Which direction to run hardwood flooring
Bunny
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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should all hardwood floors run in same direction?
Comments (14)Perpendicular with joists is correct and I have always felt floors look better if they run the length of a room which normally coincides with the way joists run but not always. However, in certain circumstances it doesn't matter. In our case, we used web truss joists 16 inches on center with 7/8 in Plytanium T&G plywood subfloors. Given that the distance b/t joists is only 12 inches and we are using 8 inch wide flooring, architect, floor guy and GC all agreed that it did not matter which way we ran the floors. B/c, as I said, the joists normally run the width of a room, most of our floors run the length and across the floor joists but in certain areas they run parallel with the joists and you cannot tell any difference. Then to address the main question, we turned our floors where needed to run the length of the room (master bedroom and dining room)and it looks fine and logical. It also breaks things up a bit and defines the space. The rest of our floor plan is very open so the floors run the length of the house (which is different from master BR and DR). For example, what does not look good IMO, is running a hallway the width and not the length. It makes the flooring look like pier planking, not the end of the world but I have avoided it when possible. In our kitchen, the floors run the width (less than optimal) but to have turned it there would not have flowed with the rest of the house and, b/c the kitchen is so cut up, you would have gotten the pier plank effect either way in parts of the kitchen. Hope that helps!...See MoreWhich way should hardwood floor run?
Comments (2)The only time to violate the unwritten rule of running wood flooring with the length of a room might be if a majority of doors and windows were located on the long walls. Although the book says to run flooring perpendicular to the underlying joists, I have violated that rule many times with no adverse effects. Run it the way it looks best to you with the foreknowledge that you may be running it with the joist direction and possibly creating an unorthodox and potentially troublesome install....See MoreWhich way to run hardwood floors?
Comments (5)We were in a long shotgun style rowhouse and opted to run them side to side to create the illusion of a wider house, and also avoid the look of making the house feel any longer/narrower than it did. Sort of like using horizontal stripes in clothing....See MoreWhich direction should my hardwood floors be installed?
Comments (4)I like to see floors going long upon room entry. I feel it gives more spacious look. So I would run then long in your case....See MoreBunny
5 years agoBunny
5 years agoBunny
5 years agoBunny
5 years ago
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