How to Prevent UV Damage inside your Home

It’s no secret that prolonged sun exposure can lead to plenty of nasty side-effects. From heat stroke and sunburn ruining a summer holiday to skin cancer leading to a stay in hospital, if not worse.

But did you know that your home can also suffer the effects of prolonged UV exposure?

While most quality building materials are designed to be UV resistant, you may still notice paint peeling or fading as a result of UV damage. However, it’s inside the home that the real damage is noticeable.

For instance, compare a section of carpeting or flooring that is in the sun most of the day to one that barely sees any UV rays. The more-exposed section will likely be much more faded. And in the case of floorboards, may even feel brittle or have started to crack.

UV rays will affect a range of household materials including curtains, couches, carpeting, upholstery and even paintings and artwork.

So how do you stop this UV damage?

Prevent UV rays entering your home

Just as we’re told to slip slop slap to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays, you also need to find methods to protect your home’s interior from the sunlight.

Window shades or shutters are a great place to start. You can get shades for both inside and outside your home. These shades can be an excellent way to also reduce how much heat enters your home. All you need to do is lower them before the sun hits your window.

If you want to avoid the hassle of raising and lowering shades, you can try window tinting instead. You can either have new tinted windows installed or add a tinted film to your existing windows.

Tinted windows dramatically reduce the amount of UV rays getting in without obstructing your view of the outside world.

For a natural alternative, you can also try strategic planting. Place trees and shrubs near windows so you can create shade and filter out the sun. This can also be a great way to make you feel closer to nature while still staying indoors. Additionally, a shaded home costs less to cool in summer.

Avoiding UV rays at home

When you’re outside, an easy way to avoid UV rays is to find shade. Implement this technique inside your home to keep your furnishings safe from UV rays.

Start by moving furniture so that it doesn’t sit in direct sunlight, or at least not all day. Not only does this reduce the UV damage to your furniture, but you are less likely to be exposed to UV rays. For instance, if your couch is no longer in the sun, you can sit on it all day without a worry.

If you can’t move furniture out of the way, you can try covering it instead. These covers can also be handy if you have pets or small children who may stain or damage furniture.

And to keep your floor looking good, lay down some rugs. The rugs can take the brunt of the UV rays while your floor stays in top condition.

Preventing and minimising the damage caused by UV rays in your home is simple. It’s all about maximising shade and making the most of it.