I hope you can please advise on laying a laminate floor over the whole of my upstairs. The underfloors for most rooms are caber chipboard with just half of one room in pine T&G. I’ve just found out that I can’t post photos yet which would help tremendously as I’ve drawn layout plans, but I’ll try to describe it in words. I have started a small bedroom laying the boards in Baltiero Stretto, which has a noticeable V groove click joint at 90 deg to it's window. That was fine ias one room but I now want to lay the Stretto over all upstairs rooms and am questioning if that orientation will work for all rooms when viewed through open doors. The house is heavily extended with 5 rooms upstairs and some rooms off each other. So and what suits one room for light and general flow, would not suit another. I have looked at the Quickstep guide on board direction and generally they say to lay at 90 deg to the window, but as a guide, and not always. On another forum site (using photos) I got a mixed reaction for my proposal to run the majority of rooms in the best direction so these V grooved boards align and flow through rooms. Many don’t respond to the actual question but Dazlight felt my proposal was Ok, however to ask here. Another contributor said that to not follow the 90 deg to window rule was inviting floor laying issues, although I don’t know which ones. What I’m trying to avoid is rooms that all follow their respective 90 deg to the window, but then room to room sit at 90 deg to each othetr – most doors will be open all the time, or no doors at all – so the board V grooves will be very noticeable. Or doesn’t it matter ?? I would prefer if it all flowed in the same direction. All advice and help much appreciated. Thanks very much. Miloman
Please see 2 plans below and pics of the rooms showing partial laying of Stretto in room #1, I can easily turn it 90 deg and relay. But I want to be very certain on this relative to the others rooms before going any further. plan A widthways - which I have already laid half of room #1 to. plan B lengthways, my preferred. Now that it will run through to all adjoining rooms it feels more important to lay it running in a common direction over the whole upstairs floor and feels more natural to be mostly walking down the board lengths, plan B than across them plan B, especially when the V joints and planking is so noticeable. I think I am fine laying it and have to do the small room #1 first as the other rooms won't be ready for some months. B Lengthways. - Laid that way it will look right for most of the upstairs, it will flow well from stairs, landing, through room 2 and into room 3. - see blue arrows showing main traffic areas. My only query with plan B is the 5 or so short boards in the doorway of room #1. Otherwise B seems to run and flow better with lengths in the direction of the main traffic direction. Some earlier replies have said that irrespective of other rooms, each should be in line with it's own window. But that places adjacent rooms at 90 deg to each other. I feel that B looks best but your views and advice please, before I do a whole house the wrong way. Thanks again for all advice.
I think you could lay either way as long as you have breaks in the doorways. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the replies. I know that practically they should both work. But I was a little torn between on the one hand following the 90 deg to each window which I have understood to be a rule (?) - can you please explain the logic there? In that case there would be a number of rooms at 90 deg to each other and possibly looking odd. Alternatively on the other hand I would follow what to my amateur's logic seemed best, to align the board direction to the main traffic flow and the main approach from the stairs and landing. I wouldn't be having this same discussion with other discrete joint boards but these Stretto ones are a very pronounced V groove. I prefer plan B but as you say either could work. The only part of B is the 5 or so short boards in the narrow entrance to room #1. Any advice gladly received Thanks
They say to run the floor the same direction as the light runs into the room so you can see more of the floor finish. You will see all of the v grooves no matter which way you lay it. Do you walk into room 3 more or room 1 more? You often get small runs in large hallways I don’t think that should be a reason to change the direction of the whole floor. I would go for B personally Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Plan B....now crack on and get it done before you get the idea of putting it on the 45 degree It's really not going to look much different between the 2 directions. Stop giving yourself a headache and crack on That small passage you talking about just don't put pull planks in if it's going to bother you that much, split them!
>> Flooring Experts >> Have I put this thread in the wrong forum area? I notice there is a Beginners room and there people can ask the more basic questions, like I am asking. Whereas maybe this is more of a trade area and not for asking the blxxding obvious, which maybe I am? I've been punting this board direction subject around for some time here and elsewhere,and not sure if I have arrived at a definitive answer? Maybe a mix of A & B plans is the answer, I don't know. >> Q - Can I please ask how would you guys who do it every day approach it? I just want to be certain I'm on the right track before going any further with this - I have just started room #1 as shown in the photo. >> An honest critique and verdict on this is very welcome. I want to move it on and be certain that my basic planning is sound. Much appreciated Thanks
Thanks Rug Muncher - Decision made, as you say when it's done ....... it will look fine, Yes split small boards in the small entrance area. Definitely not at 45 deg. The saw is running as I write! Thanks again.
