Exotic Hardwood Flooring will darken with time and exposure to light

I am in between meetings, but I wanted to make a quick comment about how wood flooring (or other wood products like cabinets) can change color over time and exposure to light.

Oak, Maple and most common domestic species are actually relatively stable in terms of color change over time and exposure. They do change, but it is more subtle and in part due to the finish of the flooring changing not just the wood itself.

However, exotic species like Brazilian Cherry (aka Jatoba), Kempas, Tigerwood, Merbau, Brazilian Walnut (aka IPE), Angelim, Cumaru, Bloodwood and most other exotics will change SUBSTANTIALLY.

This change is primarily light driven. So the most exposure to light the darker your wood will go. This is the same for cabinets, floors, trim, doors or ANY kind of wood work.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that a domestic species American Cherry is also a BIG color changer over time. It will be like night and day differences over just a couple months.

So when you move your furniture or your rugs or you have something on your cabinets for a long period of time and then it is moved, don’t be surprised to see the shape of the object still on the floor. With time and exposure to light the color typically normalizes.

This is something to know, but not a reason to fear an exotic wood. Just understand that your exotic hardwood will have a deeper and richer color over time.

Here is a quick example. This is about a typical 1-3 month aging cycle. Left side is lighter and that is what the sample started as and the right side is darker after exposure to light. Bear this in mind that occasionally as you see a sample that has been exposed to light for a long time and you receive your new flooring that appears lighter – there is a reason. 🙂