Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laying Out - Which Way?

I am about to install some all-wood laminate flooring (wild-pecan, 5.5" wide, beveled edge) that will be glued to the slab in our master bedroom. What factors are used to determine which direction to lay the planks? The room in rectangular in shape (21x15'). The entry door is through one of the shorter walls.

Hi James

One of the best helps in deciding which direction to lay a floor is by laying it in the direction the light comes in through the window. This way the light runs across the lenghts of the joints and the joints are not as noticable.

I usually also prefer to install floors running the longest length of the room, if most of the other factors support this, such as - window position, ajoining rooms, door position and furniture layout (as in your case your bed).

In the case of many of my clients, they keep their curtains closed most of the time they are in their bedrooms, so the window position becomes less critical to them and a lot decide they want the floor to either run the length of the room or in line with their bed.

Hope this helps

Glenn Griffin

Thanks Glenn. Our room is entered through the doorway in a narrow wall and the opposite wall has a large window. So all that says lay the wood the length of the room.

The other factors are: the bed will lay perpendicular to the long walls and the entrance to the closets and bath are in the center of a long wall, opposite the bed.