Can I Lay Laminate Floor Perpendicular to Floor Joints?

Underlayment

• Install laminate flooring over a smooth subfloor. Renovation projects often require adding a 1/4-inch plywood overlay to provide a smooth surface. A felt underlayment over the subfloor provides sound insulation and prevents the laminate from shifting. The underlayment is not attached to the subfloor but floats on top of the material.

Longest Wall

• Install the laminate flooring parallel to the longest wall of the room. This reduces the number of pieces of laminate that will need to be cut to fit the room. Lay out the first course with the tongue, if applicable, toward the wall, allowing about 1/2-inch space between the flooring and the wall for expansion.

Plank Underlayment

• Rooms with plank underlayment have specific considerations regarding the placement of laminate flooring. Planks should be placed perpendicular to the floor joists. Install the laminate flooring so it is perpendicular to the planking. This means the laminate flooring must be applied parallel to the floor joists. Another option is to place a 1/4-inch plywood subfloor over the plank underlayment.

Installation

• Following some basic rules, when installing laminate flooring, guarantees high-quality results. Unpack the flooring at the job site at least 24 hours before installation to allow the material to adjust to the ambient humidity level. Open several packages and use pieces from alternating packages to mix any slight variations found in different packages throughout the floor surface. Cut the flooring with a circular saw, working from the backside of the flooring to prevent scratches to the finished surface.