Do a Google search for ‘faded,’ discolored’ or ‘yellowed flooring,’ and you’ll discover that this problem is widespread especially when it comes to epoxy and vinyl flooring. But it is even a problem with hardwood floors.

What causes yellowing?

The leading cause of floor fade, discoloration and yellowing is a chemical reaction. Flooring surfaces respond to contact with light, heat, or other substances over time. Common causes of this chemical reaction incidence include:

  • Sunlight – The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can subtly change the composition of a flooring surface. While the heat caused by exposure to the UV rays may not be apparent, the reaction can be likened to a piece of meat being cooked at a shallow temperature. The flooring surface hardens and discolors as low heat absorption causes chemicals to be released just like meat changes as its juices are slowly evaporated in the cooking process.
  • Surface contact with other substances – Every piece of matter in the universe has a chemical makeup. The varying stability levels allow interaction between synthetic materials when they come in contact with one another. All this to say when the rubber from a floor mat, furniture casters, or even soles of shoes repeatedly walking in a similar traffic pattern can cause flooring discoloration.
  • Bottom-up discoloration – Have you ever removed a spot on your carpeting only to have it reappear several days or weeks later? This phenomenon is called wicking. When you clean the carpet spot, you are just cleaning the surface. But if the spot’s cause is trapped in the carpet backing or padding, it can be reabsorbed by the carpet and reappear on the surface. On a hard flooring surface, such as vinyl or wood, improper installation can allow old adhesives, moisture, and even mold to be absorbed through the flooring causing a discoloration.

Color-stable Flooring from V-8 Never Fades or Yellows

In response to voids in the floor coating industry, V-8 High-Performance Floors has developed a line of color-stable hybrid and epoxy floor coatings that eliminate concerns about flooring discoloration. These proprietary floor coatings are non-absorbent and UV resistant. In laymen terms, your adequately installed & adequately maintained V-8 Hybrid XT floor coatings will not fade, discolor, or yellow. For color-stable flooring that is both durable and beautiful, call a flooring expert at V-8 High-Performance Flooring today.