Australian cypress, also referred to as cypress pine, is a heavily knotted softwood flooring material. It adds a rustic elegance to rooms and is a common choice for restaurants, cabins and other interior spaces where flooring with additional visual character is an advantage. Available in a selection of shades from honey and cream hues to deep amber, with dark brown or black knots irregularly distributed, Australian cypress is rated at 1,375 on the Janka Wood Hardness Scale. Although it’s officially classified as a softwood, it’s harder than American red oak and also provides durability and long life with frequent maintenance. Several considerations must be kept in mind while finishing Australian cypress.
Sanding
The aromatic, refreshing scent connected with Australian cypress flooring is produced by the timber’s high resin content. This leaf may extrude throughout the grain of the wood, especially at the place of knots. Australian cypress ought to be sanded with sandpaper that’s changed frequently to avoid the accumulation of wood resin on the newspaper. Additionally, avoid sanding so aggressively that resins are heated up and discharged from the wood. In case the resins are redistributed throughout the surface, then more sanding will be required to remove them. Begin with a coarse grit of paper that cuts the wood efficiently and progress to increasingly finer grits to reach a smooth surface. Don’t use sandpaper finer than 120-grit. Since the high number of knots in each plank are harder than the surrounding clear wood, sand in a 45-degree angle to the grain.
Sealing
Conventional vinyl wood sealers and finish may not stick properly to Australian cypress, particularly around knots, where the oil-based finish may stay sticky instead of curing. A single-component, permeable paints devised for general wood sealing and applied in accordance with manufacturer’s directions is one choice for the first coat after sanding. Some commercially available finishes additionally include a sealer, however, and may be applied directly after sanding without using a separate sealer.
Finishing
Apply a water-based polyurethane and acrylic finish formulated for hardwood floors. These finishes can be applied with a brush, a roller or a T-bar applicator. Three uniform coats must be applied in addition to the sealer, allowing each to dry completely before applying the next coat. Don’t apply two or more coats in a 24-hour period. A smoother surface can be produced by lightly sanding with mesh sanding screens between coats. Heavy furniture can be carefully placed in the room after the final coat has dried for 24 hoursnonetheless, allow the finish to cure for eight to 14 days before putting rugs or carpets on the ground or allowing heavy foot traffic.
Care
Dust-mop regularly to remove grit that dulls the finish and damp-mop when necessary to remove dirt. Use rubber or felt protectors on furniture legs and minimize traffic in shoes that are crocheted. Like most wood flooring, Australian cypress maintains optimal dimensional stability in inside states with relative humidity between 35 percent and 55 percent.