Why do you have to lay down laminate hardwood flooring this way...?

by **MrJMan** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:54 am

In diagrams and on TV, they usually lay down one flooring row, and then on the second row they cut a piece in half and work down the same path they did the first row (like from top to bottom of room). Wouldn't it be easier to lay down one row top to bottom, then start on the second row bottom to the top and cut out the size needed at the end? Does it really matter? It is just everywhere I see floors being laid they always lay out the pieces on one side of the room instead of going up and down the room row by row.

by **cheezyhill927** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:40 am

It has to do with the way the pieces snap together.

The reason they cut a piece for the second row is so your seams are offset as much as possible.

You need to start at one side go the entire length of the run and then keep building row after row. All the pieces interlock. The floor is actually a floating floor when completed.

Even on floors you nail or staple down they interlock and you need to install them one complete row at a time.

I have always found that when a manufacturer of a product recommend an installation process they tend to know their own product. Besides not following installation instructions can void a warranty.

by **robs240** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:30 pm

Doing more than one row at a time does not and will not void any type of warranty..
You can do several rows at a time as long as the seams do not come with in 6 " of another..And no end pcs least than 12/16"
Even nail ,staple and glue down flooring that has just a tongue and groove system multiple rows are done at atime.
You may want to do 3 maybe 4 rows like this to get started but after that you can do several at a time. Working from left to right is very important because of the way the locking system is and the proper way to use a tapping block to set the laminate.
If you have any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. I ve attended several seminars on laminate and to install it as well as having installed several 100,000 s/f.. GL

by **HappyMan497** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:37 pm

It is easier to do it staggered and it looks better.

by **josephrob2003059** on Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:14 pm

the main reason for this is to provide strength between the joints,so there will be no weak spots,apart from this, it creates a feature

Why do you have to lay down laminate hardwood flooring this way...?