If you’ve ever walked into a room with LVT click flooring and noticed a subtle shift in its color after a year or two, you’re not alone. As a supplier of LVT click flooring, I get this question all the time—whether it’s from a homeowner eyeing their new living room, a contractor specifying materials for a commercial project, or a property manager worried about high-traffic areas near large windows. The short answer is: yes, LVT flooring can fade in sunlight, but the extent of that fading depends on a lot of factors, and it’s rarely as severe or unpredictable as many people assume. Let me break down what I’ve learned after 12 years in this business, and the science behind why it happens (and how to prevent it). LVT Click Flooring
First, let’s get clear on what LVT is, because that’s critical to understanding its fade resistance. LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile, but the click-lock system is what makes it so popular—those interlocking edges that let you install it without glue, fasteners, or a pro (though I always recommend a pro for larger spaces to avoid gaps). Inside every LVT plank is a core layer, a wear layer, and a printed design layer that’s responsible for the wood grain, stone look, or pattern you’re choosing. That printed layer is the key here. It’s made of UV-stabilized ink, right? Well, not all UV stabilization is created equal. A lot of budget LVT brands cut corners here, using cheap ink that breaks down quickly when exposed to ultraviolet light from natural sunlight. As a supplier, we’ve chosen to only work with manufacturers that use ceramic-infused UV-cured ink for their printed layers—this is the stuff that’s been tested to withstand 1,000+ hours of direct sunlight without noticeable fading. I’ve seen the difference firsthand: last year, a customer installed a budget LVT in their sunroom, and by month 18, the plank near the sliding door was a full shade lighter than the ones in the back of the room. Another customer used our premium LVT in the same type of sunroom, and two years later, there’s barely a difference. That’s not luck—that’s materials science.
Now, let’s talk about sunlight itself. Not all sunlight is the same, and not all areas in a space get the same amount of sun. UV light is the main culprit here, but it’s important to distinguish between UVA and UVB rays. UVA is the more abundant, longer-wavelength ray that penetrates glass (that’s why your car’s interior fades even with the windows up) and is present in sunlight all day, every day. UVB is the shorter, more intense ray that’s strongest around midday, but it’s mostly blocked by window glass. So even a room with double-paned windows will get UVA exposure, which is enough to cause fading over time, especially on areas that get direct sun for 8+ hours a day. I always advise customers to map sun exposure in their space before choosing LVT. For example, a home office with a north-facing window gets almost no direct sun, so even basic LVT will hold its color. A dining room with a south-facing floor-to-ceiling window gets full sun from sunrise to sunset, so that’s where you want premium UV-stabilized LVT, not the budget option.
Another factor that affects fade is the wear layer. The wear layer is the transparent top layer that protects the printed design, and its thickness is measured in mils (a mil is 1/1000 of an inch). For residential LVT, common wear layers are 20 mil, 28 mil, and 30 mil. Commercial LVT often goes up to 40 mil or more. The thicker the wear layer, the better it blocks UV light from reaching the printed layer. Wait, I know what some of you are thinking: “If the wear layer is clear, how does it block UV?” It’s treated with UV inhibitors, chemicals that absorb or neutralize UV rays before they can break down the ink pigments. Budget LVT usually has a thin 20 mil wear layer with very few UV inhibitors—so those rays penetrate right through, breaking down the ink’s molecular structure, which causes fading. Our premium LVT has a 28 mil wear layer with 5%+ UV inhibitors, which is the sweet spot for residential spaces. For commercial spaces like storefronts or office lobbies that get heavy sun exposure, we recommend our 32 mil commercial-grade LVT, which has double the UV inhibitors to withstand daily sun for decades. I’ve had a grocery store customer install our commercial LVT 10 years ago near their main entrance, and when they recently renovated, the floor there was still the same color as the back of the store. That’s a testament to how important the wear layer is.
But fading isn’t just about sun exposure and materials—installation also plays a role. Wait, how can installation affect fade? Let’s think: when you install LVT click flooring, you want to leave an expansion gap around the edges of the room, right? That gap allows the planks to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes, which prevents buckling. But if a contractor installs the planks too tight in a space with high sun exposure, that prevents the planks from moving, and over time, the heat from the sun can get trapped between the planks and the subfloor, which accelerates ink degradation. I’ve seen this a handful of times: a customer hired a contractor who rushed the job and skipped the expansion gap in their sunroom, and within two years, the planks near the window started to fade unevenly, not because the LVT was bad, but because it couldn’t expand and the heat built up. That’s why we always include a free installation guide with every order, and we offer a free 15-minute consultation with our in-house experts to help customers work with local contractors to avoid these kind of mistakes.
Now, let’s address a common myth: many people think LVT fade is irreversible, but that’s not entirely true. If you do notice fading in a high-sun area, there are solutions. First, you can install a area rug over the faded planks—just make sure to choose a rug that lets air circulate underneath, because trapped moisture can cause other issues. Second, you can rotate the planks if you’re only dealing with a small section. Wait, how? If you have a 10×10 sunroom, you can pull up the planks that faded near the window and swap them with planks from a darker, less exposed area of the room. Most of our LVT planks are uniform enough that this works seamlessly, and our click system makes it easy to do—no glue, no tools, just a pry bar and a little patience. I once had a customer who installed our LVT in their living room, noticed a slight fade after 18 months, swapped the planks, and said no one could tell the difference. That’s a huge perk of the click system that you don’t get with glue-down LVT or wood flooring.
Of course, there are also steps you can take to prevent fading in the first place. I always recommend these to every customer, no matter what kind of LVT they choose:
- Use window treatments: Blinds, curtains, or UV-blocking window films can reduce sun exposure by 50-80%, which drastically slows fading. We even offer free samples of UV-blocking window films for customers who order our LVT, because it’s a simple add-on that makes a big difference.
- Avoid direct sun for long periods: If you’re away from home for work during the day, keep blinds closed to limit sun exposure. Even just closing them during midday (when UV is strongest) helps.
- Clean your LVT regularly: Dirt and debris can scratch the wear layer, which exposes the printed layer to more sun. We recommend using a pH-neutral cleaner specifically made for LVT—avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia, which can break down the UV inhibitors in the wear layer.
- Choose the right LVT for your space: As I mentioned earlier, don’t buy a residential 20 mil LVT for a storefront that gets 12 hours of direct sun a day. That’s a recipe for fading. Our team will always ask you about your space’s sun exposure, location, and use case before recommending an LVT, so you don’t end up with the wrong product.
Now, let’s talk about real-world testing, because numbers matter. Our LVT is tested by independent flooring labs for fade resistance using ASTM D4329, the standard test for evaluating the effect of UV light on plastic materials. The test exposes flooring samples to UV light for 1,000 hours (the equivalent of about 5 years of direct sun exposure) and measures color change using a delta E scale—delta E under 2 is considered “imperceptible” to the human eye, delta E between 2 and 5 is “slightly noticeable,” and delta E over 5 is “significant.” Our premium residential LVT has an average delta E of 1.8 after 1,000 hours, which means almost no visible fade. Our commercial-grade LVT has an average delta E of 1.2 over the same period. The budget LVT brands we tested had an average delta E of 6.7, which is a noticeable, distinct fade. That’s not just marketing—that’s hard data from independent tests that we share with every customer who asks.
I want to be transparent here: even our top-tier LVT will fade a tiny bit over 10 or 15 years if it’s in constant direct sun. That’s a fact of materials science—no product is completely immune to UV damage. But the key is that it’s minimal, gradual, and uniform, so it doesn’t look like an eyesore. The bad fading that people usually complain about is from cheap, low-quality LVT that wasn’t made with UV protection in the first place. As a supplier, I take pride in not selling that kind of product. I’ve been in this long enough that I see the difference between a product that’s made to last and one that’s made to be replaced in a few years, and I only stand behind the latter.
Let me give you a recent example. A customer reached out to me last month because they were upset that their new LVT was fading near their back deck. They’d bought it from a big-box store, and it was a cheap brand that cost $1.29 per square foot. I asked them a few questions: did they have window treatments? No. Was it 20 mil wear layer? Yes, that’s what the label said. Did they leave an expansion gap? The contractor told them no, because it would make the room look messy. We looked up that brand’s independent test data, and their delta E is 7.2 after 1,000 hours—so that’s exactly what was happening. We recommended they replace that section with our premium LVT, which costs $3.99 per square foot, and showed them the test data and our 15-year fade warranty (wait, did I mention warranties? That’s another big one. Our LVT comes with a 15-year residential fade warranty, which means if it fades more than delta E 2 in that time, we’ll replace it for free. The budget brands only offer a 1-year warranty, if any). They decided to go with our product, and I’m helping them coordinate with a local contractor who knows to leave the expansion gap and install UV-blocking window film on the back door.
So, to circle back to the original question: does LVT click flooring fade in sunlight? Yes, but only if you choose the wrong product, install it incorrectly, or don’t take basic prevention steps. When you choose a high-quality LVT with a thick, UV-inhibited wear layer, install it properly, and take simple steps to limit sun exposure, it can maintain its color for decades—far longer than wood, laminate, or even many types of ceramic tile.
If you’re planning to install LVT click flooring, especially in a space with lots of sun, don’t leave it to chance. Our team has spent years helping customers across the country choose the right LVT for their needs, avoid common mistakes that lead to fading, and get the most out of their investment. We offer free samples, no-obligation consultations, and flexible ordering to fit any budget. Whether you’re a homeowner working on a sunroom renovation, a contractor specifying materials for a commercial build, or a property manager updating multi-unit spaces, we can help you find the LVT that will look great and hold its color for years to come.
Don’t guess when it comes to flooring that will last. Reach out to our team today to discuss your project, get a custom recommendation, and find out how our LVT click flooring can transform your space without the worry of premature fading.
Water Resistant Laminate Flooring References
- ASTM International. (2020). Standard Practice for Operating Light-Exposure Apparatus (Fluorescent UV Lamp Type) for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials. ASTM D4329-20.
- National Wood Flooring Association. (2021). Luxury Vinyl Flooring Installation Best Practices. NWFA Technical Bulletin 10.
- Vinyl Institute. (2022). UV Resistance in Vinyl Flooring Products: A Guide for Architects and Specifiers. Vinyl Industry Technical Report Series.
- Flooring Industry Research Council. (2023). Fade Resistance of Resilient Flooring Materials: 2023 Market Analysis. FIRC Research Publication 23-04.
Jiangsu Zhengyoung Flooring Decoration Material Co., Ltd.
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