There's something very special about hardwood floors. They bring warmth and beauty to a space with their varying colors and natural grains. But did you know that hardwoods change their color overtime? It's because of photosensitivity. Simply put, something that's photosensitive will either lighten or darken when exposed to natural and artificial light.
Hardwood Floor Discoloration
While all hardwoods are photosensitive to some degree, certain types are more sensitive than the rest.
For example, when first cut, walnut can range from a light pale brown to a dark chocolate brown. When exposed to sunlight, however, a dark brown walnut can lighten to a golden brown tone overtime.
Another wood that's more prone to photosensitivity is tulipwood, also known as Poplar. When first cut, the color ranges from a green to a purple tone and can transform to a warm milk chocolate brown overtime.
Cherry wood, both American and exotic species, is the most photosensitive of hardwoods. It will change from a pink tone to a red-brown tone overtime.
What to Do About Hardwood Floor Discoloration
- Ask one of our Avalon design experts how much your chosen hardwood flooring will change overtime. All of our wood samples are labeled with the level of how photosensitive they are—low, medium or high. If you aren't happy with the look, simply choose a different wood.
- Consider how much light your space will get. If it doesn't get a lot of sun, your floors won't have much of a color change. If you do get a lot of sun, you should invest in window treatments. And you should be sure to shut them during the day to minimize the sun exposure.
- Rearrange your furniture, rugs, etc. once in a while to ensure even color change. The plus side to this, it's an excuse to keep your space looking fresh!
So when you're shopping for your beautiful hardwood floors, whether solid or engineered, keep photosensitivity in mind. As long as you're happy with the end color, it doesn't have to be seen as a negative problem. Instead, it can be seen as an interesting and appealing characteristic.
