Oak wood may darken slightly over time, taking on more amber tones. This happens due to exposure to oxygen and UV light, making it a largely unavoidable process.
The simple answer to this is yes, wood flooring will change colour over the years. Wood is a natural product and changes in colour will occur due to the wood's reaction to the environment. A dark wood such as walnut will lighten and a lighter wood species like oak, will darken.
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.
Yes, all hardwood floors will slightly change colour over periods of time, especially if they are in contact with direct sunlight. The most noticeable colour change will happen in the first few months after being installed.
Oak wood can turn a variety of different colors as it ages, but typically the wood will darken and become more rich in color over time. Some people might describe the color as a deep brown or even black, while others may say that it has a reddish hue.
There are two types of oak, white and red - white being, unsurprisingly, lighter and less warm-toned than red oak. How does oak age? Cindy says, "White oak will turn golden, whereas red oak has a more red tone in the beginning and over time becomes richer and warmer."
Oak flooring is naturally light in colour with golden, honey tones. Although oak will mellow and darken a little over time, it takes hundreds of years to develop the rich dark patina of aged oak.
Why Does Oak Wood Change Colors Over Time? Oak wood may darken slightly over time, taking on more amber tones. This happens due to exposure to oxygen and UV light, making it a largely unavoidable process.
It is not a sign of rot and is purely a natural change in colour. The change is a reaction between the UV rays of the sun reacting with a naturally present acid in the oak called 'Tannin Acid'. This reaction causes the oak to turn silver grey.
Like cherry, maple will darken over time, though far less dramatically. Maple starts off very light and bright, with a few pink and grey tones. Over time, it will age to a warm golden honey color. Other light brown woods, like ash and white oak will slightly darken to a beige or amber color.
Keeping oak happy
Direct sunlight may fade the finish, and heat from radiators will dry your furniture out. It's a good idea to keep a gap of about 25mm between the wall and the back of your furniture. This lets air flow through, keeping the temperature stable and prolonging the life of your oak.
Oak floors which are exposed to natural light will slowly fade. In most cases, you probably won't even notice the change in your floor's colour as it will happen so gradually, but it can be noticeable when you move a piece of furniture which has been blocking the sun for a long time.
While I've had the best results using the two-part solution, it is difficult to find. If you find yourself with red wood after sanding, you can actually create your own two-part bleach. For this process, it is suggested to mix equal parts of lye with hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the wood.
Oxalic acid lightens the stain slightly and works best on naturally light woods. A 2-part bleach solution removes most of the color, and it also can lighten the natural color of dark wood. Both types of bleach will work on either oil-based or water-based stain.
Refresh with Wood Reviver Power Gel
The gel penetrates the wood deeply and removes the grey patina. Through subsequent re-oiling, the fresh warm wood colour is restored. To use, first wet the surface then apply the Wood Reviver Power Gel with a brush in the direction of the grain on to the greyed areas.
Scrubbing Method to Remove the Gray from Wood
Using a stiff scrub brush to really get into the problem areas of your wood, paying particular attention to sections that have water damage, mold, and mildew. Rinse off the cleaning solution using water.
The exact color of weathered oak will vary depending on how heavy the stain is applied. Generally speaking, it ranges from light brown to dark gray with subtle variations in texture and hue throughout.
If you want to keep your oak structure looking new, using Osmo UV-Protection Oil will protect against colour change. Applying two coats of clear oil will penetrate and protect the wood and delay the natural greying process up to 12 x more.
By far the best finishes for high quality wood furniture are either Danish oil or beeswax. They bring out the stunning beauty of wooden furniture grains and leave wood satisfying to the touch.
However, if you would like to darken the oak, hardwax oil is more ideal. Another popular oil for oak is danish oil. This type of oil can bring out the rich tones in the wood as well as preventing surface stains.
A modern twist on your traditional oak, Aged Oak is an updated version of your parents' standard. This color adds warmth to the space without skipping out on style. Warmer than most grays, Aged Oak pulls more brown than black. Use it on floors, doors, wood work, and accent pieces.
Paul Fisette responds: The general rule is that the mechanical properties of wood show little change over time. In short, the aging of wood, unlike that of cheese, does not make it better. Nor does it improve its strength.