What direction do you lay laminate flooring in a hallway?

Author: Madisen Adams III  |  Last update: Sunday, May 22, 2022

As a rule, laminate flooring looks best when it runs in the same direction as the long walls in a hallway. The sight lines of the floor and walls match, making the hallway appear longer and more spacious.

Which way should flooring run in a hallway?

Whenever you are placing wood flooring in a hallway or any long and narrow area, it should run in the direction away from the doorway.

Do you lay laminate flooring left to right or right to left?

Planks are always installed from left to right. Installing a Quick-Step laminate floor is quite easy; just make sure you're well prepared and carefully follow the installation instructions.

Do you need to stagger laminate flooring in hallway?

Laminate flooring manufacturers often require their floors to be staggered anywhere between 6 to 12 inches, some manufacturers even want more.

What pattern do I lay laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring should be laid in a “random” stagger pattern. The remaining piece of one row should start the next row. Each piece must be 6 inches or greater. If the remaining piece is less than 6 inches, start the row with a full piece.

Determining the direction to lay/install Hardwood, Laminate, or Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring

Which way should vinyl plank flooring run in a hallway?

If the room is narrow, such as a hallway, a corridor or a long kitchen, planks should run the length of the room. In the same vein, it's typically recommended that planks are installed parallel to the longest wall of the room.

Do you lay laminate flooring vertically or horizontally?

You can lay your flooring either horizontally or vertically. Vertically will elongate a room and works great if pointing towards a window, as it will follow the natural light. Laying laminate flooring horizontally will can make a small room appear larger.

Can you change direction with laminate flooring?

Strip flooring can be installed in any direction in any room, however the convention is to run parallel with the longest wall in most situations. Rarely is this type of flooring run perpendicular to walls in a hallway.

Where do you start when installing laminate flooring?

Begin the first row of flooring by placing the planks with the tongue side facing the wall. Install the second plank next to the first by aligning the tongue into the groove and press the plank down to snap it in place. When you come to the end of the first row, cut the length of plank needed to complete the row.

Is it OK to change direction of wood flooring between rooms?

You should not change the direction of hardwood flooring between rooms—the reason why is that it causes visual disharmony. Placing hardwood flooring in the same direction that follows your space is best.

Should all wood floors run the same direction?

When placing wood floors in multiple rooms and a connecting hallway, the boards should all be directed away from the main entrance to the hall, and adjoining rooms should continue in that same direction.

Do you cut the tongue off the first row of laminate?

Place the first plank with the tongue side towards the wall, being sure to allow 1/8" for expansion. We recommend cutting off the tongue on this first row to avoid any problem with the expansion gap. Insert the second plank into the first at an angle pressing the short ends together; then press it down.

How much space should be between laminate and wall?

How wide should the gap be between the laminate flooring and the walls? You should leave a 10mm gap between the laminate flooring and the walls on all sides.

Which side of laminate goes against wall?

The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation.

Should flooring be the same direction throughout the house?

The big question is, should flooring be the same throughout the house? The quick answer is YES! Using the same flooring throughout ties rooms together, improves flow, makes the home seem larger, simplifies cleaning and maintenance, and is often easier on the budget.

Which side is tongue on laminate?

The tongue on laminate flooring is the small flat edge on one side of the board, this is the top edge that is going to angle and lock into the bottom side of another board.

Do you remove baseboards when installing laminate flooring?

Most flooring applications do not require you to remove existing baseboards. However, you may choose to remove the baseboards and replace them at the same time as flooring installation if you want to switch to a different baseboard height or change the style to match the overall look of your remodel.

Do you leave gap between skirting and laminate flooring?

With laminate or tiles, there is the requirement of a small gap between the flooring and the skirting board. Therefore, skirting boards shouldn't have any contact with the floor and should be fitted after the flooring has been installed.

Should I remove skirting boards before laminate flooring?

Usually you will have to remove the skirting before you lay the new laminated flooring. It will make your job much easier. And about fitting the carpet is better to have the skirtings already fitted.

How many rows should you stagger laminate flooring?

If you don't stagger the flooring by more than 6 inches on every row, it will be unstable and may lead to damage later on. But on the other hand, a lot of flooring installers get a little too strict when they stagger their flooring.