Depending on how you want to show your room you can choose the orientation of the laminate flooring panels.
Which way do you lay laminate flooring in living room.
Laminate flooring laid lengthways can have an expanding effect.
If you re installing your flooring on a main floor you will want to float the floor in the same direction.
To combat this problem lay the flooring horizontally.
The best way to decide is to lay out the floor and visualize what looks best.
So which direction to lay laminate flooring then.
Lay the first course of flooring along the wall that forms the inside of the l follow the wall keeping a gap of 1 4 inch between the flooring and the wall to allow for expansion of the flooring material and extend this course past the wall all the way to the opposite perpendicular wall.
This is the short version of where do i start installing my laminate floor or vinyl plank floor.
If you are installing into multiple areas such as a living room a hallway bedrooms kitchen dining room and ect.
If you have a long prominent hallway you may choose to run the flooring parallel to its walls even if that means it will run parallel to the short walls in the living room.
Just consult your manufacturer installation instructions and since it is inherently resistant to water it is also a great choice for the kitchen bathroom or basement.
For example if you want a hallway to seem longer it is better to use the laminate flooring in the lengthways direction.
This draws the eye from side to side instead of down the length of the room.
Laying hardwood flooring vertically in this situation would make the illusion even worse.
In fact vinyl plank flooring can be installed virtually anywhere even on top of existing flooring.
Here are a few tips to help you decide.
Then you are on the right page.
If you have a room that is narrower than it is long it can end up feeling closed in.
If you only have a one room installation then go to this page here.
However the most natural looking direction to lay a wood floor will always be along the length of a room and its all down to the history and natural characteristics of solid wood flooring.