Over time, exposure to sunlight can cause wood to darken, especially if a finish or sealant does not protect it. In addition to causing color changes, sunlight can cause wood to dry out and become brittle over time. This can lead to cracks and splits in the wood, significantly reducing its strength and durability.
Exposure to the sun can cause fading, bleaching and darkening of the wood in your flooring. There are 3 types of light that can cause this. One is ultra violet (UV) light.
As discussed, sun exposure can be one of the most damaging elements on wood, causing permanent discoloration. Wood can fade as well as darken, depending on the type.
All hardwoods will undergo the natural aging process and change color overtime with exposure to UV light and oxygen. In general, while lighter woods tend to become a bit darker and richer, woods that begin dark will lighten up. We all know and love cherry as a rich reddish brown color.
One component of sunlight is ultraviolet light, commonly referred to as UV. UV light is responsible for most damage to exposed wood because it changes or destroys the wood's lignin, a component of wood that hardens and strengthens the cell walls. In more scientific terms this process is called photo-oxidation.
The Sun's UV rays will turn the oak to a silvery hue over time. Clear products are inevitably not completely clear so they tend to 'bring out' the natural colours of the oak, normally making it a bit darker and warmer. The levels of rain, wind and sun will make a difference to how quickly the oak changes colour.
In bad cases of fading the finish must be removed entirely and the lightened layer must be taken down with abrasives just far enough to reveal the natural color. Usually a few passes with sandpaper are sufficient. From there you will have to go through the stages in the refinishing cycle.
Wood is a photosensitive material. Depending on which wood your floors are made of, sunlight can cause them to darken or fade. You may not notice the effects from one day to the next, but over time, direct light may even change the color of your floors. UV rays cause up to 60% of sunlight damage.
UV light triggers a chemical reaction in the wood, leading to a process known as photooxidation. This process affects the natural lignin in the wood, causing the color to change. For some wood species, this results in darkening, while for others, it can lead to bleaching and a lighter color.
The moisture has penetrated the finish and seeped into the wood, causing it to darken. With some elbow grease and patience, though, it is possible to remove both types of water stains. Here are tips and techniques for restoring your wood surface to its former beauty.
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.
Heat stains form when a hot object is placed on a wooden surface, causing the wood to expand and absorb moisture. This moisture then penetrates the wood and leaves a trail of discoloration and stark white heat marks, which remain after the hot object is removed or cools and the wood's pores reseal.
As wood dries, it loses its moisture content and becomes lighter. Softwoods have a very high moisture content when they are green, so the weight difference will be more noticeable than hardwood varieties.
Maple has light and bright white with reddish brown hues before exposure to sunlight. Gradually, after continuous exposure to sunlight, it will turn into shades of grey and pink color, then into a bright golden color with the passage of time. Maple will darken but not quickly as other wood.
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.
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.
Depending on the species of hardwood flooring it will fade, bleach, or darken when exposed to the sun. Wood is photosensitive material so if there is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays then there will be an effect on the color of the floors. It is said that about 40% of all interior fading happens from UV rays.
Wood furniture is the oldest material used for home furnishings. It gives a living space a traditional, warm ambiance. Sun exposure can be one of the most damaging elements on wood, causing discoloration.
Shellac Finish
They dry quickly and provide a hard finish that acts as a protective layer against scratches. Repairing sun-faded hardwood floors consist of three major steps, sanding, staining, and sealing. Sanding helps removes the discolorations and preps the floor for a new coat of color.
UV light is the one that harms the wood the most as hardwood floors and very photosensitive. While this is generally true, it also depends on the kind of wood you have. Not all trees react the same to the sun, even if they all react to it. Some woods will grow darker and others will become sun-bleached, or lighter.
(You will notice on most new pine furniture the wide grain). Also pine will darken with age. You can see below the first 2 images of new pine with wide grain, the 3rd image of the top of a very old pine table. Notice the very close grain.
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.
When oak is cut using iron based tools (including steel tools), this can leave traces of metal on the wood itself. This will react with the tannins in the wood to produce bluish black marks. Handling in the workshop and during transport can leave dirty scuff marks on the wood and small dents.