What way should I run my Laminate floor?

[devs]

Hi guys, I wondered if someone could take a look at these plans and let me know the correct way to run my floor?

Every room other than the bathroom will be done and I plan to have splits at each doorway.

I'm not sure if I should start at the entrance and run longways or start in the main living room and run width ways?

Also on a side note is there a preferred place to purchase finer underlay. I was just going to use B+Qs at £2.50 per sq.m

Many thanks, Steve

 

[foxhole]

Along longest dimension , usually towards any windows .

 

[devs]

Perfect thank you mate. So would you start from the entrance and run long ways into the living area?

 

[chris1982]

Most laminate can be laid left to right only. Have a look around for obstacles where you will need to cut, to figure out what side to start will be the easiest overall. And bear in mind that rooms might not be true squared.

 

[Mottie]

As in the first reply - front to back. Our house is a similar layout downstairs with our kitchen where your living room is and our lounge where the bedrooms are. I laid laminate in the kitchen side to side. A year or two later I bought more of the same and finished the hall off - obviously keeping it side to side. As the sun shines in the front door, you can see where individual boards of laminate are not quite laying flat. I wouldn’t have had that if I’d had laid then front to back.

 

[chris1982]

Looking at your floorplan, I would add, watch out that you will end up at all sides with a decent width plank. This might be tricky in your living room where it meets the hallway on one end and the kitchen units on the other. If you can lay underneath the kitchen units (remove kickboards and side panels, which you should do anyway as you need to leave expansion gaps), you don't need to worry at that end that much, and can focus on the main walls and transition to hallway.

 

[foxhole]

Most laminate can be laid left to right only. Have a look around for obstacles where you will need to cut, to figure out what side to start will be the easiest overall. And bear in mind that rooms might not be true squared.

Every laminate I’ve laid including quickstep last week , can be laid any direction , left to right is recommended but would be impossible to fit some cuts unless you can work in any direction .

 

[chris1982]

I think I know what you mean, with tapping you can lay it the other way round, but it's quite cumbersome to do that over the whole length of a room.

 

[foxhole]

I think I know what you mean, with tapping you can lay it the other way round, but it's quite cumbersome to do that over the whole length of a room.

It all needs tapping into place

 

[devs]

Okay thanks guys, I'm slowly getting my head around this. I should have mentioned that this is a new build upstairs in a garage with a insulated concrete floor.

Are door breaks recommended (I've been told they are.. if there is ever an issue and you need to pull the floor up in one room) and would I just start with a full board after any break.

I plan to start here.. in green and run throughout the area.

Thanks

 

[foxhole]

Usually start left to right on long side so top left of each room . Then the hall .

 

[Keithmac]

Our Quickstep is left to right in living room and perfectly flat.

It takes a good knock to click the planks together.

 

[devs]

Usually start left to right on long side so top left of each room . Then the hall .

Thanks. The planks are currently stored in Bedroom 1 so should I start here and work outwards into the hall? Are door breaks recommended (I've been told they are.. if there is ever an issue and you need to pull the floor up in one room) and would I just start with a full board after any break.

 

[chris1982]

Yes, Break at the doors. That allows for necessary expansion gaps.

 

[devs]

Yes, Break at the doors. That allows for necessary expansion gaps.

Cheers Chris, the doors / door frames are not fitted let.. do I just create a 10mm break central to the doorway? How do I then continue with the flooring. Just start a fresh run or try and mimic a continuation of the board lengths?

Sorry for all the q's just need to get this in my head before starting and can find the answer to this online anywhere