Cork Floors With Sun Damage

UV Damage

• The sun speeds the aging and oxidation of cork flooring, which may lead to lightened patches of cork or dry areas, creating splotchy or unevenly colored floors. Cork floors that get a lot of sunlight can be protected by installing drapes or blinds in the windows that let light shine on it, putting up protective film on the windows around it, and moving rugs and furniture around regularly so that the entire floor gets even coverage.

Using Rugs

• Placing light-colored rugs in areas that get a lot of sun will prevent sun damage by both bouncing the light away and absorbing some of the UV rays, and using rugs in high-traffic areas will also help preserve the color and integrity of the cork. Be careful, though—never let a wet rug or a rug with a rubber backing sit on cork floors, as the dampness and rubber can cause their own damage.

Preventing Dryness

• Sun damage, which can include heat in addition to light, can also cause dryness and cracking in cork floors. The flooring reacts to changes in humidity, and the heat from the sun dries out the natural moisture in the cork. This may cause it to contract and warp, leading to cracks or gaps between tiles. FindAnyFloor.com suggests that cork floors generally need an atmosphere of 35 percent to 65 percent humidity. If you live in a very dry area, consider running a humidifier in the rooms where you have cork floors to keep them from splitting and cracking.

Cleaning

• Avoid wax-based finishes for cork flooring. Wax finishes can damage the cork’s natural resilience and color and can dry out the floor, making it more prone to damage from the sun. Oil-based soaps can also change the humidity levels of cork floors, making them vulnerable. Use the kind of soap or cleaning agent recommended by the manufacturer of your particular kind of floors to prevent additional damage to sun-damaged tiles.