Large room with two sides tile

[tcxoman]

My room is approximately 16X20 and two adjacent sides of it are tile. Is it OK to place my hardwood up tight against the tile and leave the expansion area only against the opposite walls? I am removing carpeting and will get the subfloor up to the correct height so that the top of the wood flooring is even with the tile. I hate to have to place a T joint along these sides of the room as there is a lot of traffic going from one area to the next.

[chandler]

Welcome to the forums! If you're GOOD, and I mean really GOOD at laying the hardwood, and you have the tile and hardwood on the exact same plane, you can get by without a transition strip. I would take a piece of the hardwood and lay it across the doorway against the tile and butt the hardwood to it (provided you are laying it perpendicular to the openings). This will keep you from having 10 or so cut ends at the opening.

[tcxoman]

Thanks for the info. I plan to lay two or three 5" inch planks along the tile and around the room then place all of the others on a 45 degree angle throughout the interior of the room. My floor joists run same direction as the 20' direction(tiled walkway to outside wall). The 16' direction is from kitchen tile (same as hall) to an inside wall. If I don't put border around the room, one of the wood flooring edges will have every row cut to fit against tile. Do you think this is a good idea or am I just making a lot of work for myself?

[chandler]

Angling the flooring will require the use of a tenoning jig and table saw, as you will have to cut the end of each plank to meet the band board tongue or groove. Are you prepared for that?