This looks good though.

That end placement is a little closer than I would do it(I'd at least double the distance), but should not be a problem.

Those planks are short and identically sized, limiting how much difference there can be for a pattern.

As HandyMac states, this is acceptable but maybe not "ideal". I prefer a more randomized board staggering, but *technically this format is acceptable (it will not void a warranty).

You can ask the installer to do it again...but be aware that there WILL BE board loss (if you have a pile of left overs than go for it) and there will probably be a charge for it as this is technically (but not aesthetically) acceptable.

Sorry this has happened. Hopefully you can negotiate some way to get the plank lengths to be more random. A "better" flooring installer would not have done this....or would have tried harder to avoid this look.

Thanks guys for the replies, my wife was surprisingly actually happy with this look, but I definitely prefer a more random pattern. I wanted to post another picture from the other side of the room, it doesn't look as bad, so I'm not really sure it would be worth it to have them change it out at this point?

It's sad that the installer has no aesthetics. It's so easy to start the next course with 1/2 a plank, or /1/4. Now it just looks like a laminate floor.

I was going to add a comment (but chose not to as it might offend some) that someone who ranks a little higher on the OCD scale might prefer this. The staggering is not ideal but it might be soothing to someone who craves uniformity.

Again, this is not a judgement, but I'm not surprised to hear that someone is actually pleased by this form of install. It would feel nice to a small segment of the population...and it was probably installed by someone who has the same *need for uniformity (there are OCD installers who don't even know they are creating things like this...to them it just *feels right). If someone in your house likes it,

The pattern in the plank is nicely shuffled. That is a good part of this install. That may have to be the part that you "like". The uniformity of the short edges may have to be the part that she likes. I think you have just found the happy medium.

It could be worse. Your installer could have installed them in an H pattern. Or worse, like this: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2672472/help-our-wood-look-tile-was-not-laid-randomly

As has been said already, a little wider stagger might have been ideal but this looks acceptable. If you look at most floors with single-length flooring, they will have the stairstep pattern you have. Even random length floors often use a stairstep layout. This avoids having end joints line up across 3 or 4 rows.

Funny thing you say that Cancork Floor because my wife isn't quite OCD but she lives for uniformity, I mean seriously though it's so true, she wants things uniformed, neat and organized so this makes sense, lol. I guess this explains why she likes it.

And yeah jfcwood at least it's not like the one in that link you just posted, at least I know it certainly coulda been much worse. I mean I don't completely hate the look it just really irks me tho. I did call the contractor and explained my displeasure and he's coming to the house tomorrow to look at it. I'm looking forward to his response.

Do you guys know if it would be a giant project to swap out some of the planks to break up the pattern? I guess I'm wondering if this would be something that could be done without making this into a giant project. I do have almost a full box of planks left over.

Thanks!

If it's a locking laminate it would have to be unlocked from one edge, back to the area where planks would be laid more random. I mostly do wood, so I'm not a laminate expert. Unfortunately this doesn't sound feasible.

Technically this can be done. They would have to remove everything up to the point where you say "Start again here" and then start relaying the planks. You will still have as much as 10% waste. With "almost one full box" of left over, I don't think you have enough left over to do this without having to purchase more of the same....and then you have to worry about dye lots, etc.

The 10% waste/loss is a low number. If you have 300sf of flooring, you will loose 30-50sf. If you have 600sf of flooring, you will loose 60 -90sf. I doubt if "almost one full box" will get you the waste you need.

Good luck.

The contractor is sending the floor guys back this Sunday to redo the floors in the random pattern that I explained to him that I had wanted. Wish me luck and thanks all for your replies and info and help on this matter.

I forgot to ask you guys on here if the pattern they used is a quicker and easier way to do the job? Three guys did three bedrooms in 4 hours, this included removing my carpets and moving my furniture, 565 sq. ft. total. Seemed very fast to me so I thinking this pattern they used was to save time and do the job quicker?

With three installers, that pattern did not save much time. One cutting, one carrying and helping the third install.

What it would require is more attention to the pattern to make it more random. That is where the time would be saved, in the slap it in pattern you have now.

Unhappy wife though it looks good.

Much better!!!

Hi, I know this is an old post but I love the flooring you chose! It looks great re-done in the random pattern. We are choosing laminate flooring for my mom's kitchen and sunroom and this would be perfect. Would you mind sharing the color and brand of this flooring please? Also, how long is each board? Thank you!

Did you end up having to repay for the random pattern?

I just had an entire basement done. My husband was there, I was not (we are not living there yet)

. They have steps all the way through and I hate it!!