Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Joining rooms - hardwood floor installation

Hello -
I hope someone can help. I completed the installation of hardwood floors in the downstairs living and dining rooms. Now I want to do the upstairs. I should mention that I live in a typical row home with three rooms plus a hallway upstairs. If I start, say in the back bedroom and continue into the hallway, about half way down the hall, a second bedroom (the "office") entrance leads into the hallway on sort of a right angle. What is the best method for continuing the installation? Do I stop at the door way entrance and just put a "T" channel (I don't know the proper term for this, sorry). Then do I start again in the office at the back wall? The main bedroom is fairly easy to do since it leads directly from the hallway. I hope this doesn't sound too confusing. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and through the many posts here, it really helped me to complete the downstairs. This is a great source of information for the "newby" installers. The downstairs turned out great!

I think I follow you. I like to start at the stair landing and hallway because that is what will be the most visible, then bring the flooring into each bedroom. Unless you have a floating floor you should not need transitions except for a 3 1/2" nosed landing tread at the top.

Jerry T,

Thanks for the tip. Well appreciated. Good idea to start at the stairwell instead of the bedroom. As the hardwood is installed, naturally it would cross the threshold of the office door. It would mean that the new hardwood will be entering in the middle of the room, since that's where the door to that room is situated. Do I continue across the room on the same level as the hallway? When I reach the opposite wall of the office, do I then continue towards the back wall? This will probably mean reversing the tongue with one of those strips to do the other half, right? Whew....I know this all sounds confusing, so if you need another explanation, I'll do my best to accomadate. :thinker:

I'm a peabrain too so I follow along pretty good. At that bedroom door you would bring the flooring straight in. Use some straight 1x's screwed down to the floor joist for a back up board so you won't have to face nail that row. Do about 4 rows, unscrew the back up board, spline and blind nail that first row and just keep going the other way.

Jerry T,

You make it all sound so simple! This is great information you provided. Now that the mud has cleared in my mind, I can start this project. Thanks again for your quick response and helpful hints! :rolleyes: