Sun damage
Protecting floors, sofas and artwork from Kent sunlight
The pale rectangle on the floor where the rug used to be is UV damage, and it does not reverse. Coastal Kent light is brighter than most people assume, with reflection off the water adding to what comes straight from the sky.
You cannot stop the sun entering a room you want to be bright, but you can filter the wavelength doing the damage.
What actually blocks UV
Solar screen fabrics are rated for UV rejection and can block the large majority of it while still letting you see the garden. Standard dim out fabrics help mainly by blocking everything, which is a blunt tool during the day.
- Screen fabrics: high UV rejection with the view retained.
- Tilted louvres: redirect direct sun away from the floor line.
- Cafe style shutters: shade low angle sun that reaches furniture first.
- Rotating the room layout seasonally: free, and it works.
Coastal and south facing rooms
Seafront properties in Hythe, Sandgate and Dymchurch see reflected light off the Channel on top of direct sun, so fabrics there need to be specified for the site rather than the room. Inland, an unshaded south facing Ashford new build behaves similarly because there is no mature planting to filter anything.
Choosing a fabric that will not fade itself
Cheap fabric fades faster than the floor it is protecting. Branded Luxaflex ranges and quality screens carry colour fastness ratings, which is a large part of what you are paying for at the upper end of a quote.
Sun damage - your questions
Related reading
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