What direction should I lay my laminate flooring?

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.

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.

Which way do you lay laminate flooring to make room look bigger?

Diagonal Dreams

The key to making rooms look bigger with flooring starts with the diagonal rule. Diagonal lines work to create the illusion of more space, because when a person enters a room, their eyes are drawn to the widest part of a pattern—the same is true in art.

Which direction do you lay wood flooring in a square room?

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.

Do dark floors make a room look smaller or bigger?

You may be surprised to learn that dark wood flooring can help to make your room look bigger too. Darker flooring offers an inviting feel and opens up a space. Whether you choose rich colours or softer dark colours, they both have their advantages when it comes to expanding the appearance of a room.

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

Should flooring be horizontal or vertical?

Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring.

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 direction does flooring go in 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.

What side of laminate goes against the wall?

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

Which way do you lay vinyl planks 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.

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

It is not a great idea to change the direction of hardwood flooring from room to room because it causes a safety issue and also breaks up the harmony within your home. You should install your hardwood flooring to be perpendicular to the joists.

Which direction should vinyl plank flooring be installed in a square room?

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.

Which direction should vinyl planks run?

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.

Do you have to cut the tongue of 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.

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. The same applies to other solid objects such as doorframes, heating pipes, stoves and radiators that are flush with the floor and furniture.

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.

What happens if an expansion gap is not left?

When you don't have the proper expansion gap, the pressure caused by the natural expansion of the floor will need to go somewhere. This causes the floor to buckle and often leads to irreversible damage that calls for plank replacement. Buckling: What happens when a floor can't expand properly.

Why do you have to leave a gap when laying laminate flooring?

Why do I need to leave an expansion gap for Laminate Floors? Expansion gaps are essential in all laminate floor installations. Temperature and humidity will change in all rooms. This result is the laminate flooring will expanding and contract as the temperature and humidity change.

Which side of laminate is the tongue?

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.

Should flooring be the same throughout the house?

There is absolutely no need to change flooring from room to room. We often work with homeowners who feel the urge to pick a different flooring for every room of their home, but there is absolutely no need to do this. Your home will look best if you create one consistent look that travels from room to room.