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Direction for laying flooring?

7 years ago

I hope you can help me with this. I have a 2 bedroom investment property that I am updating. Laminate flooring will go in the bedrooms, hall, and a combined living/dining room. The hall is at a right angle to the living area.

I would like to have the wood-look laminate run lengthwise down the living area, on the upright of the "L", on the premise that it would look more spacious that way. My question is this: should I put a t-divider where the hall meets the living area so that the hall can also have the laminate running its length on the horizontal of the "L"? Otherwise the hall would, I think, look choppy with the laminate in short sections across the hall. I don't know that I have explained this very well. Thanks for your advice.

Featured Answer

laughablemoments

7 years ago

You're welcome. : ) The important thing to remember as you install laminate is to randomize your lengths so that a pattern in the planks doesn't develop. Happy installing!

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Comments (7)

laughablemoments
7 years ago
You might want to check the installation instructions to see if there is a maximum length or width that the laminate can be installed without including a transition strip. I know that the luxury vinyl planks that we just installed had an upper limit for this.
miniscule
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, I will do that. Any views on the look about how it's laid?
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Personally, I can't see this type of kitchen looking right unless the pattern ran lengthwise. I doubt the beauty of the flooring would show otherwise.
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I'd lay it so that the long way pulls people into the rooms you want them to be drawn into. I'm not completely clear by your description which way the hall goes. Does it "T" off after the foyer or does it extend straight from the foyer into the living room?
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Perpendicular from the DOOR. The last photo in your latest post shows the planks sitting perpendicular (running "across" the threshold) is the less attractive way to do this. The OTHER thing to take into consideration is DIRECTION OF NATURAL LIGHT. Assuming your home has the same type of windows/natural lighting, you want to run the planks in the same direction as the source of natural light (windows). That means the long beams of light will be the same direction as the long length of the floor planks. Your last photo shows the OPPOSITE to what I'm pointing out. I would run the long length of the plank from the DOOR to the bottom of the stairs (the opposite to what your last photo shows). Going back to your original plans, that means the LONG LENGTH of the plank will start at the door and run AWAY to the back of the home (past the stairs and into the great room). And all the rooms will keep this direction. It will mean the flow of natural lighting is maintained with the direction of the plank - a double bonus.
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miniscule
Original Author
7 years ago
Here is what the choices seem to be.
laughablemoments
7 years ago
I'd definitely lay the floor so that it makes the living/dining area look as large as possible. After that, it's a coin toss for the other areas. Are you getting a laminate that has water resistant seams? That type of flooring is notorious for swelling if the seams get wet. Since it's a rental, I'd want extra durable flooring since folks often are harder on rentals than on something they own themselves.

Pictures of laminate in halls, installed both the long way and the short way.
miniscule thanked laughablemoments
AnnKH
7 years ago
Laughable's photos show that flooring running the short way in a hallway looks fine. I think running it the short way or transitioning between hall and LR would be fine.

I would check the exact width of the hall, and the length of the flooring. I would not want to put seams in the hall (the short way), so if the flooring is 4' lengths and the hallway is 3' wide, you'd have a lot of waste.
miniscule thanked AnnKH
miniscule
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Laughable moments and AnnKH. I will definitely run it lengthwise in the living area. I am glad you both think the hall would be okay either way. I will check the dimensions of the flooring vs hall width. The pictures were really helpful too!

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