Everyone knows that the sun’s rays contain ultraviolet light (UV) which can damage your furniture and carpets, but most importantly be harmful to you and your family.
So should you be wearing sunscreen when inside your home? Some might think this a silly question, most think sunscreen only necessary when you’re outside in your garden or enjoying our country’s summer sun. Unfortunately the answer is a little less clear-cut than it seems.
Most people aren’t aware that there are in fact 3 types of UV rays; UV-A, UV-B and UV-C and that over time will cause damage. The earth’s ozone layer filters out all UV-C rays, but both UV-A and UV-B have become more of a problem in recent years – we all know too much exposure to these UV rays can lead to skin cancer.
Thankfully UV-B rays are blocked out by windows but about 50% of the harmful UV-A rays manage to pass through the glass. However it’s not just skin damage, the effect of sun damage can be seen in your home as well. Furniture, leather, pictures, carpets and flooring can be damaged by UV-A rays, through fading and discolouration; damage to upholstery and floor bleaching – all can ruin your carefully chosen home décor.
In 2018, we launched Shield Protection Glass, developed in conjunction with Saint Gobain Glass. Shield Protection sealed units have a transparent film set between two layers of glass which will block out up to 99% of the suns harmful UV rays.