What’s the risk of sun damage to furniture?
I had a client ask me today if it would be OK to place a piece of furniture I built in front of a southwest facing tinted glass picture window. I told them that they should not have anything placed on top of it because it will leave a shadow as the rest of the wood fades in the sun but that otherwise it should be fine.
I’m now having second thoughts and was thinking about calling them back and recommending that they not place the piece in direct sunlight.
The cabinet is eastern soft maple and the finish is supposedly non-yellowing CAB lacquer buffed with steel wool and then paste waxed. I have some older pieces that have a similar finish that have held up well but aren’t in direct sun. I think the joinery will hold up because it’s all stile and rail construction with the widest boards being the drawer fronts at about 4 – 1/2″.
What do you think? Should I tell them to move it or am I worrying too much?
Thanks for the help, Bret
Replies
I just love what sun does to cherry. Seems to me I read a while back that some finishes now have uv protection and spf numbers, or did I just dream this? Can't help you with the maple. Good luck.
It'll be OK
She'll get accelerated yellowing (no matter what finish you used) but aside from that it'll be fine.
regards,
Fading in the Sun
Bret,
Here in the sunshine capital of the world, it is a real issue. My oak wood floors are 12 years old, and in the south window they are really faded. It started out as #2 to #5 oak, so lots of dark colors and knots. Unbelievable change in color, very very light color in comparison. The finish has yellowed as well, but it is the fading that is most noticeable.
I have maple kitchen cabinets with overlap doors. The face frame that shows is lighter and yellow, and the part that is covered is still a clear finish with natural wood underneath. I don't think they make a finish that won't yellow to some degree over time.
As such, I am aware of the effects of sun on the finish and wood, and I would advise anyone here to be cautious. That being said, when I finish up a cherry piece, it sits in front of the window to darken for a few weeks!
Morgan
Change happens
Some woods lighten and others darken or change color. Your maple will yellow. The CAB finish may not, but the wood will. But what is anyone to do? We can't keep the drapes closed all the time. (By the way... those drapes will also fade.) Change is inevitable. Even I change... I'm a lot grayer than I used to be.
Sun Damage
Several years ago, I had work in an art gallery, which had large windows, and the owner liked putting my work up front. I liked the idea of having the exposure to the viewing traffic. However, I didn't think about the Sun exposure, not expecting it to be there as long as it turned out.
After about a year, the finish was toast. It had turned yellow, was crazed and could be scratch off with a fingernail. The Mahogany really darkened at first, but then started lightening. Some other turning from cherry were slower to darken than Mahogany, but it doesn't lighten as quickly either.
At that time, probably five years ago, I started searching for some kind of film that could be added to the western exposure windows. It seems like Owens Corning may have been one producer that had good information and tech support. The information that I found, then, was that the BEST at that time, would only double the time that it took to reach the same level of destruction. So it would take two years to reach the same level that plain glass without anything did in one year.
I suspect the UV inhibitors in the finishes are probably no better than that, but things may have changed since then.
This depends a lot on what kind of glazing is in the window. Double pane window, particularly with low e coatings cut out a substantial portion of the UV. If you really want to reduce sun damage get hurricane glass windows with the laminated safety glass. They can absorb 99% of the UV light. I suspect"tinted glass" also has an impact, but unless you know the details it would be hard to say.
Steve,
I have a friend who has done his fair share of finishing and he says to add a "small amount of" Burnt Sienna/Umber to spar varnish and it will help to diffuse the UV rays. Any possibility of refinishing outdoor furniture every 2-3 years instead of annually, is at least some relief for those of us who like the natural wood look.
I'm trying it as a sort of experiment on some pieces that I made. What's nice is that it doesn't appreciably change (darken?) th ewood all that much. Guess time will tel.
Regards,
Bret,
It is kind of interesting, when the wood is still in the tree, it just sits in the sun for decades (if it is lucky) with no damage. The damage from the sun occurs only after it is made into furniture. Is God trying to tell us something?
Stay sane.
Mel
Is God trying to tell us something?
I wonder.. If it is all about trees!
I belive in a God and then I think of some thoughts that about ttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704206804575467921609024244.html
I wouuld think he is a bit pissed off with God at his age,,
Virtually all wood is affected by UV from sunlight. Some wood gets darker, some species get lighter. Light colored woods will become yellow or tan. In addition, oil based finishes, particularly any varnish containing polyurethane will become deeply amber fairly quickly. In addition, poly varnish rapidily deteriorates quickly when exposed to UV. It first gets more amber, then cloudy then begins to crack and peel.
Exterior finishes contain some amount of UV inhibitor. It's generally a small amount. In addition, UV inhibitor is deteriorated as it absorbs UV so it requires frequent scuff sanding and the application of addional coats to maintain its appearance.
Thanks all for your comments. I didn't come up with a definitive yes or no answer yet.
I think I wait a bit and see what happens. It might sell quickly and won't be an issue.
I should mention that the window is in a nice little specialty shop in a very busy, and affluent, tourist town nearby. My piece is the featured item for all the window shoppers that pass by to see, and this Labor Day weekend the tourist will be out in droves. The piece is on consignment and is getting great exposure. I'll check on it after a couple of weeks if it hasn't sold.
Thanks again, Bret
Sounds like you are following the path
that I described above. I would not leave it there for long. If it is not sold by Xmas, I would move it.
A couple of weeks more
Keith,
I don't think I'll let it go until Christmas. I haven't been back to check on it since I dropped it off. I'll go there next week.
Thanks, Bret
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