Why does solid wood flooring change color after installation

Many consumers may wonder why the color of the floor at home is different from when it was first installed? Some even believe that it is a quality issue that has repeatedly been found and held accountable by dealers. Dealers know what is going on, but it seems that consumers do not believe it.

Intrinsic factors

The discoloration of wood is mainly caused by the absorption of ultraviolet light. The degree of discoloration of wood's sapwood and heartwood after absorbing ultraviolet light is different, which can lead to a certain color difference in the paved floor. Solid wood flooring is natural wood that possesses the natural properties of wood, and the resulting photochromism is a normal phenomenon and not a product quality issue. The color change reaction of most wood is from shallow to deep, and only a few wood changes color from deep to shallow. The color change on the same floor is basically the same. Therefore, the paved floor should not be exposed to sunlight for a long time, and necessary shading measures should be taken appropriately.

External factors

Before laying geothermal flooring, the moisture content of most floors is around 20%. During the flooring process, if the moisture-proof film is damaged, a large amount of moisture will enter the floor from the damaged area during geothermal heating, resulting in a sharp increase in the moisture content of the floor. Some soluble substances in the wood will dissolve and some discoloring bacteria will act, leading to wood exhaustion or blueing. In some cases, in damp areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, the influence of external moisture can also cause local floor discoloration.

Paving factors

The discoloration of the above floors occurs in the damp areas of the floor, with a clear interface between the discolored and non discolored areas and a continuous distribution between several floors. There are also some floor discolorations that occur during paving.

1. The ground is uneven with uneven small pits. After the floor is paved, the moisture-proof film is broken, causing breathability. Therefore, before installing the floor, scrape the floor flat.

2. When paving, there are sand particles on the ground that have not been cleaned thoroughly, causing the moisture-proof film to break and cause breathability. Therefore, clean the ground before paving.

3. When paving, the connection of the moisture-proof film is not tightly adhered, causing breathability. The moisture-proof film should be tightly adhered with tape, preferably using plastic tape with a width of 60mm or more to ensure that the moisture-proof film is not breathable.

4. In some areas, electric heating is used. Users turn off the switch during the day, turn on the electric heating equipment after 12 pm, and adjust the indoor temperature to 27-30 ℃. The surface temperature reaches nearly 100 ℃ in a short period of time, causing damage to the moisture-proof film, creating breathability, and causing discoloration and deformation of the floor. This violates the requirement of geothermal heating (with surface temperature controlled at around 40 ℃). Users can switch to 24-hour continuous heating, otherwise, any discoloration should be the responsibility of the user themselves.

5. When paving the floor to the connection with damp interfaces, such as in bathrooms, kitchens, shaded balconies, etc., the moisture-proof film should be turned up and wrapped around the edges of the floor to prevent moisture from entering, reducing and avoiding discoloration and deformation of the floor in that area.