Which Way To Run Laminate Flooring

Older houses with 1 inch planks running.

Which way to run laminate flooring.

Here are a few tips to help you decide. In the same vein it s typically recommended that planks are installed parallel to the longest wall of the room. Run it from the front door straight to the back of the house perpendicular to the front. Plan the next rows.

The rows of laminate planks should have a staggered sawtooth appearance so that seams never line up in adjacent rows. If you prefer a layout that requires the boards to run parallel to the joists you need to shore up the subfloor by adding a layer of 3 8 inch plywood. The best way to decide is to lay out the floor and visualize what looks best. If the room happens to be square the floor boards should run in the direction of the room s light source.

A laminate floor becomes a unifying influence in the overall decor if it runs in the same direction throughout the house. Think of hallway flooring for a good example. Depending on how you want to show your room you can choose the orientation of the laminate flooring panels. If the room is narrow such as a hallway a corridor or a long kitchen planks should run the length of the room.

Stay away from turning your wood flooring in different directions in different rooms in an attempt to create interest. It is common to see the laminate or wood flooring boards running with the direction of the longest walls in a room. When deciding the direction to install laminate flooring you have to consider your space lighting and decor. Laying the flooring parallel to the longest side of the room creates the most pleasing appearance and makes the room appear longer than it is.

As a general rule laminate flooring should be laid in the same direction as the longest wall in the room. The best direction generally depends primarily on the shape of the house. If you re installing your flooring on a main floor you will want to float the floor in the same direction throughout all of the rooms to create a cohesive feel. If you have a width wise open concept run the flooring parallel to the longest walls.

You want those boards to look like they are laid they way they are in a bowling alley all the way into the home through to the back. Laminate flooring and space laminate flooring laid lengthways can have an expanding effect.