Q: Is knotty pine really good for a finished floor? We've read your recommendations of this material, and would love to use it, but we've been advised not to. We're told the wood will probably buckle, crack and split in our cottage.

A: I've installed this kind of pine flooring on several occasions in different situations, and it's never misbehaved as you've been warned.

You'd want to let the wood stabilize in your place for at least a few weeks before installation, ideally during a dry time of the year when you're using heat.

Due to knots present in the wood, you'll need to expect a little cracking, though that wouldn't be out of character for knotty pine. This wood is also soft, so it dents, though this is rustic charm, too.