How to layout laminate, regular, angled??
#1
How to layout laminate, regular, angled??
Hey Everyone,
looking for some advice on install layout, see link for the image.
Install instructions:
Was hoping for a little advice and thought I would include a floor plan so you have some idea what I am talking about. I cheated and used the Ikea office planer since it does most of this automatically, but has its limitations for floor design. The dimensions of the room itself are pretty accurate, ends up being roughly 360 sq ft
This is the basic layout of the dining room/living room. We want to cover this entire area with Laminate, the two individual doors at the top of the image are open doorwarys, not actual doors. They both lead into the same actual wood floor. The large door at the bottom is a double sliding glass door. The wierd thing in the bottom right hand corner, is essentially the hearth of the fireplace. There is no actual corner, room has an angled wall for the fireplace, with a raised slate for the hearth, not to scale and did the best I could with the image. The wierd little box on the right side wall is a small out cropping of the wall itself and is part of the structure, only sticks out 4 inches in reality.
Now from all this I have a few questions, when it comes to laying out the actual laminate. I imagine if I were to do a standard install I would have to start at the bottom left hand corner and lay the laminate along the bottom to the right of the picture and then lay the rest of the laminate straight up. Is this the best way? My concern is that depending on the spacing of the laminate, if I start on another wall I may run into issues once I hit the room shape change. For example, if I went from the left of the room to the right, once I hit the dining room area (top room), if the laminate doesnt match up, I would suddenly have nothing to lock it into for an entire wall. Hope you are following me, always hard to explain your thoughts into a post.
Would a diagonal install work better because of the shape of the room. I actually thought if I started from the bottom left hand corner and installed diagonally it may work best with the room layout. Thought it would contrast well with the existing wood floor that the top two door openings connect too. The real wood flooring strips run vertically in the picture. Is the angled installment any more difficult or essentially more product and more time?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pickle...00.jpg&.src=ph
looking for some advice on install layout, see link for the image.
Install instructions:
Was hoping for a little advice and thought I would include a floor plan so you have some idea what I am talking about. I cheated and used the Ikea office planer since it does most of this automatically, but has its limitations for floor design. The dimensions of the room itself are pretty accurate, ends up being roughly 360 sq ft
This is the basic layout of the dining room/living room. We want to cover this entire area with Laminate, the two individual doors at the top of the image are open doorwarys, not actual doors. They both lead into the same actual wood floor. The large door at the bottom is a double sliding glass door. The wierd thing in the bottom right hand corner, is essentially the hearth of the fireplace. There is no actual corner, room has an angled wall for the fireplace, with a raised slate for the hearth, not to scale and did the best I could with the image. The wierd little box on the right side wall is a small out cropping of the wall itself and is part of the structure, only sticks out 4 inches in reality.
Now from all this I have a few questions, when it comes to laying out the actual laminate. I imagine if I were to do a standard install I would have to start at the bottom left hand corner and lay the laminate along the bottom to the right of the picture and then lay the rest of the laminate straight up. Is this the best way? My concern is that depending on the spacing of the laminate, if I start on another wall I may run into issues once I hit the room shape change. For example, if I went from the left of the room to the right, once I hit the dining room area (top room), if the laminate doesnt match up, I would suddenly have nothing to lock it into for an entire wall. Hope you are following me, always hard to explain your thoughts into a post.
Would a diagonal install work better because of the shape of the room. I actually thought if I started from the bottom left hand corner and installed diagonally it may work best with the room layout. Thought it would contrast well with the existing wood floor that the top two door openings connect too. The real wood flooring strips run vertically in the picture. Is the angled installment any more difficult or essentially more product and more time?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pickle...00.jpg&.src=ph
#2
I didn't bother to look at the photos.... so bear that in mind....
I've laid flooring on a diagonal and ended up with a striking finish.... However, you will "waste" a lot more wood this way. Every cut you make will be on an angle... (hopefully you've a power miter saw) and creates unuseable pieces. When I say "waste" take it with a grain of salt. I just laid a wood floor yesterday of 600sq. ft. Ended up with 3 linear feet left over - not too bad... On a diagonal would have tripled or quadrupled that amount - but still not bad. Yes.. it will take more time... but can be worth the effort.
Didn't look at the photos... because, when it comes to design... you are your own judge.
I've laid flooring on a diagonal and ended up with a striking finish.... However, you will "waste" a lot more wood this way. Every cut you make will be on an angle... (hopefully you've a power miter saw) and creates unuseable pieces. When I say "waste" take it with a grain of salt. I just laid a wood floor yesterday of 600sq. ft. Ended up with 3 linear feet left over - not too bad... On a diagonal would have tripled or quadrupled that amount - but still not bad. Yes.. it will take more time... but can be worth the effort.
Didn't look at the photos... because, when it comes to design... you are your own judge.
#3
Depending on number of cuts for waste on diagonal layout, waste factor could be as much as 15% or more. For the standard installation, typically 5% extra for waste and cuts is calculated. Cost of flooring is sold by the square foot, so that may be a significant consideration when calculating extra for a diagonal layout.
#4
Thanks for the feedback. At least no one is saying that a angle install is more difficult, just more product and time is needed.
Think I am leaning in that direction then.
Appreciate the feedback
Think I am leaning in that direction then.
Appreciate the feedback
#5
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The only thing that may be more difficult is finding your square.
I don't understand your concern about a standard installation and the "you would nothing to lock into".
If you are going to lay it diagonally, I'd suggest running the boards perpendicular to your fireplace as this is the focal point of the room.
I don't understand your concern about a standard installation and the "you would nothing to lock into".
If you are going to lay it diagonally, I'd suggest running the boards perpendicular to your fireplace as this is the focal point of the room.
#6
to Em69
Thanks for the reply, I also think running the boards perpendicular to the fireplace would look best.
As for finding the square, is this always a concern or more so if the room does not quite seem square. From just thinking about the angled install I imagine the first few planks are crucial in getting them aligned correctly. Is there any thing I should really be looking out for? I imagine to take a step back after the first few planks and take some measurements and make sure I am lined up correctly.
I did not think I did a very good job explaining myself or more likely did not know enough about laminate installs and making something out of nothing.
I believe I have found my answer from that fact that for a normal install (not angled) I should start from the largest wall. One of the ways I was considering installing could have had some issues where the second room opened up and where I was with the install. But since I should not start from that part of the room anymore that all seems moot.
Thanks for the help
As for finding the square, is this always a concern or more so if the room does not quite seem square. From just thinking about the angled install I imagine the first few planks are crucial in getting them aligned correctly. Is there any thing I should really be looking out for? I imagine to take a step back after the first few planks and take some measurements and make sure I am lined up correctly.
I did not think I did a very good job explaining myself or more likely did not know enough about laminate installs and making something out of nothing.
I believe I have found my answer from that fact that for a normal install (not angled) I should start from the largest wall. One of the ways I was considering installing could have had some issues where the second room opened up and where I was with the install. But since I should not start from that part of the room anymore that all seems moot.
Thanks for the help