Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - A different question regarding the direction to lay laminate

Okay I know the manufacturers recomend laying your laminate flooring in the direction of the main light source, and this makes sense to me. It will hide any shadows caused by the seams. It will also allow for a better flow when walking into my home as the flooring will be running in the direction of the flow into my house through the front door.

However, I have already laid hardwood flooring (engineered) in my 2 bedrooms. The manufacturer of them recomended laying the flooring in the direction of the longest outside wall. There were also vents in those rooms that kind of dictated the easier way of laying the floor as you weren't supposed to use lengths under 8 inches and the vents are like 4 inches from the wall.

So my question is, if I lay the laminate flooring in the direction of the main light source (perpendicular to the patio door), and in the same direction as the flow into my home I run into a couple problems.

Running the laminate in that direction will mean that when I get to my hallway the flow will be all wrong (for lack of a better way of putting it). Also, when I get to the doorways of the bedrooms the wood flooring in there will be perpendicular to the laminate in the hallway.

Which would be the best way, or correct way (if there is such a thing) of laying my laminate?

If I lay the laminate in the direction of the main light source, when I get to the hallways, this is how it would look:
<img src= "http://home.comcast.net/~shaggygsxr/flooringA.jpg"></P>

However, If I run it so it looks like the picture below, the laminate would be "incorrect" when I get to the patio door. It will also be "wrong" by the front door.
<img src= "http://home.comcast.net/~shaggygsxr/flooringb.jpg"></P>
Which way is "more acceptable" or "more correct"?

HELP?!?!?! :wall:


Thanks in advance for any help.

I guess the question is, according to the following picture, should I run the laminate Left to Right, or Up and Down ...(again, according to the picture)?
<img src= "http://home.comcast.net/~shaggygsxr/floorquestion.jpg"></P>

Oh come on, there has to be some sort of "rule" right? I mean how should the laminate run by main doorways, hallways, and other flooring? Also, how noticeable would the seams be if I ran it wrong according to the main light source - bad?

I'm guess by the lack of responses that maybe I'm just kind of in a pickle here. No matter what I do, I break a "rule".

Lil' Help? :o

61 views, 2 days and no replys? Does this mean that I actually do have a stumper of a question, or does it mean you guys think it's a stupid question that I should be able to figure out on my own? :D

If it comes down to a matter of choice, since some rule of thumb will be broken either way, please let me know. :coffee:

okay, i'll bite!

i vote for doing it like in the first picture. changing the plank direction at the bedroom doorways is no biggie. i actually kinda like it. what i hate is walking into a home and see the flooring running left to right in front of me. i want it running into me, with me, front to back, up & down, vertically, you know what i mean, like this ||||||...NOT left to right like =. the only drawback is the hallway will be the planks running the short way, side to side when you're walking down it, right? but to me, that's the lesser of the 2 evils, and i'd just use a runner in the hallway.

go with the first pic. :thumbup:

THANK YOU soooo much for the reply. I'm really fishing for opinions here and really appreciate yours.

I was told that running it short ways down the hallway is kind of a no-no (like you pointed out) although the hallway is only 7 feet long, so it probably IS the lesser of 2 evils. Even though it will be "wrong" in the hallway, by the front door will look better (as you pointed out) and it will solve the light source problem as well.

The more I look at it, I too like the look of the wood going a different direction in the 2 bedrooms too. I was curious as to if that was against some rule too. Glad to hear it isn't.

Thanks :D

you're welcome. sorry no one else bothered to reply (don't know why!?)

we just moved into a nice home with wood floors on the main level. for whatever reason, they ran the planks the right way in the entry, but then at the doorways to the kitchen & family room, they turned them the other way, so they're they're running parallel to all the windows, so all the joints are really shadowed & obvious! it's not good. :mad: can't imagine what they were thinking.

but i still say, it's more important for the entry & the main room to be right, if you have to only sacrifice a hallway.

good luck!

Hello Shagy5150,

The guide lines for laying planks of laminate are not absolute and often conflicting. They are guidelines only.
1) Into the light. For the reasons stated.
2) Parallel to the long run of the room to mimic the way hard wood planks must run and increases the allusion.
3) Be guided by the architecture of your house. Which direction flows? Which direction looks pleasing?

These guild lines should lead you to the answer. They are not “the answer”.

The change of direction between the hall and bedroom should not worry you. There are plenty of lines of interest and shadow to allow this.

Don’t forget to use guideline 3 to its fullest extent; would running it diagonal in the hall and common areas be pleasing architecturally? Will it open up the areas and make them appear larger? Do you like the way it looks?

boggwanni

Hello Shagy5150,

The guide lines for laying planks of laminate are not absolute and often conflicting. They are guidelines only.
1) Into the light. For the reasons stated.
2) Parallel to the long run of the room to mimic the way hard wood planks must run and increases the allusion.
3) Be guided by the architecture of your house. Which direction flows? Which direction looks pleasing?

These guild lines should lead you to the answer. They are not “the answer”.

The change of direction between the hall and bedroom should not worry you. There are plenty of lines of interest and shadow to allow this.

Don’t forget to use guideline 3 to its fullest extent; would running it diagonal in the hall and common areas be pleasing architecturally? Will it open up the areas and make them appear larger? Do you like the way it looks?

boggwanni

Thanks, your first sentence answers my biggest question.

I have considered running the laminate at a 45 degree angle as I've always loved that look and felt it would look great and add to my flow.

However, even with everything I've read here about how it's not all that hard, and even though this isn't my first floor installation. This is my first laminate installation and don't have the confidence to try it. :o

Between your reply and what Annette said, I have decided to lay it running INTO the doorway or left to right going by the diagram above. The laminate will be running short ways across the hallway, but think that it would be the lesser of 2 evils.

My main concern is that I didn't want to finish the job and have a friend or someone come over and start laughing at me telling me I ran it the wrong way. Friends are nototious for NOT KNOWING the correct way untill 2 minutes after you finish the job - then point out you did it wrong :wall:

Or worse yet, when the time comes to sell, to have a realator tell me the floor is wrong and I need to replace it.

Thanks! :)

I must have over looked this post thinking it was another I already replied to. There have been several topics on direction lately.


Nothing is set in stone, as far as direction goes. What ever pleases you is what is going to work.

Have you considered parquet flooring?
Direction does not matter with that.
Another solution would be to lay planks at a 45 degree angle.
A lot more work and will not work in all cases.
Just thinking out of the box.
Good luck