When business owners and homeowners contact flooring experts, one of the most common questions they ask is, “Why is my floor turning yellow?”
Hard surface flooring materials such as tile, resilient flooring, laminate, and hardwood are known for their durability and appearance. However, certain conditions and environmental factors can still cause discoloration over time.
Yellowing and other color changes can develop for several different reasons. Understanding the cause is an important step in diagnosing and correcting the problem. Without knowing the cause, customers may think that the flooring material is defective or that they are doing something wrong.
Understanding what can cause the yellowing of a hard surface floor is the first step in figuring out and then solving the problem. There are several reasons why hard surface floors may be turning yellow.
Chemicals
Sometimes, flooring can yellow due to chemical reactions with the floor’s finish, cleaning products, and poor maintenance techniques. Highly concentrated cleaning solutions can soften the finish or leave residue behind. Other chemical reactions might include contact with rubber-backed mats.
UV Rays
The sun’s rays can cause discoloration on hard surface floors. Direct exposure can cause the UV rays to react with the flooring, causing sunspots. The rays and the heat can discolor the flooring, making yellow patches appear.
Oxidizing
Some of the finishes used on hard surface flooring are oil-based. In the right circumstances, oil-based finishes can begin to oxidize, causing discoloration and giving the flooring a dulled or yellowed appearance.
It’s definitely disappointing for business owners and homeowners to experience yellowed flooring, so learning about the most common causes of discoloration can go a long way in preventing it in the first place. They can also be a good guide for flooring inspectors who are trying to diagnose the problem of yellowed hard surface floors.
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