Do Laminate Floors Start at the Length of the Room?

Light Source

• Professionals recommend laying laminate flooring parallel with the light coming in from doors and windows, according to Find Any Floor. For example, if the light coming in the window is shining lengthwise in the room, lay the laminate lengthwise. If the light is running the width of the room, you can lay the flooring widthwise. However, other considerations are the floor joists and hallways.

Hallways

• Hallways generally will look better when the laminate is installed lengthwise. Before you start laying out the floor, you should place a few pieces lengthwise and widthwise to determine which way will work the best in your specific hallway. Consider the light source and the floor joists as well. Another consideration is the room where the hall leads to. If the adjoining room with have the laminate running widthwise, you want the two floors to be the same direction.

Floor Joists

• Manufacturers recommend running the flooring perpendicular with the floor joists. Although this way will give you more stability, it may not be right for the room after you consider the light sources and adjoining room layouts, both important considerations when laying laminate flooring.

Designer Floors

• If you are planning to make a designer floor such as an octagon shape, you don’t have any choices as to the direction of the flooring. You will need to start the flooring in the middle and work your way outward toward the walls.

Other Concerns

• When you install laminate flooring, you need to leave 1/4 inch from the walls to allow for contraction and expansion of the flooring during temperature changes. The perimeter of the laminate is covered with molding or another source to cover the expansion area. Whether you lay the floor lengthwise or widthwise, you must have the 1/4 inch on the perimeter or the floor will not have the room needed for contraction and expansion. In that case, the laminate will start to buckle on the floor, which will damage the flooring.