What Happens to a Laminate Floor if You Don't Stagger It?

Finished Look

• If you look at a custom hardwood or laminate floor installed by a flooring professional, you’ll find that the ends of the planks stagger. In the case of real hardwood, the planks are also various lengths. If the ends of the planks align, it’s a sign of amateurish workmanship. It’s actually simpler to stagger the plank seams than it is to align them.

Wasted Flooring

• The correct way to install laminate flooring is by working from one side of the room to the other, going row by row. When the installer reaches the end of the first row, the last flooring plank must be cut to fit. The cut-off end of the plank then serves as the first plank in the next row of siding, reducing waste and naturally staggering the plank pattern. If you want aligned seams, it’s unlikely that the cut-off ends of the planks can be reused, resulting in material waste and added cost. Generally speaking, flooring with aligned seams is less visually appealing.

Flooring Problems

• Laminate flooring planks feature tongue-and-groove assembly not only on the long sides of the planks but also on the ends. Seams are always a weak point in the floor, but by staggering the planks, two end seams will not align, and the adjacent boards will offer solid support on both sides of a seam. With aligned seams, the weakest points of the floor all line up with no side support. If high humidity levels or temperature fluctuations cause the laminate flooring to swell, buckling or separating is likely to occur along the seam line.

Warranty

• Laminate manufacturers stand behind their products only when installers follow the installation instructions to the letter. With each box of laminate flooring, you’ll find instructions that require a minimum distance between panel seams. Not complying with the manufacturer’s instructions will most likely void the product’s warranty.