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Flooring Design Dilemma Home Decorating

How to lay vinyl plank and which direction?

4 years ago

Hello. My engineered hardwood floor were ruined and I need to cover them up. I decided to go with vinyl insteaf of laminate. At first I was considering laminate in living room and family/dining room, and vinyl in the kitchen that separates them. But after reading few posts, I think it's better to put the same vinyl flooring in the whole area living/kitchen/family/hallway, the only ones that I want different are bedrooms. Attached please find my home plan.

Do you think it's better to lay same flooring in the whole open living area?

Which direction should I lay the planks? Along the wall to connect all rooms or horizontally? If vertically, should I change the direction in the hallway?

By the way, The tiled kitchen floor is a bit lower, is it better to put an additional underlayment, add an 1/4" plywood or put some compound even it out?

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Comments (2)

My House
4 years ago
Keep the same flooring throughout the space for a fluid path that makes it feel larger. I'd choose vertical or diagonal pattern to draw you through the house. Do not change the direction in the hallway.... Keep flooring in one direction that is seamless with the rest of the house.
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
To lay vinyl over top of tile, especially with significant/deep grout lines such as yours, you will need to create a flat surface. That can involve grinding, priming and pouring a cementitious product over the tile (this sinking it in cement), or you can a-fix a subfloor material that is strong enough to span the grout lines without bowing or crushing (that probably means luaun is out).

Or you can leave the tile alone and live with the transition strip. I'm going to guess you would need a transition strip ANYWAY because the tile is currently sitting 'just about level' with the wood as it is. As soon as you 'top it' with something else you are going to create an uneven transition. And that means you will need to add a transition strip between the two flooring areas regardless of 'same floor' or not.

Of course you could always attempt to lay new subfloor material over the ENTIRE house...and then lay the vinyl throughout without the transition strips in the kitchen area...but that's pretty expensive. And you still have the chance that the two floors will not be level with each other.
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If we run them parallel then the hallways would have short planks laid crosswise which we think would look ridiculous. I agree. Floor should be solid before you lay LVP. Floor joists shouldnt affect results in my opinion. I would lay them the length of the hallway and continuous with that direction for the rest of the space for cosmetic purposes as you mentioned. It will look odd if done incorrectly. You could also consider transitioning at the hallway if you wanted to, running the long way in the rooms continuous then gluing down the planks at the transition and running the planks the long way down the hallway.
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ok, you sure you want to use laminate? you don't want replace the 2.5" (or 3.5'?) oak flooring? if you get the unfinished T&G stained on site, you may be able to salvage some of the flooring. (even though it may looked thrashed, you'd be surprised at what taking off a layer and re-staining them can do. I've refinished wood that looked like it belonged in the garbage. when I redid it, you'd have sworn it was new). Have you called out a reputable company to see what they say? The reason I'm pushing it is, hardwood or engineered is always preferable. LVP is not long lasting and certainly isn't a trade 'up'. Flooring is one of the most important upgrades in a home, so you shouldn't scrimp. remember, wood floors will be the last flooring this home needs for 50 years (barring disasters). vinyl lasts, what, 10 years? if you had to replace it 3 times, would it still be worth the lower cost? You think those gray vinyl planks will still be 'in' 8 years from now? I can tell you w/100% that the wood will still be in style. And the stained wood will look so good next to your black brick. Kudos to you for picking a bold choice. what else do you plan on doing in that room? what color were you going to paint that fireplace wall? doing any wood furniture? rugs?
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Hey Everyone! I am about to install vinyl plank flooring in my primary bedroom, 2nd floor, and stairs. What direction does everyone suggest based on the photos below? I added in the direction. I was thinking making the hallway into the bedroom as the center point, but want some feedback. https://imgur.com/a/Y5FOIbO
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Usually parallel the light or longest wall. There's no right or wrong. Given floor plan ? I'd do this
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