Originating in New South Wales and Queensland Australia, Australian Cypress is one of the few soft woods to be considered hard enough for use in commercial and residential applications. Also known as Cypress-Pine, Murray Pine, Murray River Cypress, and Murray River Pine, Australian Cypress can be found in light construction such as flooring and siding as well as in decorative functions such as veneers and furniture.

Appearance

Australian Cypress is very inconsistent in its coloring. The sapwood can be creamy or straw colored while the heartwood can range from honey-gold to brown and anywhere in between. Australian Cypress has dark knots throughout the wood, giving it a rustic appearance.

As with other exotic woods, the color of Australian Cypress will change over time. As the wood ages, the naturally present golden tones will be enhanced due to ambering. Other coloring changes that can be seen include a subduing of colors.

Australian Cypress is a naturally somewhat oily wood which helps give it a lustrous texture with a nice sheen. The wood has a fine grain and a camphor-like scent.

Durability and Strength

On the Janka Hardness scale, Australian Cypress rates a 1375. This is slightly harder than White Oak and slightly softer than Maple. As stated previously, it is the only soft wood that is considered hard enough for use as flooring and other light construction applications.

The wood’s inherent hardness makes it very durable, and it does have good dimensional stability; however, it should be noted that in installations considerable movement can often be seen.

Special Considerations

While Australian Cypress is beautiful and durable as flooring, there are some considerations homeowners should consider when making their flooring decisions.

* It has numerous knots in the wood that tend to crack over time.

* There can be broken knots on the ends and edges of the wood – some flooring installers will use colored fillers to patch these. Check with the installer to see if this is a technique they practice.

* The finish in the knots and above the knots may crack and peel.

* Australian Cypress is brittle, much like Brazilian Cherry, and can crack when sanded or nailed.

* The floor should be finished as quickly after sanding as possible. Due to the natural oily characteristics of the wood it should not be allowed to acclimate before the finish is applied. Rising oil can cause problems with the finish sticking to the floor.

* Use water based finishes to insure adhesion.

Homeowners should consider each of these characteristics before committing to purchasing Australian Cypress flooring. While it is beautiful flooring, minor infractions will occur over time that will have to be addressed. If this is not acceptable, another flooring type should be chosen.

Australian Cypress flooring is a beautiful choice from the exotic woods that have become popular in recent time. It is durable and quite stable with magnificent amber coloring that varies as the floor ages. As long as homeowners take all aspects of the flooring, including possible cracks as it ages, this floor will bring beauty to any décor.