How To Lay Wood Flooring That Is All One Length
The correct direction for laying hardwood floors.
How to lay wood flooring that is all one length. Lay out your wood planks by size. Install the second plank next to the first by aligning the tongue into the groove and press the plank down to snap it in place. Slightly sloping floors which are common in older houses often worry homeowners who want to install new rigid floorings such as laminate ceramic tile or hardwood. Seat the end tongue and groove flooring into each other and push the two boards together for a tight seam.
Separate them by length so you can grab different lengths each. Face nail each board at the point of every joist and set the nail with a nail set. Face nail the entire first row and remember to keep the board lengths random. If the room is not overly small floorboards that are placed vertically will work just fine.
Use a wooden block to tap the next row of boards into the first. Vertical flooring is the most common orientation for wood floors. While personal preference is a factor the direction in which you run hardwood flooring boards is governed by visual and structural guidelines. Pick one that is straight.
Shorten the first piece of laminate flooring so the joints in this row will be offset staggered in relationship to the first row. When you come to the end of the first row cut the length of plank needed to complete the row. So there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring. Some wood flooring comes with several lengths in the same package to help you stagger the seams.
Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists across rather that in between them. Begin the first row of flooring by placing the planks with the tongue side facing the wall. Align the edge of the board with the chalk line and drill pilot holes down through the hardwood plank and into the sub floor and joist. Cut the last length to fit leaving a 3 4 inch expansion gap and nail it in place.
This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating sagging or buckling. If the room is wider than it is long laying the flooring on the vertical will help create the illusion of length in the room and balance it out.