The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.
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.
The direction of your flooring boards has a huge impact on a room's overall appearance and can be a tough nut to crack. As a general rule, make sure to lay your floor in the same direction as the main light source in a room and in the same line as the most frequently used entrance.
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.
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.
Flooring is typically installed in the same direction of your leading source of natural light, and the same goes for luxury vinyl. If you have large windows in a living room or an entryway that allows a flood of natural light, then run your planks in the same direction.
If you're using vinyl plank flooring on steps, you'll need to run the planks horizontally. You'll want to run the planks in the same direction along the floor next to them to create a seamless look.
The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation.
A laminate floor becomes a unifying influence in the overall decor if it runs in the same direction throughout the house. The best direction generally depends primarily on the shape of the house; it should run parallel to the longer walls.
Generally speaking, you can install any type of vinyl plank flooring backward. Some manufacturers are going to be easier to install than others, but all of them can be installed in reverse. The real key is to work slowly and avoid as much waste as possible.
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.
Start in the upper left corner of the longest wall and install the planks in the same direction as that in which the main light falls. Planks are always installed from left to right.
Set the first plank in place on the starting line with the cut side toward the wall, maintaining the expansion gap.
We recommend starting in the left corner of the longest wall in the room and to install the planks in the same direction as the main light source (e.g. the main window). Planks are always installed from left to right.
Here is where you should place transition strips in a doorway: Transition strips should be placed in the center of the door opening where the opening is the smallest. In this placement, the transition strip will not impact the door's ability to close regardless of which way the door swings.
Although floating floors are installed with a space or expansion gap between the edge of the flooring and the wall, the section of flooring that fits into the doorway must fit under the jamb and molding. Increasing the actual dimensions of the doorway by 1/4 inch on each side lets the flooring fit underneath.
If you decided to install either hardwood, ceramic or laminate, you will need the transitions. These transitions are useful for two main reasons. Firstly, they ease the navigation from one room to another. They also visually divide rooms and different floorings.
Heat and cold are the primary reasons for separation. The vinyl plank flooring can expand and retract depending on how hot or cold the room is. When it is incredibly warm outside, and the room is hotter, you will notice the flooring will be a tighter fit because of expansion.
When you're hanging drywall and installing new flooring, it's usually best to hang the drywall first and then save the floor for last.
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.
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.
Typically, hardwood flooring should be placed perpendicular to the joists. However, you should avoid changing the direction of the floor in every room, as this creates visual disharmony. Instead, focus on installing floors in a direction that does the following for your space. Make the room appear larger or smaller.