is a natural product and that no two pieces of wood will ever be exactly the same colour. As a result, it’s best to invest in your wood floor with an open mind, but if you really want to retain the colour of your wood, you can minimise the colour changes in your wood flooring by doing all you can to protect it from light and by making the right choices based on our hints above.
For example, if you want a floor that starts its life dark and you want it to stay dark, opting for a stained, oil finished oak with a UV filter will achieve the best long term results. However, if you want to start with a light coloured floor that will stay light without yellowing, then opting for an oak floor with a gloss finish, complete with a UV filter is likely to hit the spot. If you are quite relaxed about your flooring and you’re prepared to take a bit of chance on where the colour takes you over time, then choose the floor you like that fits your budget and do what you can to minimise the risk of daily light damage.
If you’re looking for a new wood floor and would like to discuss the possible colour changes, why not get in touch? At Wood and Beyond we’re always happy to hear from our customers and potential customers and to help them make the very best selection for their particular projects.
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FAQ
How can I avoid excessive colour changes in my wood floor due to light exposure?
There are a few methods to mitigate excessive colour changes caused by light. Closing curtains to block excessive light, moving furnishings and rugs around to ensure that light touches the entire floor, and not just certain areas, can help. Additionally, you can opt for a UV filter in your flooring finish to protect against ultraviolet light.
Does the species of the wood impact the long-term colour change of the floor?
Yes, the type of wood species does have an impact on the colour changes over time. For instance, oak wood will usually undergo a medium degree of colour change and tends to become more amber or golden over time. Conversely, walnut flooring is likely to go from a very dark brown at the start to a more golden brown over time.
How can I predict the future colour changes in my wood flooring?
There are several factors that can help predict the future colour changes in your wood flooring. These include understanding that wood floors may turn yellowish over time, prime grade wood retains its original colour better than rustic grade wood, and different finishes can affect the colour retention. Stained wood flooring also retains its colour longer than naturally coloured wood.
What wood floor options could stay dark over a longer period of time?
If you prefer a floor that remains dark over time, opt for a stained, oil-finished oak with a UV filter. This combination is likely to achieve the best long-term results in maintaining a dark hue.
What should I do if I want a light coloured floor that doesn’t yellow over time?
For a floor that starts light and stays light without yellowing, consider an oak floor with a gloss finish and a UV filter. This combination is likely to maintain the lighter colour over a longer period.