skip to main content

Direction to lay in wood plank flooring (follow sunlight or joists)??

Carole Anne Michaelsen

7 years ago

My husband and I are building a lake house. We are
getting ready to install the wood plank flooring (8'' red-pine antiqued wood)
on the 2nd floor. The house is 30' X 26', the 30' wall faces
the lake and is the one with the most windows. It is the one we see in
the attached picture. (Sorry for the mess)

The 30’ wall receives the most sunlight but the floor joists run
perpendicular to this wall. Should the flooring
be installed perpendicular to the joist so they are parallel to the 30’ wall or
should it be installed so that it is perpendicular to the wall and follows the
sunlight?

If we install perpendicular to the wall, what do we need to install
over the ¾’’ plywood to prevent the floor from developing waves (since it will
be in the same direction as the joists) and to prevent creaking noises.

The ceiling which is also wood planks runs perpendicular to
the 30’ wall. The flooring of the mezzanine as well is perpendicular to the 30’
wall.

Am I worrying for nothing?

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
7 years ago
You can add another 3/4" plywood for a total of 1.5" of total subfloor thickness. With a total thickness of 1.5", you can pretty much do as you like.

The deflection rating of the floor is determined by 2 things:
1. Distance between joists (measured "at centre" to keep things simple)
2. Total thickness of subfloor elements

A proper subfloor is at least 2 layers. If you have a single layer of subfloor/underlay, then you probably have to lay new plywood anyway. You might as well "go big" so that you can have the floor installed in any direction you fancy. Assuming you have calculated the final deflection rating (you need to know the distance between joists "at centre") to achieve the right rigidity, you can run those planks in a circle if you like.

And just for fun, make sure you are well equipped to deal with 8" wide planks. Anything over 5" wide require gluing as well as metal fasteners (assuming this is solid wood). And that's where the second layer of subfloor comes in handy. It makes it easier to deal with if that floor ever has to be ripped out (hopefully in 80 - 100 years from now).
Carole Anne Michaelsen thanked Cancork Floor Inc.
Related Discussions
Correct direction to lay wooden floor?
Q
Comments (5)
Looking at your floorplan, I would lay the floors where they run from the kitchen to the balcony and from the bath to the bedroom window. (All the same direction) Chances are you are not going to have to worry about the direction of your joists if you are doing a glue down or floating installation. Straight answer. Just my $.02
...See More
HELP! What direction to lay hardwood flooring?
Q
Comments (5)
jerry_t, thanks for letting me know. I have a concrete sub-floor so there will be no plywood to nail or glue the floor down to. I am thinking of making the floor long ways when one walks in the door so when the cabinets are put back on the floor and the little bit of walk way between the cabinets and my desk will have long boards and not many horizontal busy looking boards. This has been such a tough decision for me since I actually fell in love with the Bruce Park Avenue Pradoo Laminate, the BR-111 Brazilian Cherry Triangulo Engineered and the BR-111 Amendoim Triangulo Engineered and could not make up my mind. I hope I am not making a mistake since I know Brazilian Cherry darkens dramatically but I love the coloring of the red tones.
...See More
Which direction should I lay the floor?
Q
Comments (14)
Oops, sorry - I should have mentioned that we have a slab foundation. Here's the link: www.truehardwoods.com If you call and talk to Justin (it's a family-owned and run business), tell him hello from the customer that bought 70 cartons of Castle Rock Birch shipped to Texas! We're installing it ourselves, so we decided to do floating. He recommended we use the Silencer underlayment.
...See More
wood floors -- laying direction
Q
Comments (11)
From strictly an aesthetic point of view, I think the the wood pieces should always run in the direction of travel. Otherwise, it feels like you're crossing a barricade. Strips that run in the same direction as you when entering a room are welcoming, but when turned 90 degrees it's as if you're invading a space. With that thought in mind, I would turn the wood in the corridor that leads to the back bedroom, and I'd also turn it in the back bedroom (so that both are "North/south" as described). The entry way is a bit odd with the wood running the wrong way as far as I'm concerned, but the immediately visible borders that would result for the main room and the hallway (when turned) wouldn't look right. In the interest of having the entry way looking better, I might turn both it AND the main room to East/West
...See More

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Contractor Tips: Smooth Moves for Hardwood Floors

By Buckminster Green LLC

Dreaming of gorgeous, natural wood floors? Consider these professional pointers before you lay the first plank

GREEN BUILDING Sunlight Used Right: Modern Home Designs That Harness Solar Power

Embracing passive heating principles through their architecture, siting and more, these homes save energy without skimping on warmth

LIVING ROOMS Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Take the guesswork — and backbreaking experimenting — out of furniture arranging with these living room layout concepts

DECORATING GUIDES How to Lay Out a Master Bedroom for Serenity

By Vanessa Brunner

Promote relaxation where you need it most with this pro advice for arranging your master bedroom furniture

DECORATING GUIDES Draperies Lay It on the Lining

By Elements of Style

Drapery looks and performance rest on the right lining. Here's how to get the best coverage for your needs

FLOORS What's the Right Wood Floor Installation for You?

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Straight, diagonal, chevron, parquet and more. See which floor design is best for your space

REMODELING GUIDES When to Use Engineered Wood Floors

See why an engineered wood floor could be your best choice (and no one will know but you)

MATERIALS What to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor

By Mitchell Parker

We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring

REMODELING GUIDES Laminate Floors: Get the Look of Wood (and More) for Less

See what goes into laminate flooring and why you just might want to choose it

FLOORS Floors Warm Up to Radiant Heat

By Lindsey M. Roberts

Toasty toes and money saved are just two benefits of radiant heat under your concrete, wood or tile floors

Sponsored

Mary Shipley Interiors

32 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

What type of oak is this?

8

flooring help please

1

Paradigm flooring?

0

Help - Hardwood floor mystery!

8

Transition strips at a three way

2