Hardwood Floor Color Changes


All hardwood floors will change color from direct or indirect light. You may notice going Brazilian Cherry color changefrom one store to another what you saw in one may look darker than the other. This is because some samples are older than others and hardwood flooring undergoes color changes when exposed to direct or indirect sunlight. Some may be mild while others dramatic (chart below).

Okay. So What Does Mild or Dramatic Mean To Me?

Most domestic hardwoods do not turn color as much as our imported exotic hardwoods with the exception of American Cherry and American Walnut. Below is a list of the expected color changes with more popular sellers.

How Can I Stop The Color Change?

Preventing or slowing down any color changes can be accomplished with window treatments that restrict UV rays that come into your home. We suggest consulting a professional in that area of expertise.

Flooring Species Change
Ash Mild
Amendoim Mild
Australian Cypress Mild
Bamboo¹ None
Beech Mild
Birch Mild
Brazilian Cherry Dramatic
Brazilian Walnut Medium
Brazilian Teak Mild
Caribbean Rosewood Medium
Caribbean Walnut Mild
Cherry, American Dramatic
Hickory/Pecan Mild
Kempas Medium
Maple, American Mild
Merbau Medium
Oak, Red Mild
Oak, White Mild
Pine Mild
Santos Mahogany Mild
Southern Chestnut Mild
Teak, True Dramatic
Tiete Chestnut Medium
Tiete Rosewood Mild
Tigerwood Medium-Dramatic
Timborana Dramatic
Walnut, American Dramatic
 

¹ Some bamboos have been known to fade

Related Pages:

• Samples Look Different - Same hardwood
• Hardwood Flooring Colors
• Oak Flooring Photo Gallery


Photo Courtesy Wood Flooring International - An excellent source for more information.