Should I expect shrinkage cracks in my wood floors?

To quote the National Oak Floor Manufacturer’s Association, “Properly made and properly installed oak floors should be expected to have ‘hairline cracks’ between boards in dry months in most areas of North America.” To expect a totally crack-free floor is unreasonable, and is the biggest source of complaints from uninformed consumers. Shrinkage is a big concern in the arid climate of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, and can be minimized (but never totally eliminated) by the following: use of material which has acclimated to the dry air; avoiding the use of wide plank flooring; avoiding the use of species of wood which are more prone to shrinkage, such as maple and pine, among others; keeping the house at constant temperature and humidity levels (approx. 30 to 35%) through use of a humidifier; and use of proper subfloor materials and installation techniques.