We have often spoken of wood as a living material. As such, when it is laid, we can witness a progressive oxidation process of the parquet. It is a natural phenomenon and absolutely not harmful to the floor: exposure to sunlight and air can in fact cause a change in the color of our wooden floor. Being a gradual process, we often notice it only when we decide to move furniture or carpets in our home.

Not all parquets oxidize to the same extent

The importance of parquet oxidation varies according to the wood species we choose to install. Therefore, there are essences that are more resistant to the action of atmospheric agents, and others that require greater care and attention. Iroko, doussiè, as well as European cherry, are for example more prone to change color under the action of sunlight. Over time, these essences tend to darken. Teak, on the other hand, tends to lighten with direct exposure to the sun. On the other hand, oak belongs to those wood species that have a lower oxidation. This wood is therefore ideal for making floors even in environments exposed to direct sunlight. Due to this characteristic of wood, when we choose to lay the parquet it is necessary to keep in mind that this will undergo a slow but constant variation in tone. Our advice is therefore to rely on expert dealers, who are able to recommend the most suitable parquet for your project. In order to evaluate the possible relevance of parquet oxidation, it will be necessary to evaluate to what extent the rooms are subject to direct exposure to sunlight.

Parquet oxidation: how to protect wood

The oxidation of the parquet is not a process that can be prevented, however it is possible through small measures to ensure that, even after many years, the floor is of a uniform and pleasant color. If avoiding the sun beating directly on our parquet is almost impossible, we can however limit the phenomenon with curtains that will help filter UV rays. Similarly, by moving furniture and carpets often, we will avoid creating real color spots on our wooden floor. The most effective preventive action remains that of treating the wood, as Gazzotti18 does, with specific paints capable of partially shielding UV rays, thereby attenuating the effect of natural oxidation.