How to Protect Your Floor & Furniture From UV Ray Color Fading

We all know that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage our skin and eyes, but did you know that UV rays can also hurt the furniture and fabrics in your home? Over time, the UV rays fade the colors of anything they shine on, from carpets, to hardwood floors, to furniture.

Whether you want to preserve family heirlooms and antiques or just want your hardwood floors to look new for years, you need a way to protect the interiors of your home from the irreversible effects of damaging UV rays.

UV rays come into your house through windows, patio doors, and skylights. Some people believe that regular glass blocks UV rays. But plain, clear glass windows transmit up to 70% of UV rays. Even energy-efficient Low-E glass transmits over 60% of UV rays.

Traditional Solutions Block Out UV Rays and Sunlight

The easiest way to deal with UV rays is simply to cover your windows. Pull the blinds, curtains or drapes shut. Not the best solution for those of us that enjoy a little sunlight to brighten our day. But effective nonetheless, in spite of the heat build-up.

Tinted window glass is another option. Tinted windows block UV rays from coming through, somewhat similar to the way sunglasses protect your eyes. Tinting can either be done at the factory, or in your home with a film. Great when you only have one or two windows that become problematic during the season…

Not so great if they make your room appear dark and dreary. The biggest problem with tinted film and glass is that it still lets in 30% of UV rays. Color fading and deterioration to your floors and furniture will still happen - it will just take a little longer.

How to Block UV Rays and Still Let in Natural Light

To stop UV ray damage while still letting in natural sunlight, scientists have developed a smarter solution. Light is divided into multiple spectrums, or wavelengths. Windows deal mostly with three spectrums: visible light (sunlight), near infrared (heat), and UV rays.

Curtains and window tint block all three types of light. However, some special glasses can block out one spectrum and let the others through. Think of it like a mosquito net: the glass blocks out the pesky UV rays while still letting in the light you do want.

Low-E glasses already use selective transmission to block out the heat. A coating or more of microscopic metals is applied to the glass, blocking the near-infrared light which keeps heat out your home. It lets UV rays and natural light through.

New advances have led to glass that blocks both near-infrared and UV rays while still allowing visible light. Since the glass is designed specifically to block those spectrums of light, it actually blocks more UV rays than a tinted window: 95% compared to 70%. It also blocks more of the sun’s heat, making it more energy-efficient than a regular Low-E window. And it still lets in the majority of visible light.

Several window companies are now offering this type of glass for new windows, replacement windows, and patio doors. Because it is highly energy-efficient, the glass qualifies for the $1,500 federal energy tax credit.

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