This was incredibly helpful. Thank you! I had not even thought of an app to preview the flooring direction! My poor husband kept laying down samples and then switching them for me! Thanks!
If you are installing 3/4 inch thick nailed down hardwood flooring, as a flooring contractor, I was always taught that preferably, the floor is laid perpendicular to the joists for stability. Of course, the homeowner makes the final decision, but I always explain their options.
You are absolutely correct! Thank you for your expertise. This is something we don't consider much here in California since most of our homes are on a concrete sub-floor and are a glue down installation.
The bottom line is; It Doesn't Matter...it's your choice. The only factor that you might consider is the installation procedure and whether one direction presents more problems than the other. If your planks ends are terminating against the longest wall, you will have more end cuts to make during installation. In some cases, there may be more cuts, or more intricate cuts required to fit against doorways or other features if the flooring is laid in a particular direction. Its easier to make custom, odd shaped cuts into the end of the planks than to cut them into the side long length of the plank. Finally, it's more pleasing to the eye if the flooring direction in a room matches the same direction as the flooring in other rooms, that may be visible from the room you are flooring.
This is a great video, thanks so much! I’m actually installing wood flooring in a doll house and wasn’t sure which direction to lay it-this video was a huge help.
Thanks for the visualizer, we are about to lay flooring and we would have gone the wrong direction. Now we are confident in our selection and direction.
Thank you so much for this video and the links. In our situation, two different rules gave us opposite results. We uploaded a photo and were able to try out a flooring very similar to ours and the decision became very clear.😊
Exposed ceiling beams can also decide the floor direction. It tends to give a strange impression, if the beams and the floor run in different directions.
Was told that since I’m selecting Uniclick planks, they can’t be in 2 different directions. Since we have a galley kitchen, horizontal makes the most sense. Our condo I neighbor did horizontal and besides the better look in the galley kitchen, horizontal seemed to give it a cozier look.
Thanks so much for the links to the visualisers. I'm pretty good at conceptualising designs, but it's really helpful to be able to generate some imagoes.
My 1st floor is a large "L" and my planks are on a diagonal. It helps bring the eye around the corner. Significantly more waste, though. Every single plank has at least 8" of linear distance chopped off. (Piles of triangles in the trash.)
Exact problem I’m trying to avoid lol I’m thinking horizontal for me way more full boards plus I’m doing bedrooms too so I thinking might make it easier for the transfer into the bedrooms
Yeah, but in my house it would look like turds to run perpendicular. If you walked in, it would be the first thought to come to mind. Wow, the flooring would look much better if it ran the other way. I guess, what I'm saying is it may not be worth following the hypothetical rule of thumb if it looks terrible and it may never be an issue.
It will all depend on the type of subfloor you have and the method of installation. Most homes on the west coast have a concrete subfloor. Upstairs the joists are usually covered with a 3/4" plywood. The primary method of installation is glue down or floating. If all of the above applies to your home as well then it doesn't matter what direction you are installing the flooring. I know in different parts of the country the flooring installed is primarily solid and nailed down. This would be a completely different installation then what we are used to out here. For this reason you should always rely on your local professionals for guidance.
Agreed, if you have floor joists. 98% of our jobs on the West Coast are on a concrete subfloor. I would say a more precise statement is "always consult with your local flooring expert (installer). The installer is ultimately responsible for laying the floor properly. Thank for the comment
Great question. I would not use your staircase as a reference as to what direction you run the flooring. Treat a stair case as a separate area. Rely on the other rules.
I have a galley kitchen with about four feet between the cabinets, ten-foot-nine long with a dining room at one end and a breakfast room at the other. I don't plan to do anything to the original oak floors in the dining room, but the kitchen suite currently has vinyl roll and it simply has to go. I am leaning toward a vinyl plank product available at the home center, two versions of the same color available: straight-line or herringbone. I like the interest with the herringbone for the more open breakfast room (there is a laundry closet and a pantry in this space as well), but was concerned that the herringbone in the long, narrow space would look like a hodge-podge. I just looked at a picture of a kitchen that used the herringbone oriented to accent the length of the narrow aisle in a lengthwise zig-zag pattern as opposed to a chevron pointing the way, and I think that's the way I want to go.
My wall is 1 and 1/4" difference in length from one side to the other. Running the boards the long way, the way of walking through the patio door, I will have over 1" correction along one wall. The other slight correction will be against the hearth of the fireplace which also isn't equal in distance from the wall on each side, making it look bad probably with my half plank in front of it. That's all that lines up well enough though. I feel I have to go this way because I have a lip on the kitchen which is right next to it that runs long, this same direction. I think it would be really silly to run that tiny lip the other way and probably not possible with LVP. Redoing old homes floors sucks! lol
Unfortunately new builds are not much better. Best of luck to you. I’m sure it will be beautiful when completed. Most likely you will be the only one that notices things aren’t a square in the house.
@CoronaHardwood Thanks. It worked out well. Hard to see the slight change, especially now with the furniture back in place. Also, my underfloor heating works really well! Baseboard does not fit correctly and I'll have to just do new baseboard from scratch next year.
@@paulamiller1519 Hi Paula, You can actually find the flooring visualizer on our website now. Just visit www.CoronaHardwood.com and click the pop up link in the bottom right hand corner.
Are these rules listed importance? I have a home where the front door and windows are front/back but the house is elongated side-side with long hallways and galley kitchen running side-side.
These are just guidelines to help you determine what would be most aesthetically pleasing in no particular order. Based on your scenario I think you could go in either direction. However, I would consult with your installer as to what they think would be best. Depending on your subfloor and the type of installation there may be a direction that would work better. If it is a raised subfloor they will want to install it perpendicular to the trusses. In my option if you run the flooring from the front to the back of the house it will probably balance it out. If you run it side to side it will elongate the home even more. I think this is a case where using the visualizer tool would really help you decide what would be most appealing to you.
Thank you for letting us know. I just checked the links and they all appear to work on my computer. It might be because you are trying to access it from a mobile device or a browser that it does not like. We now offer the room visualizer on our website where you can browse multiple brands all in one place. You can view it either on www.CoronaHardwood.com (bottom right corner of each page) or our new site www.1stopfloor.com (at the very bottom of the page).
Unfortunately there are no vinyl products that I am aware of that have a glossy finish. There may be some in the future if that trend comes back. For now matte finish European oak visuals are dominating the market.
Great question. It does not make a difference which way the underlayment is layed out. Typically it is rolled out in the same direction as the flooring will be layed, most commonly the length of the room. I don't believe there would be a performance difference if it was layed perpendicularly, but it is just easier to work in sections when going in the same direction as the floor boards.
fantastic. hallway runs E-W, but has carpet. Most of the front of the house, to include entry, has 'wood' running N-S (light enters from south). If I replace the carpet w/'wood', I can continue the plank direction and run the boards down the hall N-S, but will have to cut every single board so they fit (the short, 36" width, but no staggered seams). plus, there are 4 doorways off the hall. Each doorway would have 5-7 ends each plus a transition piece to each doorway...or do I run the hallway E-W and put the boards down longways with a transition pieces at the living room -hallway start?
@SummerBRZ If you are able to change the direction in the hallway without the use of a transition molding, that is the only time I would change the direction in a hallway. Otherwise a T-molding in the middle of the floor will really kill the look. If you are not able to change the direction seamlessly then I would just continue running the flooring in the same direction N-S. It will flow better then having a speed bump in the middle of the floor. Hope this helps.
I don't find those manufacturers links you mentioned. I'll be doing 30 sq ft of vinyl planks in a vintage fiberglass travel trailer. 'Not sure if I should do whichever direction requires fewer cuts or the direction of the entry door.
... to make the trailer look longer, running the planks N-S (front to back) will give the appearance of a longer inside. Running the planks E-W, presumable the shortest width, it will "shrink" the space to the eye. All of the seems and grain will "point" to the side walls. Like stripes on a shirt, up/down stripes make you look tall(er), horizontal stripes make you look wider/fatter...
I want to install vinyl plank flooring and my house is 60' long. Obviously, I want to run the flooring parallel with the 60' dimension, but I've heard that installing the flooring in excess of 30' will cause cupping and such. Is there a rule for a maximum length?
You would have to check with the retailer/manufacturer of your product. Not all Vinyl floors are created equally, therefore the installation instructions will vary. We have some products that will only allow you to do a 30' run, while others that will allow you to go up to 60'. The store your purchased your flooring from should be able to help you out with this.
If your installing your own floor,I . would think most people would look for the easiest way to do it. When you start changing directions it cost you more in extra materials and them VERY expensive transition strips
@@mikebertinshurtow I agree 100%. Who cares what's easier when you have to look at it as long as you own the home? I want to do it the way that looks best.
What is more imporntant laying my floors paralel to light/window and considering the longest wall or give priority to entrance....if I do the first option my floors will look like they are laying in the wide not long direction when I enter the room, because the windows and the doors are not exactly opposite on the wall..what should I give priority to? Im confused
It is difficult to give you advice without seeing the space in person. Keep in mind that this is just a guide, there is no wrong or right way. In some situations either direction will look aesthetically pleasing. With that said, I am a very visual person so seeing it helps me tremendously. I would direct you to the room visualizer tool found on our website www.CoronaHardwood.com. Just take a photo of your room, visit our website and click the link in the bottom right hand corner. You can now easily pick a floor and see it in your home in seconds. You are also able to change the direction with one click. This should help you get a better idea of what you would prefer to see in your floor. Hope this helps. For more info visit the link below. ua-cam.com/video/QN7mlr8BLNw/v-deo.html
Rule #1 should be, what direction does the floor joist go? You want to run perpendicular to strengthen the floor and avoid cupping. If it doesn’t go the way you want, then install an additional layer of plywood.
Thanks for the comment. I have heard this from several others on here and have inquired into this with a couple of C15 flooring contractors in our area. Both stated that they haven't experienced any issues with running it parallel to the joists. With that said most of the work done here in California is glue down or floating over concrete. If it is on a raised foundation it is going over 3/4" plywood and again is either glued down or floated. Don't see how the direction of the joists would cause cupping, but it's an interesting thought.
What direction should I install my floors if all the main doors (entry doors and bedroom doors) run east to west and all the main windows are facing east to west BUT the hallway runs north to south? Should I install the floors east to west to match the flow of the house, but my hallway pattern will look choppy? Or should I install the floors to run the length of the hall way meaning the floors will be perpendicular to the windows and doors? Thanks!
Based on your description I would run the flooring east to west. If possible you can change the direction in the hallway, but it will look fine running perpendicular to the hallway.
@@CoronaHardwood Thanks for the quick response! Regardless of aesthetics, will running the planks perpendicular in the hall make installation more difficult since the plank's long sides aren't flowing straight along the length of the walls? All the instructional videos I'v found are for installing parallel down the hallway only. Then again, I imagine running the planks east to west as you suggested would make the rest of the installation easier in the rest of the house due to the layout of the door ways? We plan to have no transitions from the hallway to the other rooms.
@@HannahNew It should not make things more challenging, but it will require a little bit more planning prior to starting. You should still start at a wall, you would just start in a room vs the hallway. The reason you will need to plan more is because the walls in a home are never straight. So you will need to do some measuring and chalk lines to make sure that your floor isn't off at the end. You also want to make sure you are not left with a 1" pieces at the end. If you plan accordingly it shouldn't slow you down when it comes time to lay the flooring. I hope this helps answer your question.
Looking to purchase some nice LVP for my downstairs, trying to stay around $5/sq-ft. Can you recommend the best product for the money? Any thoughts on Pergo Extreme?
Hi Tony, I am not too familiar with Pergo LVP since we do not carry that brand. I know Pergo is primarily known for their laminate flooring, but have not heard much feedback in regards to the LVP. As far as recommendations go, I believe the best LVP currently on the market is the Paradigm Conquest line. It's a beefy SPC product with an overall thickness of 8mm (I believe this is the thickest SPC product on the market today). 9" wide x 72" length. They also have one of the best color selections available. All of their visuals are EIR, meaning the texture follows the printed image and gives you the most realistic look. If you are looking for realism, durability, and affordability it can't be beat. Our pricing is quantity based, but you should be under $5/sf if you are working with a descent quantity (Pricing is going up Feb. 1st though). Give our store a call at 877-389-9157 if you would like additional info. You can also view all of the Paradigm Conquest colors by clicking the link below. www.coronahardwood.com/ch/products/flooring+wood+hardwood+laminate+floors/vinyl+plank+floors-floor+type/paradigm-manufacturer/conquest+spc-collection/list
@@CoronaHardwood - how is the fit of the paradigm LVP? Also are the tabs durable and strong? A lot of these LVP products I’m seeing have virtually indestructible locking tabs
Hello Karen, thank you for the comment. We used multiple flooring images in the making of this video. If you are referring to our cover photo it is the California Classics - Mediterranean Collection and I believe the color is Kerrew.
I'm moving into a place where they installed it the wrong way - cross ways in a long room - and it just feels wrong when you walk in there. How hard is it to pull it up and change the direction?
That is a very difficult question to answer without knowing the type of floor, how it was installer, is it just one room or is the floor connected to other parts of the home?
If the choice is between rule #2 & #3 I would go with #3. Installers will typically work off of the longest run in the house to make sure that the flooring appears is layed as straight as possible, since we know that most home are not perfectly square. I hope that helps.
@@CoronaHardwood maybe I worded my question wrong. Sorry. So based on #1, I should lay them from back to front but based on #2 and #3, I should lay them from right to left. That’s the issue. Which rules should prioritize? What would you recommend based on the info I gave you now?
Rule #3 supersedes rule #1 in my opinion. Just remember that this isn’t a science and is just a guide. Every home is different and in some cases it may look more pleasing to your eye to break the rules. It’s your home, and you need to live in it, so go with your gut. Room visualizer really helps most people who have a hard time picturing what it would look like.
Sorry, I tried my best to lay it out as best as I could. It may be that either direction works in your case. Remember there is no wrong or right way. The right way is the way you choose to lay your floor. Love Trump with a beard by the way!
Great info... what do you recommend for underlayment if I am installing nail down hardwood oak on a finished second level space ? I was told a vapor barrier is not necessary so I see little options and if possible so sound barrier type underlayment, can you help with this I am a little confused On what to get ? My shopping center is HomeDepot Thanks
@@Gummybears13 per code the upper level had insulation under subfloor between 12inch beams so the only requirement was just to go straight nail down to subfloor and it’s turn out great 👍
Waxed paper. Nothing spongy if it's a nail-down. The paper lets the boards slide tightly during install & also prevents dust/dirt from accumulating inside the groove. Remember that wood is a live product. Will expand & contract seasonally. Remove all baseboards, undercut all door jambs& casings & leave a 1/2" gap around the room for expansion. Re-install baseboards & enjoy for 60 years. Cheers.
Generally with a floating floor you do not want anything extremely heavy on it because it needs to move as the flooring expands and contracts. With that said I know that the flooring is always installed under the fridge and weight is not much different with a stove. I would rely on the recommendation of the person installing since they are ultimately responsible for the flooring to be installed properly. If there is an issue they are responsible for fixing it. I don't believe you would have any issues though as long as you have good expansion gaps near the cabinets.
Most manufacturers are now using Roomvo as their app. Unfortunately they currently do not offer a diagonal view. I know that Armstrong's visualizer does. You can access their visualizer by clicking the following link. www.armstrongflooring.com/residential/en-us/inspiration/design-a-room.html
@@CoronaHardwood Thank you. It's sort of diagonal (Really slow program), but better than the Roomvo app. If anyone knows another app, please send my way: dbkf16@gmail.com
I love the enthusiasm
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I came here just for comments like this. 🤣🤣🤣
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I was skeptical about the visualizers, but tried it anyway. SO much better than I expected. Thanks a bunch.
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you! I had not even thought of an app to preview the flooring direction! My poor husband kept laying down samples and then switching them for me! Thanks!
Missed one significant issue - you go perpendicular to the joists.
If you are installing 3/4 inch thick nailed down hardwood flooring, as a flooring contractor, I was always taught that preferably, the floor is laid perpendicular to the joists for stability. Of course, the homeowner makes the final decision, but I always explain their options.
You are absolutely correct! Thank you for your expertise. This is something we don't consider much here in California since most of our homes are on a concrete sub-floor and are a glue down installation.
yup you beat me to it, I was strugglin for the word, but yup perpendicular !
@@CoronaHardwood LOL this is also true, I didn't think about that in my reply, txs !
I am not flooring i heard that perpendicular too
Yes! Whenever structural stability is required, lay plank floors perpendicular to the direction of the joists.
This video was really helpful! We hadn't thought about the problem that changing direction would cause. Thanks for posting this.
The bottom line is; It Doesn't Matter...it's your choice. The only factor that you might consider is the installation procedure and whether one direction presents more problems than the other. If your planks ends are terminating against the longest wall, you will have more end cuts to make during installation. In some cases, there may be more cuts, or more intricate cuts required to fit against doorways or other features if the flooring is laid in a particular direction. Its easier to make custom, odd shaped cuts into the end of the planks than to cut them into the side long length of the plank. Finally, it's more pleasing to the eye if the flooring direction in a room matches the same direction as the flooring in other rooms, that may be visible from the room you are flooring.
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Makes perfectly good sense Chris
Thanks a ton. My new flooring install is 4 weeks out so this video came out at right time.
This is a great video, thanks so much! I’m actually installing wood flooring in a doll house and wasn’t sure which direction to lay it-this video was a huge help.
Glad I could help with your project!
Corona Hardwood; these guys were ahead of their time
Thanks for the visualizer, we are about to lay flooring and we would have gone the wrong direction. Now we are confident in our selection and direction.
Thank you for getting straight to the point. This was very helpful!
Thank you so much for this video and the links. In our situation, two different rules gave us opposite results. We uploaded a photo and were able to try out a flooring very similar to ours and the decision became very clear.😊
Seeing is believing! The visualizer is an amazing tool.
Exposed ceiling beams can also decide the floor direction. It tends to give a strange impression, if the beams and the floor run in different directions.
Great point. I didn’t even think about that.
Most Helpful Video!! I’ve laid out tile for over half the room and still couldn’t decide 🤦🏻♀️ Thanks so much!
Thank you for your feedback. It means a lot to us.
Great content, and loved the visualizer tool. I need that for painting also, so this is awesome!
Dude, this is HUGE! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
California company! Homie-G approves. And thank you for that website that gives me an idea of how different floors might look in my house.
Where is the website, I didn’t see it
@@jeffyoyo8736 It's in the description.
@@homie-gtv322 appreciate
It’s up ur whang!!!
Was told that since I’m selecting Uniclick planks, they can’t be in 2 different directions. Since we have a galley kitchen, horizontal makes the most sense. Our condo I neighbor did horizontal and besides the better look in the galley kitchen, horizontal seemed to give it a cozier look.
Lance from nsync became a floor installer!
LOL
This wqs helpful thank you, i didn't consider the way the natural light flows into the home.
Thank you. My long hall leads to a living room which is long in the perpendicular direction. Sort of a T layout.
Wow thank you so mụch. It saves me from a lot of headaches.
Thank you for your comment. It means a lot to me. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much for the links to the visualisers. I'm pretty good at conceptualising designs, but it's really helpful to be able to generate some imagoes.
My 1st floor is a large "L" and my planks are on a diagonal. It helps bring the eye around the corner. Significantly more waste, though. Every single plank has at least 8" of linear distance chopped off. (Piles of triangles in the trash.)
...You could turn the triangles into a (geometric) headboard. Not super easy, but you wouldn't have as much waste....
Exact problem I’m trying to avoid lol I’m thinking horizontal for me way more full boards plus I’m doing bedrooms too so I thinking might make it easier for the transfer into the bedrooms
Great video with lots of helpful tips. Nevermind the haters. I tried all the room visualiser links and none of them want to work lol. Just my luck.
That is very strange. Might be the web browser you are using. We don't have any issues with using it on our phone or google chrome.
Thanks man’s, the links were extremely helpful!
Thanks for the video.Link to site to try out my flooring in different orientations made a huge impact!
We were always taught to install by tradition, the same way that you would install hardwood floors which is perpendicular to the floor joists
Yeah, but in my house it would look like turds to run perpendicular. If you walked in, it would be the first thought to come to mind. Wow, the flooring would look much better if it ran the other way. I guess, what I'm saying is it may not be worth following the hypothetical rule of thumb if it looks terrible and it may never be an issue.
Thumbs up. Liked the headline.
I had good luck with the first video answering my question, thanks!
Very helpful video! I love the visualization tool!
These visualizer tools are amazing! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this great video. Very helpful!!!
great content, and loved the visualizer tool.
Thank you for your feedback
I thought it mattered if you run your floor perpendicular to the joist underneath for strength. The other way is weak, right?
It will all depend on the type of subfloor you have and the method of installation. Most homes on the west coast have a concrete subfloor. Upstairs the joists are usually covered with a 3/4" plywood. The primary method of installation is glue down or floating. If all of the above applies to your home as well then it doesn't matter what direction you are installing the flooring. I know in different parts of the country the flooring installed is primarily solid and nailed down. This would be a completely different installation then what we are used to out here. For this reason you should always rely on your local professionals for guidance.
Thank you! Very helpful advice.
Very helpful. I guess some people thumbs down anything? Anyway big thumbs up
Thank you for the positive feedback. Glad you found it helpful
Very informative, and the app you referred to sounds so helpful. Can't wait to try it!
Great breakdown a excellent details for a homeowner to consider.
Ben you were very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you, that was super helpful!
As a hardwood pro, lay wood perpendicular to the floor joists. Your'e welcome.
Agreed, if you have floor joists. 98% of our jobs on the West Coast are on a concrete subfloor. I would say a more precise statement is "always consult with your local flooring expert (installer). The installer is ultimately responsible for laying the floor properly.
Thank for the comment
Thank you, the video and the website were very helpful.
Great content, straight to the point and very clear
Thank you so much! This video really helped us!
Thank you! I needed this tool!
Great video 👍🏼
Thank You for your support!
Thank you Mr. LNC
G UKjp re 633
Exactly what I needed. Thanks
Thank you Cristina for the feedback!
If your staircase is located just a few feet from your front door, should the flooring lay in the same direction as the steps on your stairs?
Great question. I would not use your staircase as a reference as to what direction you run the flooring. Treat a stair case as a separate area. Rely on the other rules.
I have a galley kitchen with about four feet between the cabinets, ten-foot-nine long with a dining room at one end and a breakfast room at the other. I don't plan to do anything to the original oak floors in the dining room, but the kitchen suite currently has vinyl roll and it simply has to go.
I am leaning toward a vinyl plank product available at the home center, two versions of the same color available: straight-line or herringbone.
I like the interest with the herringbone for the more open breakfast room (there is a laundry closet and a pantry in this space as well), but was concerned that the herringbone in the long, narrow space would look like a hodge-podge.
I just looked at a picture of a kitchen that used the herringbone oriented to accent the length of the narrow aisle in a lengthwise zig-zag pattern as opposed to a chevron pointing the way, and I think that's the way I want to go.
So helpful, and to the point
Thanks alot
The most important rule, is to run it perpendicular if you have joists,. however anything else, i.e. concrete is all good
With subfloors we have today that doesn’t matter, and most flooring adds zero strength anyway
@@morehp1
Not true at all.
Very helpful. Thanks Ben 👍
My wall is 1 and 1/4" difference in length from one side to the other. Running the boards the long way, the way of walking through the patio door, I will have over 1" correction along one wall. The other slight correction will be against the hearth of the fireplace which also isn't equal in distance from the wall on each side, making it look bad probably with my half plank in front of it. That's all that lines up well enough though. I feel I have to go this way because I have a lip on the kitchen which is right next to it that runs long, this same direction. I think it would be really silly to run that tiny lip the other way and probably not possible with LVP. Redoing old homes floors sucks! lol
Unfortunately new builds are not much better. Best of luck to you. I’m sure it will be beautiful when completed. Most likely you will be the only one that notices things aren’t a square in the house.
@CoronaHardwood Thanks. It worked out well. Hard to see the slight change, especially now with the furniture back in place. Also, my underfloor heating works really well! Baseboard does not fit correctly and I'll have to just do new baseboard from scratch next year.
Awesomene video and lovely visualizer app. So happy to watch before starting my diy project. You are awesome mate
Thank you, appreciate the positive feedback!
@@CoronaHardwood where do you find the visual tool at again?
@@paulamiller1519 Hi Paula, You can actually find the flooring visualizer on our website now. Just visit www.CoronaHardwood.com and click the pop up link in the bottom right hand corner.
most helpful video ever! Thx for helping me pick directions and the visualization tool.. omg
I agree man very specific. I have heard every single way width length vertical this was actualy helpful
Thank you! I chose the correct way to lay my floor but I wanted to be sure!
Are these rules listed importance? I have a home where the front door and windows are front/back but the house is elongated side-side with long hallways and galley kitchen running side-side.
These are just guidelines to help you determine what would be most aesthetically pleasing in no particular order. Based on your scenario I think you could go in either direction. However, I would consult with your installer as to what they think would be best. Depending on your subfloor and the type of installation there may be a direction that would work better. If it is a raised subfloor they will want to install it perpendicular to the trusses.
In my option if you run the flooring from the front to the back of the house it will probably balance it out. If you run it side to side it will elongate the home even more. I think this is a case where using the visualizer tool would really help you decide what would be most appealing to you.
The 1st site is the only one that works for me. The rest has a "order samples" blocking the picture. Tried everything to get rid of it.
Thank you for letting us know. I just checked the links and they all appear to work on my computer. It might be because you are trying to access it from a mobile device or a browser that it does not like. We now offer the room visualizer on our website where you can browse multiple brands all in one place. You can view it either on www.CoronaHardwood.com (bottom right corner of each page) or our new site www.1stopfloor.com (at the very bottom of the page).
Blink once if they are holding you hostage.
😉🤣
Try laying it horizontal. Seems to work well for mine.
Great video. Did not even though of this issue
OMG Thank you for this!!!
Thank you It helped me alot .
Helpful video. Thank you!
Very helpful, thank you. I am considering luxury vinyl rather than wood flooring. I want the glossy shine. Can I get that with Vinyl?
Unfortunately there are no vinyl products that I am aware of that have a glossy finish. There may be some in the future if that trend comes back. For now matte finish European oak visuals are dominating the market.
Are you sure you want glossy floors? Glossy floors look really ugly to me. Just like glossy walls. But to each his own.
Does it make a difference to put the underlayment in the same direction? Or perpendicular ?
Great question. It does not make a difference which way the underlayment is layed out. Typically it is rolled out in the same direction as the flooring will be layed, most commonly the length of the room. I don't believe there would be a performance difference if it was layed perpendicularly, but it is just easier to work in sections when going in the same direction as the floor boards.
Loved the info. Thanks!!
I've learned so much from this video
I can tell my boy getting that paper ,ol chunky checks thanks for this video
fantastic. hallway runs E-W, but has carpet. Most of the front of the house, to include entry, has 'wood' running N-S (light enters from south). If I replace the carpet w/'wood', I can continue the plank direction and run the boards down the hall N-S, but will have to cut every single board so they fit (the short, 36" width, but no staggered seams). plus, there are 4 doorways off the hall. Each doorway would have 5-7 ends each plus a transition piece to each doorway...or do I run the hallway E-W and put the boards down longways with a transition pieces at the living room -hallway start?
@SummerBRZ If you are able to change the direction in the hallway without the use of a transition molding, that is the only time I would change the direction in a hallway. Otherwise a T-molding in the middle of the floor will really kill the look. If you are not able to change the direction seamlessly then I would just continue running the flooring in the same direction N-S. It will flow better then having a speed bump in the middle of the floor. Hope this helps.
Awesome video thank you ❤
I don't find those manufacturers links you mentioned. I'll be doing 30 sq ft of vinyl planks in a vintage fiberglass travel trailer. 'Not sure if I should do whichever direction requires fewer cuts or the direction of the entry door.
... to make the trailer look longer, running the planks N-S (front to back) will give the appearance of a longer inside. Running the planks E-W, presumable the shortest width, it will "shrink" the space to the eye. All of the seems and grain will "point" to the side walls. Like stripes on a shirt, up/down stripes make you look tall(er), horizontal stripes make you look wider/fatter...
@@K03sport thanks
I want to install vinyl plank flooring and my house is 60' long. Obviously, I want to run the flooring parallel with the 60' dimension, but I've heard that installing the flooring in excess of 30' will cause cupping and such. Is there a rule for a maximum length?
You would have to check with the retailer/manufacturer of your product. Not all Vinyl floors are created equally, therefore the installation instructions will vary. We have some products that will only allow you to do a 30' run, while others that will allow you to go up to 60'. The store your purchased your flooring from should be able to help you out with this.
Lot of flooring manufacturers recommend to run perpendicular to your floor joists
If your installing your own floor,I . would think most people would look for the easiest way to do it. When you start changing directions it cost you more in extra materials and them VERY expensive transition strips
yea I know, the last time I bought a transition strip it was $3! ....VERY expensive.....
Easy isn't relevant. Most times it just means lazy.
@@mikebertinshurtow I agree 100%. Who cares what's easier when you have to look at it as long as you own the home? I want to do it the way that looks best.
What is more imporntant laying my floors paralel to light/window and considering the longest wall or give priority to entrance....if I do the first option my floors will look like they are laying in the wide not long direction when I enter the room, because the windows and the doors are not exactly opposite on the wall..what should I give priority to? Im confused
It is difficult to give you advice without seeing the space in person. Keep in mind that this is just a guide, there is no wrong or right way. In some situations either direction will look aesthetically pleasing. With that said, I am a very visual person so seeing it helps me tremendously. I would direct you to the room visualizer tool found on our website www.CoronaHardwood.com. Just take a photo of your room, visit our website and click the link in the bottom right hand corner. You can now easily pick a floor and see it in your home in seconds. You are also able to change the direction with one click. This should help you get a better idea of what you would prefer to see in your floor. Hope this helps. For more info visit the link below.
ua-cam.com/video/QN7mlr8BLNw/v-deo.html
Great video. Thank you.
This was incredibly helpful
Thank you Cynthia for your feedback!
Rule #1 should be, what direction does the floor joist go? You want to run perpendicular to strengthen the floor and avoid cupping. If it doesn’t go the way you want, then install an additional layer of plywood.
Thanks for the comment. I have heard this from several others on here and have inquired into this with a couple of C15 flooring contractors in our area. Both stated that they haven't experienced any issues with running it parallel to the joists. With that said most of the work done here in California is glue down or floating over concrete. If it is on a raised foundation it is going over 3/4" plywood and again is either glued down or floated. Don't see how the direction of the joists would cause cupping, but it's an interesting thought.
What direction should I install my floors if all the main doors (entry doors and bedroom doors) run east to west and all the main windows are facing east to west BUT the hallway runs north to south? Should I install the floors east to west to match the flow of the house, but my hallway pattern will look choppy? Or should I install the floors to run the length of the hall way meaning the floors will be perpendicular to the windows and doors? Thanks!
Based on your description I would run the flooring east to west. If possible you can change the direction in the hallway, but it will look fine running perpendicular to the hallway.
@@CoronaHardwood Thanks for the quick response! Regardless of aesthetics, will running the planks perpendicular in the hall make installation more difficult since the plank's long sides aren't flowing straight along the length of the walls? All the instructional videos I'v found are for installing parallel down the hallway only. Then again, I imagine running the planks east to west as you suggested would make the rest of the installation easier in the rest of the house due to the layout of the door ways? We plan to have no transitions from the hallway to the other rooms.
@@HannahNew It should not make things more challenging, but it will require a little bit more planning prior to starting. You should still start at a wall, you would just start in a room vs the hallway. The reason you will need to plan more is because the walls in a home are never straight. So you will need to do some measuring and chalk lines to make sure that your floor isn't off at the end. You also want to make sure you are not left with a 1" pieces at the end. If you plan accordingly it shouldn't slow you down when it comes time to lay the flooring. I hope this helps answer your question.
Looking to purchase some nice LVP for my downstairs, trying to stay around $5/sq-ft. Can you recommend the best product for the money? Any thoughts on Pergo Extreme?
Hi Tony, I am not too familiar with Pergo LVP since we do not carry that brand. I know Pergo is primarily known for their laminate flooring, but have not heard much feedback in regards to the LVP.
As far as recommendations go, I believe the best LVP currently on the market is the Paradigm Conquest line. It's a beefy SPC product with an overall thickness of 8mm (I believe this is the thickest SPC product on the market today). 9" wide x 72" length. They also have one of the best color selections available. All of their visuals are EIR, meaning the texture follows the printed image and gives you the most realistic look. If you are looking for realism, durability, and affordability it can't be beat. Our pricing is quantity based, but you should be under $5/sf if you are working with a descent quantity (Pricing is going up Feb. 1st though). Give our store a call at 877-389-9157 if you would like additional info. You can also view all of the Paradigm Conquest colors by clicking the link below.
www.coronahardwood.com/ch/products/flooring+wood+hardwood+laminate+floors/vinyl+plank+floors-floor+type/paradigm-manufacturer/conquest+spc-collection/list
@@CoronaHardwood - how is the fit of the paradigm LVP? Also are the tabs durable and strong? A lot of these LVP products I’m seeing have virtually indestructible locking tabs
Great video! What flooring brand/color is this?
Hello Karen, thank you for the comment. We used multiple flooring images in the making of this video. If you are referring to our cover photo it is the California Classics - Mediterranean Collection and I believe the color is Kerrew.
I'm moving into a place where they installed it the wrong way - cross ways in a long room - and it just feels wrong when you walk in there. How hard is it to pull it up and change the direction?
That is a very difficult question to answer without knowing the type of floor, how it was installer, is it just one room or is the floor connected to other parts of the home?
awesome video man!
Thanks Mark, that means a lot coming from an expert.
Thank you for the info😀😀😀
What if my house pertains to only rule #2 and 3? Are these rules ranked by importance?
If the choice is between rule #2 & #3 I would go with #3. Installers will typically work off of the longest run in the house to make sure that the flooring appears is layed as straight as possible, since we know that most home are not perfectly square. I hope that helps.
@@CoronaHardwood maybe I worded my question wrong. Sorry. So based on #1, I should lay them from back to front but based on #2 and #3, I should lay them from right to left. That’s the issue. Which rules should prioritize? What would you recommend based on the info I gave you now?
@@RobertRiol Ok I got it. In this case best 2 out of 3 wins. So I would go with rule #2 & #3.
It feels wrong to me for the floor to lay perpendicular to the front of the house.
please help, if rule #1 contradicts rule #3, which one takes priority?
Rule #3 supersedes rule #1 in my opinion. Just remember that this isn’t a science and is just a guide. Every home is different and in some cases it may look more pleasing to your eye to break the rules. It’s your home, and you need to live in it, so go with your gut. Room visualizer really helps most people who have a hard time picturing what it would look like.
* In my opinion, it is better to install the planks perpendicular to the floor studs underneeth.
Good tips 👍🏻
What if your window is in the short wall and the room door is on the wall next to it?
In this case I would run the flooring parallel to the longest wall. Hope this helps.
thanks for this information now i am even more confused and dont know which orientation i should lay
Sorry, I tried my best to lay it out as best as I could. It may be that either direction works in your case. Remember there is no wrong or right way. The right way is the way you choose to lay your floor. Love Trump with a beard by the way!
Best video ever
What the app called that would help me with what direction to lay the floor I didn’t catch it in the video
Roomvo is the most well known and widely used. Some brands such as Mannington & Shaw offer there own version which can be found on their website.
@@CoronaHardwood shoot. roomvo doesn’t exist. 🤔
Great info... what do you recommend for underlayment if I am installing nail down hardwood oak on a finished second level space ? I was told a vapor barrier is not necessary so I see little options and if possible so sound barrier type underlayment, can you help with this I am a little confused On what to get ? My shopping center is HomeDepot
Thanks
Did you get your floor down??? or still waiting ??
Yes what do you put underneath
@@Gummybears13 per code the upper level had insulation under subfloor between 12inch beams so the only requirement was just to go straight nail down to subfloor and it’s turn out great 👍
Waxed paper. Nothing spongy if it's a nail-down. The paper lets the boards slide tightly during install & also prevents dust/dirt from accumulating inside the groove. Remember that wood is a live product. Will expand & contract seasonally. Remove all baseboards, undercut all door jambs& casings & leave a 1/2" gap around the room for expansion. Re-install baseboards & enjoy for 60 years. Cheers.
Can you put laminate in a kitchen under a stove? One installer told me yes and another said no.
Generally with a floating floor you do not want anything extremely heavy on it because it needs to move as the flooring expands and contracts. With that said I know that the flooring is always installed under the fridge and weight is not much different with a stove. I would rely on the recommendation of the person installing since they are ultimately responsible for the flooring to be installed properly. If there is an issue they are responsible for fixing it. I don't believe you would have any issues though as long as you have good expansion gaps near the cabinets.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Very helpful!
I can't find an online visualizer (they appear to be dozens of companies, all using the exact same app) which will show diagonal lay. Ideas? Thanks.
Most manufacturers are now using Roomvo as their app. Unfortunately they currently do not offer a diagonal view. I know that Armstrong's visualizer does. You can access their visualizer by clicking the following link. www.armstrongflooring.com/residential/en-us/inspiration/design-a-room.html
@@CoronaHardwood Thank you. It's sort of diagonal (Really slow program), but better than the Roomvo app. If anyone knows another app, please send my way: dbkf16@gmail.com
Keardean has a visualizer that allows you to select the angle...
@@graydonbardwell4637 I went to this site but couldn't find a visualizer: keardeanflooring.co.uk/