Color Changing Floors

Have you noticed your newly installed floors changing colors? No, it’s not your eyes! It actually is changing colors!

Yes, all hardwood floors will slightly change color over periods of time, especially if they are in contact with direct sunlight. The most noticeable color change will happen in the first few months after being installed.

All of these color changes are normal and to be expected. Wood is a natural product and changes in color 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. We recommend not using area rugs or moving them around periodically in the first two years. This allows the flooring to mature in color evenly throughout the entire space.

For homes that require a mixture of floorboards within existing installed floors, homeowners should expect different tones in the floor.

All wood species can change color over time due to oxidation or when exposed to light. In some species, the change can be more dramatic and may darken in color over time, while others tend to lighten. Currently, there is no known value set for Patina, or color change, of a species so contractors and or customers should be aware of this normal condition. The patina process is unrelated to the urethane finishes.

Some hardwoods that are known to make a dramatic difference are typically the exotic species, most notably Brazilian Cherry. Others that may change include Brazilian Koa, Purpleheart, and several others.

Before you purchase a floor, ask if it patinas and if it gets lighter, or darker . If you like the color of the flooring when it is first laid down and don’t want any change, they may be able to guide you in the direction of a product that has less likely to change color or a product that has a less dramatic change.