Hello,
I'm a newbie here and in need of some quality advice on some flooring.

We are considering Australian Cypress in our home but we are a little concerned about the durability of the Australian Cypress. Others have said that it tends to crack and pop and that it can be very noisy.

Our house is new construction but it will be a tight home with quality central air and humidification to keep the humidity constant. For the installation we intend to acclimate the wood and match the moisture content with the subfloor to have the best match possible. I will also ask the installer to use staples instead of nails to try and keep the tongues from splitting.

I would also consider gluing the flooring before nailing but i would like to avoid doing this if possible.

If we take these precautions during installation can we be confident that we will have a stable wood?
or will we still live with a wood for the next 20 years that will crack and pop when you walk on it or in some cases when you aren't even walking on it?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Mike

You probably already know it is a coniferous wood classified as a softwood. It is actually slightly harder than N. American oak. It is rated as being stable. The key to keeping flooring free of excessive movement is to acclimate well, install properly and maintain interior temp and humidity levels. Also, buy from a reputable dealer. When it's delivered, get accurate moisture content readings and record them. Make sure the interior HVAC is set at living conditions, which are approx. 40 to 50% relative humidity and 65 to 75 degrees F. Keep it there! The flooring should range about 7 to 8 % moisture content. The subfloor no more than 10% MC. If the planks/boards are wider than 4", gluing will reduce noise and help restrict movement. So if you do not want to glue as well, keep the width to a standard 3" to 4". Hire a good installer who will perform the necessary prep. One last tip, all interior wet trades are to be completed prior to having the flooring delivered.

Hello Gary,

Thank you very much for the feedback. Much appreciated.

We are looking at going with 5 1/4" so I guess your recommendation is to glue the flooring.

Has anyone here had personal experience with Australian Cypress? After it is installed any problems with popping and cracking?

Thanks!
Mike