I am looking at installing the above hardwood, but have some concerns/questions:
(1) Apparently it is quite unstable. I live in Calgary, AB, Canada and it is quite dry here. Should I be worried? I have air conditioning in my home. Will this help? Should I consider having a more serious humidifier installed on my furnace?
(2) Is it worth the expense to go to a 3/4" thick over a 1/2" thick? Would a 1/2" thick limit the possibility of future refinishing if necessary? I am leaning toward the 1/2" as it is a better fit with my railings and the flooring in other rooms.
(3) How much colour variation is there in this wood? I am looking at a select grade.
(4) I am looking at Goodfellow International Collection. Any comments on this manufacturer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

With 3/4" solid hardwood flooring you need to maintain the relative humidity in your house at 45-50%. Generally A/C will do it, but check it anyway. Usually 3/4" thick solid wood is for a lifetime. I mean you can refinish it many times.

hi, I have the same questions, as I am planning on getting cumaru from goodfellow. Can anyone answer all the questions.

My main concern is the unstability. currently I am in toronto canada I have air conditioning and my current relative humidity is 49%, i don't know what my winter time RH will be but I have a new Hvac with a humidifier on it. should this be sufficient, I can also purchase a humidifier it this is not sufficient. If I keep the RH between 35-65 should my floor be ok, nob cupping, gapping, checking.

Anyone with cumaru please let me know how your floor is.

Thanx

sunkist

Some general answers to both posters questions.
Air-conditioning acts a a DE-humidifier, rather than adding Humidity.
So this works well in summer but a Humidifier will most likely be needed during the heating season. It is important to remember that neither of these have any function if they are not turned on, either due to mild weather or absence from the home.
I wouldn't allow the RH to reach 65% for any solid wood, either domestic or exotic.
There is no real reason to not use 1/2 inch flooring if it allows better accomodation to nosings, thresholds, etc.
Goodfellow is an importer and distributor, not a manufacturer. The flooring bannered with their own label is milled in a variety of facilities, including China. The International Collection is finished by Mercier (in Quebec). They make a fine product so you shouldn't have any finishing issues. I cannot reliably say the same thing for the milling since it not always comes from the same root source.
We have installed many Cumaru floors and in general they have performed well. I am not a big fan of these exotic woods, but feel if you maintain proper conditions for them you shouldn't have any signicant issues to deal with.