In which direction to lay the laminate? Useful tips. How to lay laminate in relation to the window What is the best way to lay laminate along or across

According to the manufacturers, due to the locking system of connections, the laminate is assembled easily and quickly. But there is a problem that arises when starting work: how to properly lay laminate along or across the room? This issue can be resolved using certain technologies.

How to lay laminate correctly

Having chosen the color and texture of the material for laying on the floor in an apartment or house, the owner usually does not think about the direction of laying the laminate. According to experts, its durability and wear resistance depend on the direction in which the laminate is laid. Proper installation of laminate flooring will create a certain decorative accent. This laminate belongs to the class of long finished flooring materials, because... its length is 4.5 times greater than its width. There are limitations to the installation options for laminated parquet.

By light (from the window)

According to the recommendations of flooring manufacturers and craftsmen, this installation method is optimal. If you lay laminate flooring in apartments with a standard layout using this method, you will get a smooth monolithic surface with barely noticeable joints

A similar assembly is used for materials that have a double-sided chamfer. The surface resembles a plank floor in country or old Russian style. If there is texture embossing on the laminate, this will further emphasize the texture or give an aged look to the floor surface.

Laminate class 32-34 is suitable for light installation. Class 31 laminate must be used carefully due to low wear resistance at the joints, and this leads to rapid wear and loss of appearance.

Across the world

This assembly method is carried out perpendicular to the window and parallel to the long wall. Laminate of class 32-34 is used. This installation allows you to visually enlarge the room. Laying laminate flooring across the room emphasizes:

• texture of the laminate “registered” (uneven embossed, lumpy surface imitating wood), “chrome” (alternating laying of glossy and matte stripes), “brush” (imitation wood, after processing with a metal brush), etc.;
• U- or V-shaped chamfer on 2 or 4 sides;
• 3D drawing.

When laid perpendicularly, the incident light highlights the joints between the lamellas, their texture, and gives volume to the surface. Rooms with this arrangement of laminate have a special charm, since deep embossing and reflection give it a lively play of light and shadow.

Popular manufacturers have collections that combine various decors and sizes of laminated boards. Experienced professional craftsmen assemble textured slats of different formats into a harmonious and effective floor.

Along the way

In passage rooms (corridor, hallway, hall) or in rooms with a certain direction of load (office, kitchen), laminate flooring should be laid along intensive movement. This option is necessary so that the lamellas at the joints wear out less. In this case, class 31-34 laminate will last a long time.

Advice! It is impossible to lay the laminated flooring across the movement, since the main lamella wears off more slowly than the edges, which halves the service life of the parquet.

Diagonal flooring

The craftsmen are against this type of laminate installation, but the client’s desire is the law. In this case, the laminated board is laid at an angle of 40-60 degrees to the walls. This installation is used as a special design technique to change the geometry of the room or make the interior more interesting. This method is often used in rooms where window openings are located on adjacent walls.

This type of fee has certain disadvantages:

For this option, you need to choose lamellas of class 33-34 with a chamfer or a pronounced texture

Custom laminated flooring

Before choosing an assembly option, you need to pay attention to some features.

1. Unusual lamella size

In the collections of manufacturers you can see not only long boards 30x200 cm. For original flooring, slats are produced:

• rectangular type 40x80, 40x120 cm, etc.;
• square type 40x40, 60x60 cm.

This size is necessary to imitate a stacked array or a palace (artistic) floor. The design of this parquet is magnificent, and when assembled it looks gorgeous. Due to non-standard sizes and decors, you don’t have to adhere to the rules when laying the covering.

1. Basic base

The best base for a laminated coating would be a leveled and dried concrete screed. When assembling on a wooden base, the slats are mounted perpendicular to the base boards. When done correctly, floor deflection is reduced to a minimum.

1. Laminate design

Radial cutting is an implicitly expressed textured surface that imitates wood. The resulting coating has almost no halftones. The lamellas are mounted in the direction of travel or in the light.

Tangentially cut lamellas are characterized by the presence of dark stripes and knots, and in some collections there is embossing. Such planks can be mounted in any way.

Rustic lamellas combine tangential and radial cuts with the addition of imitation of minor defects: cracks, blackening, abrasions, sudden changes in color. This laminate looks aged. To diversify the coating and maximize the resemblance to a natural wooden board, the decor in the pack changes at intervals of 1:4 or 1:6. In this case, the pattern is repeated every 4-6 lamellas.

Not only its appearance, but also the durability of the coating itself will depend on how to lay the laminate, along or across the room, so when choosing the direction of installation, first of all you need to think about the possibilities of the coating, and not the aesthetic appearance.

Laminate is a functional and practical floor covering that comes in a variety of textures and colors. Those wishing to change the floor covering often face a pressing question: how to lay laminate along or across the room?

The choice of installation method depends on some room factors. The following installation methods are currently used:

• Longitudinal;
• Transverse;
• Diagonal.

The longitudinal and transverse option is direct installation. Diagonal represents the most difficult installation method. If the choice is made in favor of the latter option, it should be borne in mind that the rooms should not be filled with furniture (both upholstered and cabinet furniture). Diagonal laying is appropriate in rooms such as a corridor or hallway.

The direct installation method is the most common. With it, the elements are attached parallel to the walls. Work begins in the direction “from the door”.

Longitudinal laying

Longitudinal installation is recommended by craftsmen for any type of premises. The amount of waste during direct installation is minimal; the work does not require much time or special skills. The appearance of the finished flooring always looks beautiful and neat.

When the window is located on a short wall, there is no question of how to lay the laminate - along or across the room. Installation of lamellas is carried out relative to the long wall of the room. When illuminating the flooring with light coming from the window, the seams at the joints will not be visible due to the fact that there is no shadow cast. The canvas will create the effect of a perfectly flat panel.

When placing windows on two opposite or adjacent walls, a similar effect cannot be achieved. Longitudinal laying is justified when laying inexpensive laminate flooring, as you can create a chic, stylish interior.

Cross laying

The placement of the slats across the room or perpendicular to a long wall is not as perfect as the first option. The advantage is the ability to visually expand the room. Can be used, for example, in narrow corridors or elongated rooms. The process will require a lot of time and money, since more lamellas will be needed and they will have to be cut more often.

Choosing a installation method

Having selected the texture of the laminate, color scheme and manufacturer, but doubting the choice of direction for the lamellas, you should take into account the following factors:

• The presence of one window in the room. Laying should begin from the far corner of the room perpendicular to the light opening. In this case, the sun's rays will be able to visually hide the seams and the coating will become perfectly smooth.
• The presence of two windows in the room on different walls. You need to focus on the window that gives more light.

Before you start decorating with slats, you can stand with your back to the entrance door to the room and imagine the arrangement of the furniture. If you plan to install the floor in the entire apartment (house), you need to imagine what the overall finished picture will look like. All design features of the room should be taken into account. Then it will become more clear how to properly lay laminate flooring.

Sometimes the source of light is not windows, but chandeliers, spotlights, wall sconces, and floor lamps. Their light also needs to be taken into account when choosing the direction of laying the laminate. You need to be guided only by your preferences or desired effect.

Shapes and size of the room

Taking into account these parameters, you can make it easier to choose a laminate installation method. The proportions of the room change as follows:

Correctly proportioned rooms allow the installation of lamellas along a long wall in the direction from the window.

• In long and narrow rooms, it is more advisable to use a transverse direction; it will “spread” the space.
• Complex proportions and irregular shapes will delight designers, but complicate the work of installers. In such cases, the diagonal direction is chosen. It is not easy to do such work on your own, without special training. If you have doubts about your abilities, it is better to entrust the installation to professionals.
• All other things being equal, in low rooms it is preferable to carry out longitudinal installation, while high ceilings prefer transverse installation.

Important! The direction of installation will not affect the quality of the coating in any way. You should take into account the fact that sometimes a special chamfer is made on the laminate to give individual boards visibility. If this particular type is purchased, then the joints will need to be emphasized and installation is carried out in reverse, perpendicular to the window.

Design Features

The presence of furniture in the room also needs to be taken into account. If the rooms are filled with furniture and the floor is covered with carpets, installation can be more economical. Minimalism in the interior and a relatively open large space of the floor should be emphasized by the direction of laying the lamellas and the issue should be approached more carefully.

When a new floor is installed on wood boards that are not sheathed with plywood, the slats are directed perpendicular to the orientation of the boards to reduce deflection. Plywood over the boards allows you to choose any direction of installation.

Installation nuances

Apartments in the new building and modern houses are built correctly, have beautiful, proportional, comfortable shapes. Old living quarters were often built with ceilings that were too high or too low. At the same time, the rooms could be so narrow that two single beds could not fit at the same time in width. The windows were sometimes located near the ceiling, and the apartment itself was half in the basement. For owners of such “inheritance”, general repair rules are not always suitable. With the decision to carry out repairs, the problems of choosing the right and suitable arrangement options begin.

Such “inconvenient” rooms require a special approach:

• Excessively narrow and elongated rooms with a small window on a short wall can be visually expanded using the direction of the slats. But the main principles of orientation will not work here. The laminate is installed parallel to the window; the direction of the light will help to slightly correct the shortcomings of the room.
• Another case is a low square room with a large area. The light source in this room will not play a special role. Longitudinal installation in relation to the exit, according to experts, will lengthen the room to a more aesthetic appearance.

The final decision on how to lay the laminate correctly - along or across the room - is made by the owner of the room based on the priority of his own expectations from the effect of the new floor.

Some features of the corridors

To determine how to lay laminate correctly - along or across, in cramped and elongated corridors, you need to thoroughly study the properties of the flooring.

Straight corridor

Laminate helps to visually perceive the surrounding space differently. The corridor, in this sense, is a complex architectural space.

• The coating is quite durable and abrasion-resistant, which makes it possible to use slats for arranging floors in the corridor or hallway. A variety of colors solves the most complex tasks of designers.
• If certain conditions are met, choosing the direction of installation will be a good move in changing the perception of the room:
• You should not buy flooring in too bright and flashy colors with a narrow pattern along the elements. It is advisable to choose wide boards with a pattern of the same tone. Imitation of ceramics is also quite appropriate.

• It would be correct to take into account the intensity of the equipped lighting and the characteristics of the lighting sources. Not all of them contribute to the appearance of joints between boards. The laminate delivered from the store needs to be placed on the floor next to each other and see how the light falls on them.
• The choice of color scheme needs to be carefully thought out. A dark floor will visually narrow the room, a light one will expand it.
• During cross-laying, short sections are not used at the edges to save material. This move will greatly reduce the strength of the floor.

Transverse laying of lamellas in cramped corridors is justified if there are large boards of the same tone with an evenly distributed texture. Boards that imitate ceramic tiles are even better. A narrow and elongated pattern located across the room will unbalance its perception without adding beauty. A single-color, small pattern can be laid lengthwise when the room ends with a window. How to lay laminate flooring relative to the window was described above.

L-shaped corridor

In L-shaped rooms, slats should be laid diagonally or in a herringbone pattern. This will create a beautiful, unusual pattern and will not allow you to narrow the space. The diagonal is tolerant of coating textures; you can choose the laminate you like. And boards of a lightened shade, mounted diagonally, will create the most harmonious perception of a narrow corridor.

The only negative is the large amount of waste.

Laying depending on the type of lock

The connection of laminate tiles has four adhesion options:

• Adhesive;
• Castle.

Castle, in turn, is divided into:

• Click;
• Lock.

The click system (collapsible lock) is easy to assemble and lasts a long time. The clutch provides minimal clearance. The lamellas are assembled like a chess set, with constant displacement of the end connections.

The lock system (a more economical option) is mounted with the boards parallel to each other, their interlocking occurs through special end grooves.

Important! The adhesive method will reliably protect the joints from moisture getting inside, which extends the service life. Glue systems cannot be disassembled, unlike lock systems. Subsequent dismantling will not be possible.

Any types of locks and boards (including deck boards) are suitable for direct installation. It is more advisable to place the lamellas diagonally with locks that can be connected at an angle of 450. Also, a special board is needed here; deck boards cannot be laid this way. You can also use standard laminate. The diagonal can be laid out in a herringbone pattern or in an English stitch.

Purpose of the premises

Some rooms in the apartment are closed to outsiders. These are residents' bedrooms and children's rooms. It is not advisable to choose complex installation solutions; a direct arrangement of lamellas can be used here.

Passage areas, storage rooms, balconies can also be equipped with longitudinal or transverse arrangement of boards.

Laying laminate flooring diagonally from the window has an aesthetically attractive appearance and is used in rooms such as:

• Study;
• Front;
• Living room;
• Hall.

It is not advisable to lay laminate flooring in bathrooms and toilets, unless they occupy a large area.

Video

Photo gallery (47 photos)

Laminate is a practical and multifunctional floor covering. Most manufacturers of laminated parquet claim that it is very easy to install. However, people who have not done this before often face one problem: how to lay the laminate correctly - across or along?

Laminate direction

Its service life and wear resistance depend on the chosen direction of laying the floor covering. There are several ways to place laminate flooring in a room:

• around the world;
• across the world;
• by movement;
• diagonally.

Around the world

Many craftsmen recommend using this method of installing the material, since with its help you can create a floor with completely invisible joints. The light coming from the window creates the effect of an endless plank and the flooring seems monolithic.

Across the world

When using this cross masonry, the panels are placed along the wall perpendicular to the window. Thus, you can visually increase the area of ​​the room, make the floor more voluminous and highlight the texture and joints of the lamellas. For this, it is recommended to use a laminate of at least class 32.

By movement

In walk-through rooms and rooms with a constant direction of movement of people, laminated parquet should be laid in the direction of movement. This will reduce the abrasion of the surface and increase its service life.

It is not recommended to lay laminate flooring in a room across the movement, as this will cause its edges to wear off several times faster.

Diagonal placement

The material is not located parallel or perpendicular to the walls, but at an angle of 30–50º. This method is often used to give the interior originality. The main disadvantages of diagonal laying are:

• high level of abrasion of joints;
• increased laminate consumption;
• the need to use special products for the care and cleaning of the floor covering.

Features of installation in different rooms

The direction of laying the laminate also depends on the room:

• The diagonal direction is used in irregularly shaped rooms.
• Laying laminate flooring in a narrow room is done across, as this will visually expand the free space.
• In rooms with high ceilings, transverse installation is used, and in rooms with low ceilings, longitudinal installation is used.
• In a narrow L-shaped corridor, laminated parquet is laid in a herringbone pattern or

How to lay laminate flooring correctly from A to Z

Preparation for installation

Laying laminate flooring in a corridor or room begins with preliminary preparation of the surface.

Concrete floor

Old concrete floors develop cracks over time. Before laying a new floor covering, they must be widened and covered with cement mortar. After this, the floor is filled with screed, sanded and coated with primer. To do this, you can use Ceresite ST 15.

Wooden floor

Repairing wood floors can take a long time because sometimes you have to replace damaged boards. You can use plywood to level the surface. However, before this, it must be processed with a grinding machine to remove all irregularities.

Laying the underlay

During the manufacture of laminated parquet, slabs from waste wood or impregnated paper are used. All these materials do not tolerate direct contact with a wet surface. Therefore, before laying laminate along or across the room, it is necessary to place a special substrate that will not allow moisture to pass through. To do this, use ordinary polyethylene or a diffuse membrane, which performs many functions:

• surface leveling;
• protection of the underside of the floor covering from abrasive abrasion;
• soundproofing;
• protection against moisture that concrete and wooden floors can emit.

Laying out the backing is quite simple. The strips spread over the entire surface with an overlap of about 20–30 cm. For greater reliability, polyethylene sheets can be joined together with tape.

Installation process

Having prepared the surface and decided on the direction of laying the laminate in the room, you can begin installation.

Manufacturers produce products equipped with different locking systems. Laminate can have Click or Lock locks. The first ones are mounted in one plane, so it is very important that the floor surface is perfectly flat. Panels equipped with Click locks are connected to each other at an angle of 40 degrees.

The adhesive method of joining boards is also sometimes used. With its help, a monolithic coating is created that practically does not allow moisture to pass through.

The installation process may differ depending on the connection method used.

Installation of coating with Click-locks

The first board is placed in the far left corner of the room. After that, the next one is joined to it at a slight angle. To secure the panels together, they need to be pressed slightly to the floor. Thus, the first row of coating is laid.

The next one is laid with the boards offset by 20–40 cm. This is done to evenly distribute the pressure on the panels. To connect the rows, one of them will have to be raised above the floor a few centimeters and inserted at an angle of 30–40 degrees into the ridge of the second row. All subsequent rows can be laid in the same way.

This installation method is slightly different from the previous one:

• installation also begins in one of the corners of the room;
• the second panel is inserted into the groove of the first from the end side;
• the boards need to be hammered against each other for a more reliable fixation;
• When installing the next row, do not forget about shifting the panels in a checkerboard pattern.

Unlike the previous method, here the elements of the second row are immediately connected to the first.

Slight difficulties may arise when laying the last row, since there may be little space left between the wall and the floor. In this case, you will have to start trimming the boards. To do this, you need to place the panel on the penultimate row and measure the part that will have to be cut.

Installation of adhesive coating

To connect an adhesive laminate, it is better to use a special glue that does not allow moisture to pass through. It is not recommended to skimp and use PVA glue, as this may cause the panel joints to swell.

Laying technique:

• the first board is laid with a groove against the wall;
• after that, an adhesive mixture is applied to the end side of the second panel;
• Having connected the elements together, they need to be knocked down with a block or a small hammer;
• this sequence of actions is repeated until the first row is completely laid;
• the side parts of the boards of the second row are coated with glue and inserted into the panels of the first;
• After laying the first few rows, you need to wait 2-3 hours for them to dry a little, after which you can continue laying.

The choice of direction for laminated panels must be approached very seriously. It is recommended to weigh in advance all the good and bad sides of each method. Also, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the features of the room where the panels will be used. This is the only way to determine how to lay the laminate, lengthwise or crosswise.

Video: How to lay laminate flooring on a wooden floor

Laminate flooring was highly appreciated by the owners of apartments, private houses, offices and institutions. This coating has an excellent appearance, is easy to maintain, durable, and installing it yourself is not difficult. Having completed the necessary leveling of the floor, you will be faced with a choice of how to lay the laminate: lengthwise or crosswise. Both options are used when installing flooring, and the right choice is made taking into account lighting, the geometric dimensions of the room, and the design of the lamellas.

Preparing to lay the coating

Laminated panels are laid only on a flat surface; the presence of recesses and other irregularities will lead to divergence of the joint locks. High loads during the operation of the floor covering will cause a gap to appear, which will allow moisture to enter and the laminate will deteriorate. A good base would be an updated concrete screed, a wooden floor with strong boards, or linoleum.

The next step is laying the underlay. It will provide additional heat and sound insulation, smooth out minor irregularities, and serve as a shock absorber, eliminating the creaking of the slats when walking on them. The thickness and material of the substrate are selected depending on the class of the laminate: for inexpensive class 22–23, polyethylene foam is used; prestigious coating class 32–33 needs a more durable base; polystyrene foam or a composite substrate is suitable for it.

Note! The substrate is spread over the entire floor area, the canvases are laid overlapping. Polystyrene sheets or cork are laid end-to-end, all joints are taped.

You can install laminate flooring yourself with just a few tools at hand:

• jigsaw or fine-tooth saw;
• rubber hammer;
• wooden block for padding lamellas;
• tape measure and pencil.

What to focus on

The quality of the floor covering does not depend on how the laminate is laid - lengthwise or crosswise. This question arises due to the aesthetic perception of the room.

Note! When placed along the flow of natural or artificial light, the laminate gives the impression of a neat, solid canvas. When the light falls perpendicularly, the joints of the lamellas become noticeable and the overall impression of the laminate worsens.

If the source of lighting in the room is a window located on a short wall, then the panels are placed parallel to the long side. This method is popular among professionals, it is called direct styling. It is practical in terms of material consumption and provides an attractive appearance of the coating. Even inexpensive low-class laminate looks advantageous with this layout.

Note! In a long room, you can lay the panels crosswise to make the room appear wider optically. This process will require a lot of trimming and careful joining of boards.

Bonding options for laminated panels

Manufacturers equip laminate flooring with two types of locking systems – Click and Lock. They provide for closure by entering the ridge into the groove. Panels with Lock type locks are assembled in one plane, so the degree of surface leveling matters for them. After inserting the tenon into the groove, knocking with a hammer is required for high-quality joining. Secure and efficient, Click connections fit at a 45-degree angle and snap into place when lowered to the floor. No hammer correction required. The joints are invisible.

A less common method is adhesive bonding. It creates a monolithic waterproof coating and is used in large areas. The need to purchase expensive glue leads to higher prices for the material. The process of laying laminate flooring is more labor-intensive, and the final structure cannot be disassembled if repairs are necessary. Considering all the qualities, it is safer to purchase panels with a floating system that do not require additional means for fastening.

Laying schemes for laminate flooring

The pattern according to which laminated panels are laid affects not only the appearance of the coating, but also its further operation. To ensure the strength of the new floor and evenly distribute the load, it is necessary to lay each row with offset seams. An economical option would be to use scraps of the board that completes the row. In areas that are planned to be covered with furniture, lengths of less than 30 cm are used. This reduces material consumption, but the aesthetics of the coating deteriorate.

The method that provides the highest strength is to lay the laminate in a checkerboard pattern, when the shift in the next row occurs by half the board. The result is an attractive floor pattern, especially when using beveled laminate.

Offsetting the board by one-third is another way to create a nice finish and ensure that the end seams don't match.

Correct installation

Installation of panels begins from the far corner. The floor covering should not be adjacent to the wall; leave a gap of 8-10 mm. You can control the size of the gap along the entire perimeter using cuttings of the laminate or special wedges. The gap is left to allow the panels to expand as humidity changes. The ridge of the boards of the first row is cut off so that the edge facing the wall is even. Depending on the type of lock, the second panel is butted to the first panel - either in the same plane or at an angle. The Lock connection is driven through a wooden block with a hammer. The first row is assembled completely, the last part is sawed off with a jigsaw to the required length.

The second row begins not with a whole lamella, but with half or a third. This is necessary so that the seams in adjacent rows do not match. It also assembles completely, joining the first row. After joining, the laminate is compacted by tapping through a wooden block. The laying technology is the same in all rows. The boards of the last row are cut to length, not forgetting to leave an additional 1 cm for the thermal gap.

Features of laying lamellas near pipes

There may be a riser or heating pipes running through the room; you will have to cut holes in the laminate for them. It is necessary to measure the distance from the wall to the pipes and mark it on the panel. At a certain point, a hole is drilled 2 mm larger than the diameter of the pipe. The panel is cut in the middle of the hole. The larger part is joined to the adjacent strip, the smaller one is inserted behind the pipe and glued to the main part. The hole is closed with special plugs.

After laying the laminate along or across the room, you need to remove the spacer wedges and attach the baseboard. The decorative element is always attached to the wall. Self-tapping screws are used for this; expensive models of skirting boards are equipped with special fasteners.

When choosing the direction for laying laminate flooring, you should weigh the positive and negative aspects of each method. Placing the panels along the rays of light will avoid shadows at the joints and turn the floor into a smooth, seamless canvas. If your room looks excessively long, and the effect of a seamless coating is not important, feel free to lay the laminate across the room to visually expand it. The method of placing the lamellas will not affect the operation of the coating: high-quality and neatly laid boards will last for many years.

Video

As a supplement to the topic, we suggest watching videos that discuss the rules for laying laminate flooring and mistakes that may be made during installation:

Direction for laying laminate: choice, rules

One of the most convenient floor coverings to install is laminate. Its beauty is that you can lay it even without experience. It's simple. But even if not everything turns out perfectly right away, mistakes are easy to eliminate. The covering can be disassembled and re-installed. And to avoid this, you need to know how to lay laminate flooring correctly. And the first thing you need to decide is the direction of installation - along or across the room.

Choosing the direction of laying in the rooms

There is a rule for choosing the direction of laying the laminate: they try to lay it so that the flow of light is directed along the board. That is, if there is a window in the room, the bar should be turned with the short side towards it so that the light falls along the long side of the window. As in the left diagram. What is this rule based on? With this orientation relative to the window, the light slides along the long joint. That is, it gives the impression of a solid coating. Only short joints are visible - in the places where the planks meet transversely.

Second point. With this position of the coating, the structure on the board is more clearly visible. But only if the surface is structured - with imitation of wood fibers.

Diagonal laying allows you to hide geometry imperfections

But, if the room is long and narrow, this method of installation will visually add length. This is not at all what is required. In long rooms the board is turned across. This cross-laying option is the middle one in the picture. The transverse direction of laying the laminate visually makes the room shorter and wider. As for the fact that the joints will be visible, the latest trend is laminate with chamfers. These are specially formed grooves along the edges of the laminated plank. They are needed just to highlight the joints. So “visibility” of joints is not an acquired taste. It is critical for you that they are visible - place them away from the window. You are more concerned about the correct geometry - choose the transverse direction of the laminate when laying it in a long room.

Options for laying laminate flooring - along or across the room

There is also an intermediate option - laying diagonally. If you can’t decide how to lay the laminate correctly - lengthwise or crosswise - choose this method. It has the advantage that it is easier to hide geometry imperfections. Not all our rooms have the same width at the beginning and at the end. When laying longitudinally, you have to adjust this by cutting the boards lengthwise. It's not always easy. In the case of diagonal laying, this problem does not exist. True, the consumption of material for the same area will be greater - due to more waste. The difference is 10-15% of the room area.

Are you into gardening?

How to properly lay laminate flooring on balconies and loggias

And in the corridor, and on the balcony, and on the loggia, the choice is still the same - along, across or at an angle. But how to lay laminate correctly if the light is artificial or comes from all sides - like on a balcony? Yes, whichever you like best. The area of ​​the loggia or balcony is small, so you can throw a few pieces this way and that. And see how exactly this particular coating looks better on your loggia or in the corridor. In a specific color, with a specific texture.

The direction of the laminate when laying on a balcony and loggia can be any

By the way, the same can be done in the room. It is necessary to collect some area “dry”. No fitting, fixing or glue. This will definitely help you understand how to lay laminate flooring - along or across the room to make it look beautiful.

Now let's look at the disadvantages of all options. If you lay the laminate on the balcony along the long side, then if the geometry is violated, it will be difficult to cut the edge boards. If you lay it across, you will have to cut a lot. After all, everything must also be done so that the joints do not coincide. And the good news is that if the same covering was used in the room, you can use the remaining pieces. They are easier to apply here. Diagonal laying - cutting each board at an angle. If it doesn’t bother you, why not. But there’s nothing to “expand” visually here. A meter and a half wide, no matter how you lay it, it won’t seem wider.

Which direction should I lay laminate flooring in the hallway?

In the corridor the situation is somewhat different. Here you can start from large light sources. If they are on the ceiling, the direction is arbitrary. If the light comes from the walls, you need to look at which direction of the laminate will look better. To do this, turn on the lighting, lay out several boards as you expect. Like? So, it’s worth laying laminate flooring in the hallway like this. I do not like? We change the position of the boards until we find an acceptable installation method.

A matter of taste, of course, but laminate laid lengthwise looks more attractive

You can also navigate the corridor by the location of the doors. For example, you want the laminate to flow from the living room or dining room into the hallway without a joint. Then the direction of its placement in the corridor appears automatically. It will be a continuation of the covering from the room.

Another option is that you don’t like the longitudinal joint of the boards under the doorway. This means that you choose a method of installation so that the laminate strips fit under the doors at the end. Straight or at an angle - here, again, your choice.

Where to start styling

Regardless of the type of lock, it is more convenient to work if you place the spike in the center of the room. Therefore, it is most often recommended to start laying laminate flooring from the far right corner from the entrance. The first plank is laid with a groove to the wall, a tenon in the room, and all the others in exactly the same way. But this is the right and convenient thing to do if you decide to lay the laminate “along the light,” that is, from the window, which is located on the opposite side of the entrance.

The same laminate with a chamfer. Not to say that when positioned along the light it is not visible

With the transverse method, start from the wall farthest from the entrance. When laying at an angle - from the far corner to the right or left. Here as you wish. But this is not the rule either. You can start from the entrance, if it’s more convenient.

There are some restrictions if you need to lay the laminate as a single sheet in two adjacent rooms or make an exit to the corridor without a joint. Then they begin laying, focusing on the middle of the doorway. Laminate flooring in an opening looks better if it is laid symmetrically. So the “starting” strip is placed in the center of the aisle. You can beat it off with a paint cord and focus on this line.

Where do they start laying laminate flooring if it is laid as a continuous sheet without joints? From the middle of the aisle

If you have no experience in laying laminate, it is better to nail strips along this line, which will serve as guides for the first row. Lay the covering in one direction - to the right, as is usually done. Then remove the guides and place them to the left. In this direction, the installation will be “in reverse” - you will need to insert the tenon into the groove. But you can get used to it. Although this method takes a little more time.

How to choose the direction of laying laminate flooring in an apartment

We know how to properly lay laminate flooring in every room, but how to choose the direction of installation throughout the entire apartment? Take an apartment plan, a pencil and an eraser. We outline the selected installation methods by room. After all, they don’t have to be the same. Geometry, area, and the coating itself may be different. We look at the overall picture, figure out which direction is best to lay the laminate in the corridor and hallway.

Plan for laying laminate flooring by room

If everything is satisfactory, you can begin calculating the required amount of laminate, and then begin installation. If you want something different, you can “play” with the directions. But what looks good in the picture doesn’t always look the same in reality. Often it's the other way around. The easiest thing is to look at someone you know with a similar layout. This makes it easier to decide whether you like what you came up with or not. In principle, the good thing about laminate is that you can rearrange it if you don’t like the result. In this regard, this is an ideal coating.

Questions may still arise in terms of where to start laying the laminate. Logically, from the room farthest from the entrance. The general order is first in the rooms, then in the corridor. If one of the rooms will be laid as a single sheet with the hallway or corridor, and the remaining rooms - each on its own, then first the covering will be laid in the rooms with separate laying, and then in the room where the laminate opens into the corridor.

This is how they begin laying the laminate when positioned at an angle

If you plan to have a continuous flooring without thresholds throughout the entire apartment, then laying begins first in the “front area”. As a rule, this is the living room or dining room. The covering is taken out of it into the corridor and laid before entering other rooms. And they are already starting from this direction. In this case - as described above - draw a starting line, nail guides along it and work to the right, then to the left. Or, vice versa, if it is more convenient.

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How to lay laminate flooring – along or across the room?

Korovin Sergey Dmitrievich

Master of Architecture, graduated from Samara State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. 11 years of experience in design and construction.

Before starting to lay the flooring, every owner is faced with a dilemma: how to lay laminate flooring - along or across the room? This issue is really important, since proper installation of the lamellas allows you to create a single floor space without visual differences and highlighting the joints of individual boards. It is advisable to place smooth slats across the room so that the joints are not noticeable in natural light, and for a three-dimensional pattern that imitates natural wood, laying the boards lengthwise will highlight and emphasize the texture.

In addition to visual perception, the load on the floor surface should also be taken into account. In areas of high traffic, it is recommended to avoid transverse joining of lamellas. Why is it important? Because the increased load on the locking joints leads to premature wear of the lamellas, surface deflections and creaking appear.

It is also important to take into account the direction of laying the laminate in the room when planning the further placement of furniture. If the concentrated load from the legs of heavy furniture falls on one board, this lamella will quickly become unusable, the substrate will be washed out, the protective layer will lose its elasticity, which leads to the need for premature repairs.

All these conditions must be taken into account before laying laminate along or across the room.

In what cases and how is it better to lay laminate

There are several ways to form laminate flooring. The boards are laid:

• across, relative to the source of natural light;
• along;
• diagonally.

In addition to traditional laying methods, options for laying boards in a herringbone pattern (in this case, the boards are fastened at an angle of 90 degrees) or using the “labyrinth” method, when different lamella formats are combined, are also used.

Herringbone laying.

To decide how to lay laminate flooring - along or across the room, or maybe even diagonally, you should understand the features of each method.

Diagonally

Before starting to lay laminate flooring diagonally, the owner should understand that this method most often used only by experienced finishers, since it will be difficult for a novice builder to cope with the mating of adjacent panels at the desired angle (usually the slats begin to be laid at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the wall).

In addition to the complex procedure for installing panels within this technology, you must be prepared for increased material consumption and, accordingly, additional costs.

This method is used in the following situations:

• When the owner wants to get a non-standard, spectacular flooring. The combination of different installation styles in places of transition from one to another room of the apartment looks especially interesting;
• When two sources of natural light are provided on adjacent walls (in such a situation, laying boards along or across will not allow for the integrity of the coating pattern);
• If necessary, visually enlarge the boundaries of the room;
• For finishing in L-shaped narrow rooms.

Along

Installing lamellas lengthwise is considered the most optimal in terms of saving materials, as well as the most popular way for finishers to organize flooring. Finishing the floor using this method is accessible even to a novice builder.

In this case, the light source is perpendicular to the laid boards, which makes it possible to mask the joints of the panels, as a result of which the floor surface looks like a single whole.

This default option is used when the window is located on a narrow wall. If the room has two windows on adjacent walls, this installation method loses its advantages and other methods of organizing the covering should be considered.

Across

The transverse method of installing laminate flooring should be used under certain conditions. This usually concerns the visual perception of the flooring:

• If there are chamfers on the lamellas at the places where they connect, this way the texture of the pattern is emphasized, which is why there is no point in trying to mask it by placing the boards lengthwise;
• The popular use of 3D patterns also looks great when the slats are positioned across the room;
• Boards with volumetric embossing imitating natural texture should be placed across the light source;
• If there is a need to visually expand a narrow and long room or corridor, the transverse laying method is also used.

In addition to visual requirements, situations arise when the transverse arrangement of the laminate is required to ensure a long service life of the coating:

• In a situation where the placement of large-sized furniture is only possible on the wall opposite the window. In order to avoid increased load on one laminate board, laying should be done across;
• In places where residents move most frequently, it is advisable to place the boards in the direction of movement, across the source of natural light.

When using a transverse installation of laminate, you should be prepared for a higher consumption of material than when installing longitudinally, since adjusting the panels along the length leads to the appearance of a mass of scraps.

Nuances of installation in non-standard conditions

Curvilinear shapes, T-shaped and L-shaped spaces, as well as special types of lighting in these places are considered non-standard cases of room configuration. To install flooring in an unusual apartment space, several special installation methods or special types of panels are used.

On the balcony and loggia

The small size of these structures and the unique lighting allow you to choose various techniques for laying laminate flooring, but for arranging loggias and balconies it is better to go from the size of the width of the space to be covered.

In stores it is not difficult to find lamellas with a length corresponding to the width of the balcony, so most often the installation is performed perpendicular to the main wall. This method allows you to save on material.

In the corridor

It is desirable to visually expand the narrow spaces of corridors and hallways, so most often the slats are laid across the room, but if there is a non-standard configuration of such objects in the apartment, you need to think about how to lay the laminate correctly - along or across, or consider other options.

In new houses, in addition to standard long and rectangular corridors, you can find T-shaped, L-shaped and curved rooms, so when choosing an installation option you should consider several important points:

• Room configuration.
• Intensity of surface exploitation.
• Possibility of visual correction of design defects.

Without natural light through the windows, the question of which direction to lay the laminate becomes irrelevant, because... In such premises, different options are possible. Considering the peculiarities of the space between the front door, rooms and hall, experienced craftsmen recommend using the following tips:

• Narrow and long corridors need to be visually expanded, so laminate boards should be laid across or diagonally. It should be taken into account that the load on the corridor is higher than the usual load in other rooms of the apartment, so it is advisable to use a minimum number of small sections and place them closer to the walls;
• When choosing a laminate for a corridor, it would be better to abandon narrow longitudinal patterns, since this pattern, when laid lengthwise, will only enhance the feeling of a long and narrow room. At the same time, when the boards are arranged transversely, aesthetic perception is lost;
• Square slats that form large patterns on the floor look good in limited spaces;
• Before laying laminate flooring, it is advisable to check how the seams look under artificial light flow in a given room. The installation method may depend on this;
• In L-shaped and T-shaped rooms, it is recommended to abandon the standard transverse laying and install the lamellas diagonally or in a herringbone pattern.

How to lay laminate correctly - lengthwise or crosswise: tips on choosing the direction, where to start laying correctly and the step-by-step installation process

Laminate is rightfully considered one of the most popular types of flooring. It is distinguished by its beautiful appearance, durability and ease of installation. However, all work on its installation must be carried out in accordance with certain requirements, otherwise even the highest quality material will too quickly become unusable. Many novice craftsmen have a natural question: how to lay laminate flooring along or across a room? There is no definite answer to this, so let’s figure out what will determine the direction of orientation of the lamellas during installation.

How to lay laminate flooring correctly - lengthwise or crosswise

How to lay laminate: lengthwise or crosswise

If you listen to the advice of experienced craftsmen, you will hear that there is one rule, according to which the orientation of the slats in the rooms is carried out. The direction of the coating strips depends entirely on where the main light source is located(for example, a window or bright lamps that will replace the first option in a windowless room).

In which direction to lay the laminate

Why will the direction of the lamellas depend on the light source? It’s simple - the rays of the sun or the light emitted by a lamp, hitting the material perpendicularly (at an angle of 90 degrees), will demonstrate all the joints. They will be especially noticeable if the lamellas are joined poorly. And therefore, the laminate is always laid so that the coating strips are located along the rays of light - only then can the visibility of the joints be reduced. Thus, the slats will lie with their narrow side facing the window, and the installation of the covering is carried out starting from one of the side walls of the room (usually from the one where there are no doors).

Laying laminate perpendicular to the window

On a note! Where there is no natural light source, laminate is placed using an artificial one.

Prices for Tarkett laminate

Laminate laying direction

Laminate manufacturers note that this coating is very easy to install and anyone can cope with this task. Yes, this is partly true, since the slats are equipped with special locks that allow them to be easily fastened together. If initially laminate flooring was on sale only with a Lock lock, which required certain skills to work with it, now a new type of connection has become widespread - these are Click locks, which anyone can actually connect. We'll talk about them a little later.

On a note! Technologies do not stand still and are developing, and therefore completely new lamellas with 5G and Megalock connecting systems are entering the market.

Types of Laminate Locks

Megaloc lock for Classen laminate

In reality, everything turns out to be much more complicated than laminate manufacturers kindly reported. This especially applies not only to the careful preparation of the base, but also to the orientation of the planks in the space of the room. Most often, laminate flooring in apartments is laid depending on the direction of light, as mentioned above. If the planks are laid along the light source, the floor will resemble a regular plank floor, and the joints will be practically invisible.

Diagonal laying of laminate

But sometimes it makes sense to lay the coating perpendicular to the direction of the rays of the sun or lamp. So, due to the covering, you can visually enlarge the room, which is important for narrow rooms with a window at the end. In this case, the light will highlight the joints, they will become more noticeable, but thereby visually make the room more spacious.

On a note! If the slats are laid perpendicular to the direction of light, their texture will be much more noticeable.

Diagram of the direction of laying laminate flooring in rooms

Also, the laminate should be oriented depending on the direction of movement along it. Sometimes there are rooms in which you can clearly mark the lines along which the people living in the house move. Most often these are corridors and halls. In this case, the priority when deciding on the orientation of the lamellas will not be the light rays, but the direction of movement - the laminate is laid along these lines. This method will reduce the rate of abrasion of the coating in the joint area, due to which the floor finish will last longer.

How to lay laminate flooring - along or across the room

Features of laying laminate in non-standard cases

Sometimes laminate flooring is installed in rooms that are non-standard in shape and lighting. It can be difficult to navigate and decide in which direction the covering strips should “look”. In this case, diagonal laying will save the situation. The covering is mounted relative to the walls at an angle of 40-60 degrees. Thus. You can not only enliven the interior, but also make the joints unnoticeable.

On a note! This method, although it is criticized quite often, is still used in rooms where windows are located on adjacent walls.

In this example the laminate is laid diagonally

Unfortunately, the method has certain disadvantages. Due to this installation, the abrasion of the joints increases, and the consumption of material also increases - too many scraps appear.

If the room has the shape of the letter “L”, then the slats are also laid diagonally or in a herringbone pattern. This way the floor looks quite interesting, the room will not seem narrow.

The correct direction for laying laminate flooring

What to focus on

However, in reality everything turns out to be not so simple. The fact is that the direction of laying the laminate will depend on many factors, and not just on light sources. Let's figure out what can affect the orientation of the slats in the room, and also decide, depending on what factors it is worth making this or that decision.

First of all, it is important to assess the number and location of windows in the room. If there is only one, then no special problems should arise - it is enough to lay the laminate, starting from the far corner of the room, so that the lamellas are oriented along the direction of the light. This way you can make the seams unnoticeable. If there are two or more windows in the room, then you should look at which one illuminates the room better, and guide you when installing the covering on it. If there are no windows in the room at all, and this is a fairly common occurrence in corridors, then it is recommended to orient the laminate depending on the direction of the light coming from the main source - for example, a chandelier.

Advice! It’s a good idea to immediately evaluate the interior of the room, find out where and what furniture will be placed. This will allow you to imagine the overall picture of the finished room and figure out how to lay the laminate so that it looks better.

The shape of the room also matters. If the room is narrow, then it is better to discard the desire to hide the seams - here they can play a positive role, visually expanding the room. In rooms with particularly complex geometries, a diagonal installation method is used, although in this case it is recommended to invite specialists to help, since a newcomer to the world of renovations is unlikely to cope with the task.

Cross laying relative to the window

It is also important to consider the placement of furniture in the room. If you plan to install a lot of interior items in the room, and there will be carpets on the floor, then there is no point in observing the direction of the laminate joining lines.

Important! If the laminate is laid on wooden boards, then the slats should be laid perpendicular to the floorboards - then the floors will sag less. If wooden floors are covered with plywood, then laminate planks can be placed in a way that is more convenient.

Laminate installation process

Calculator for calculating the number of laminate boards per room

Options for connecting laminated panels

Laminate, as mentioned above, can be connected to each other in two ways - Lock and Click locks. The covering can also be attached to the base of the floor using glue, but this method is already outdated and is practically not used.

Connecting laminate locks

If the slats are equipped with Click locks, then installation is quite simple, but the clearance between the individual slats is minimal. The coating connected in this way can be easily disassembled if necessary. During installation, it is important to ensure that the lines of the transverse joints do not coincide, that is, the material is laid in a checkerboard pattern.

Lock laminate is a little more difficult to assemble; the connection takes place according to the tongue-and-groove principle. In this case, the slats are located parallel to each other without shifting.

Lock options for connecting laminate flooring

The advantage of the adhesive method is that the joints of the coating will be reliably protected from moisture, which laminate is very afraid of. However, dismantling the material in this case is impossible without damaging the planks.

Basic principles for installing laminate floors

Before you begin installation, it is important to understand certain principles of working with laminate flooring.

1. The coating must be installed only on a perfectly leveled surface. Otherwise, it will quickly become unusable, gaps will appear between the slats, and the material will creak when moving over it. The maximum height difference around the perimeter of the room should not exceed 5 mm.
2. Under this type of coating, during installation work, a special substrate with a thickness of about 5 mm should be laid with a material thickness of 8-12 mm.
3. The material should always be mounted only on a dry and smooth surface; it should also be free of debris and dust. Otherwise, the coating may lie unevenly.
4. It is recommended to immediately select the color of the coating in accordance with the color scheme of the interior. It is worth remembering that light floors visually enlarge the room, while dark floors, on the contrary, make its volume smaller.

The color of the laminate should match the interior of the room

Laminate laying diagram

Laminate installation tool

For installation work when laying laminate flooring, various tools may be required.

What you need to install laminate flooring

Table. Tools for working with laminate.

Laying laminate: how to lay panels correctly - along the room or across?

Laminate is a modern finishing material that has long gained great popularity. It can be seen in administrative offices and private cottages. The appearance of the laminate is attractive.

But to lay laminate flooring you need to level the floor. After this, you need to decide how to install the laminate: along or across the room? Any of these options can be used during installation. To make the right choice, several important factors are taken into account:

• lighting;
• dimensions of the room and its geometry;
• plate lamella design.

Installation differences

Laying laminate flooring relative to the parameters of the room - along or across - requires a competent approach. This is as important as creating a new interior. Laminate flooring can be laid lengthwise or crosswise. Each method is used depending on the existing conditions.

You can also lay laminate flooring diagonally. But to get such an effect, you will have to spend material and make additional calculations that require high professionalism.

When installed lengthwise, the joints are not visible when light from the window enters the room

In which direction to lay the laminate depends on several nuances that relate to the direction of the panels. Experienced craftsmen who create laminate floors can easily determine how to install the laminate.

Experience tells us which method is more practical. To determine which direction to choose for laying the laminate, take into account the location of the windows.

The general rules for installing laminate flooring require that the floor covering be parallel to the rays of light. In other words, the installation is performed perpendicular to the wall where one or more windows are located.

Why is this so, what are these conclusions based on? When laying laminate along or across a room relative to the window, the edges of the panels do not provide shadows and become invisible. Laminate laid in this way is considered practical. The seams become invisible, and the base looks monolithic and perfectly smooth.

The placement of windows is not always done on opposite walls. The light falls unevenly. You have to decide how to do the installation correctly.

The direction of the light rays must be taken into account when planning floor finishing. The longitudinal edge of the laminate should be oriented relative to the large window. In order for the finishing to look good, the complexity of the perimeter of the room being finished is taken into account.

Whether it is possible to lay laminate flooring, placing the panels across the room, is decided individually. The classical rules do not apply in this case.

Diagonal laying method

Sometimes you have to install laminate flooring in rooms where there are no windows at all. The performer himself decides which way is best to do this. For example, to create the visual effect of expanding a room, you can create a transverse pattern.

Preparatory work

Installation of laminate, regardless of direction, is carried out only on a leveled surface. If it is uneven or has small indentations, the joint locks will begin to separate.

Large loads experienced by the floor covering will cause a gap to appear. Moisture will begin to penetrate through it, and the panels will become unusable. The most practical basis for laminate flooring is considered to be:

• concrete screed;
• wooden floor.

Leveling the floor with a concrete screed under the laminate

Before laying, a substrate is made. It is made from several types of material:

• natural cork: expensive, but with excellent properties;
• bitumen sheet with cork inclusions: excellent waterproofing agent;
• high strength polyurethane foam;
• polyethylene, the most accessible material with low cost.

According to manufacturers, if the laminate underlay is made correctly, it levels the base. This statement is somewhat exaggerated. The laid backing layer is done to provide thermal insulation. The substrate only compensates for unevenness. She doesn't align them.

Good to know! Installation of the substrate is carried out only end-to-end. The joining points are secured with tape. As a result, the substrate does not move during installation.

No less interesting: How to lay laminate flooring in an apartment - stages of work, tips and choice of materials

Tool for the job

To get the job done you will need a small set of tools:

• electric jigsaw;
• rubber hammer;
• block of wood;
• roulette;
• pencil.

Choosing a direction

Before starting work, keep the laminate in the room where it will be installed for 48 hours. The material will pick up room humidity and ambient temperature.

Only after this the installation technology is selected. Referral can be done in several ways:

• diagonal;
• perpendicular;
• parallel.

The direction of the light rays is taken as the reference point. The diagonal method of installing laminate flooring is suitable for narrow spaces. It visually expands the room.

How to choose the laying direction

Floor coverings are made in different ways. Some people like the lengthwise way of laying, while others think the crosswise direction is beautiful. Any of these methods does not affect quality.

Important! When the panels are located along the direction of the light rays, the impression of a solid coating is created. If the incidence of light is perpendicular, the joints of the lamellas become noticeable, and the coating does not have a solid appearance.

If the window is located on a small wall, the panels are laid parallel to the long wall. This technology is used by professionals. They call this technique straight laying.

This method saves material, and the coating becomes attractive and original. This layout gives a beautiful look to simple and inexpensive laminate flooring.

How is laminate installed?

The method of laminate installation affects the beauty of the coating and its further operation. The strength of the floor is achieved by laying each subsequent row, moving the seams.

Laying panels with a locking fastening system

An economical option is to install cuttings of the board that ends the row. Where furniture will stand on the surface, lay pieces of laminate less than 30 centimeters long. Thus, minimal material consumption is achieved. This will not affect the quality of the coating or its aesthetics.

High strength is achieved by laying the material in a checkerboard manner. In other words, the next row is offset by half the panel. The pattern becomes attractive, especially when the panels are chamfered.

If you move the panel by a third of its length, an original coating is created where the end seams do not match.

Competent installation

Work begins after determining the far angle. The finished coating should be 10 mm behind the wall. This value is controlled using special wedges or cutting the laminate.

This gap is necessary to allow the panels to expand if the humidity changes. In the first row, panels with a cut ridge are placed. This allows you to create a smooth edge that faces the wall. With the help of a lock, subsequent rows are joined.

It is necessary to carefully adjust the size of the last panel in a row; you should carefully measure it

The design of the locks has several differences, so docking is performed in two ways: at an angle or in a single plane. To create a tight connection, the panels are tapped with a rubber hammer. After the first row is completely assembled, the last panels are cut to the required size.

Laying the second row begins with the third part of the lamella. This start will prevent the seams from matching. All subsequent rows are assembled in the same way. In the last row, the boards are sawed down to create a centimeter thermal gap.

It is important that the installation is carried out in relation to the existing lighting. The long side should be directed perpendicular to the light beam. The joints of the panels will become invisible, and the length of the room will be visually expanded.

The room will look larger if it is laid diagonally. In small rooms where there is no natural light, laminate flooring is installed across the room.

If the laminate is laid on a wooden floor, the plates are laid across the floorboards.

For detailed instructions on laying laminate boards, watch the video below.

How to lay laminate flooring in relation to the window

Laying laminate flooring can be turned from a mundane task into a work of art. To do this, you will have to choose an original pattern according to which the planks will be located. But in most cases, it is necessary to choose such an arrangement of laminate joint lines in order to visually expand or, conversely, reduce the room. The light falling from the window helps to achieve this. What is the best way to lay laminate flooring in relation to the window? This article, as well as the choice of laminate for the room, will be discussed in the article.

Preparatory work

The successful installation of laminate flooring largely depends on how the preparatory work is carried out. These include preparation of the base, tools and calculation of the required material. These three steps are the ones that take the most time. Each of them will be described in detail below.

What should be the basis

Laminate flooring can only be laid on a flat floor or other surface. In this case, an error of more than 2 mm per linear meter is not allowed. In this case, it will not be possible to implement the required contour. That is why the following requirements are imposed on the foundation:

• level consistency;
• strength;
• minimum humidity.

Substrate preparation will depend on which laminate installation method was chosen. A room with a wooden floor may require minimal intervention. To determine this, you need to carefully inspect the floor for imperfections. It is important to identify creaks and deflections that occur when walking. It is advisable to evaluate the condition of the joists and support beams on which the plane is supported. If several need to be replaced, then you might want to consider keeping the wood floor. In cases where extensive intervention is required, it is better to carry out complete dismantling. The reason is that the affected tree will deteriorate further.

Damaged joists are removed and eliminated. If mold or mildew has appeared under the floor, it must be thoroughly cleaned and the affected areas treated with an antiseptic. It is important to determine what caused the mold to appear. All paths for moisture penetration must be blocked, since it will certainly condense or leak out again. The shingles, which hold together when walked, are strengthened. It is better to go over the surface with a sanding machine so that it becomes perfectly flat. To bring the floor to the required level, linings are made from blocks of wood. After sanding, the wood is coated with an antiseptic composition.

Concrete foundations sometimes require longer preparation. The floor must be carefully inspected for damage. It is also important to identify hidden weaknesses. To do this, you can gently tap it with a hammer. If there is a dull sound in some places, then over time they may peel off, which will bring unpleasant consequences with it. All potholes are sealed with tile adhesive or another similar solution. After this, you can proceed to identifying surface level differences in the manner described above.

If the difference in floor level is no more than three centimeters, then it can be compensated using a self-leveling mixture. Before starting work, it is necessary to remove dust and dirt from the floor surface and treat it with a deeply penetrating primer. If it is quickly absorbed, then the procedure can be repeated twice. After the primer has completely dried, the dry composition of the mixture is obtained. It is diluted with water in the proportions specified by the manufacturer and filled to the marked line. The next step is to remove any air bubbles from the solution. If this is not done, they can weaken the strength of the entire plane. For the procedure, you will need a needle roller, which must be passed over the thickness of the poured solution several times.

Instead of pouring screed, you can apply leveling using plywood or OSB sheets. Before starting work, the floor surface is cleared of debris and treated with a primer. All potholes are sealed with glue. The next step is to lay the waterproofing film. It should protect the wood from swelling and mold. The film must be laid with an overlap of 10 cm between the individual sheets, the joints are taped. The film is also laid overlapping on the wall. The next step is to adjust and lay the logs. They are attached to the concrete base using anchor bolts. In this case, the heads of the bolts must be recessed into the wooden beams so that it is possible to lay the flooring.

All logs must be leveled. After adjustment, sheets of plywood or OSB are laid on them. In this case, the material must be selected so that it does not contain harmful impurities that may be released during operation. The bedding sheets are laid with staggered seams to ensure they are intertwined. The heads of the screws should not protrude beyond the sheet, so they must be recessed. A gap of 5 mm must be left from the walls to the sheets. This gap serves as a thermal seal that compensates for expansion with changes in temperature and humidity.

Calculation work

After the preparatory work, before laying the laminate, it is necessary to carry out calculations that will be the key to rational use of the budget. It is necessary to determine the area that will be covered with laminate. If it is only one room, then it is enough to multiply the width by the length. In the case of several rooms, you will need to calculate the area of ​​each and the numbers are summed up. After this, you need to accurately determine the type and size of the laminate that will be used for installation. It is important to know the size of one laminate plank. This will allow you to calculate its area. The next step is to calculate the number of strips required. To do this, the total area of ​​the premises is divided by the area of ​​one plank. Next, the total number of planks is divided by that contained in one package.

After determining the total number of packages, you need to make a reserve of 10%. It will help out if the laminate planks are damaged or something goes wrong. After purchasing laminate flooring, it cannot be installed immediately. It is important that the laminate is acclimatized. This usually takes one day, but it may take more. During this time, it acquires the temperature and humidity of the room in which it will be installed.

Tool

Everyone lays laminate flooring using their own tools; if this is a one-time procedure, then there is no need to purchase expensive power tools and you can get by with the following units:

• mallet;
• styling hook;
• roulette;
• fine-tooth hacksaw;
• spacer pegs;
• marking tool.

If the installation will be carried out constantly, then you can additionally acquire a miter saw. It will allow you to cut the laminate at a precisely specified angle and with minimal damage to the surface.

Laying methods

When purchasing a laminate, it is important to choose the right class. Those that start with 2 are intended for rooms with a small load, so for passage rooms such as hallways and corridors it is better to take class 33; for the bedroom and guest room you can stop at class 31. Everything will depend on the price. The next step is to choose the direction of laying the laminate relative to the window and correctly implement the project.

Choosing a direction

The choice of direction for laying the laminate is determined by several factors:

• number of windows;
• location of windows;
• room parameters;
• laminate design.

If laying laminate flooring is being done for the first time, then it is better to choose the method of laying perpendicular to the window. The advantage of this type of laminate installation is that the light from the window falls on the slats parallel to the seams of the laminate. This allows you to hide their presence. Thanks to this approach, the laminate floor appears monolithic. This also allows you to hide some flaws that may be made when laying the laminate. At the same time, the laminate boards look monolithic, which creates a certain charm. If the laminate is embossed, then this incidence of light will further emphasize the texture of the laminate board. However, it is better not to use this installation method for low-class laminate. The reason is that it wears out at the joints, which will ruin its appearance.

The next option for laying the laminate in relation to the window would be a parallel arrangement of the slats. The reason for its choice may be the location of the window in the room, as discussed above. This installation method is also chosen in narrow rooms where light comes from the next room. This method of laying laminate allows you to highlight the texture of the planks in a special way. This creates a feeling of an uneven surface. This option for arranging laminate boards is also suitable for laying mixed lamellas. Some may be glossy, while others may be matte.

If the windows are arranged in a mixed manner, then you can lay the laminate diagonally. At the same time, the room acquires elusive lines. The gaze goes along the laminate not up or down, but to the corner of the room. To further accentuate the corner, a table or fireplace is placed in it. The angle of laying laminate in this way is in the range of 40–60 degrees. Diagonal laying of laminate flooring is considered the most uneconomical, since a lot of waste remains from the laminate planks.

Installation process

The installation process requires due attention and skill, which is acquired as the work progresses. It is better to start from the far corner of the room and move towards the exit. Most often, laminate flooring is laid from left to right. The prepared surface is covered with a lining. If the laminate is laid on a concrete floor, then additional waterproofing in the form of a film is required, which is laid according to the pattern as described above. The lining can be made of foamed polyethylene or cork. An overlap is made between its individual sheets, and the joints are taped. The tenon of the first laminate strip is cut off to make it easier to place parallel to the wall.

A gap of 5 mm is made between the wall and the plank. To make it easier to store, plastic pegs are used. The first row is completely assembled and placed in its designated place. If it becomes obvious that the last plank will need to be cut by more than half, then it makes sense not to start with the whole part, but to divide the size of the final plank in half and lay the short one. The size of the first laminate strip in the second row should be selected in such a way as to ensure interlocking seams. After laying each plank, it must be tapped with a rubber mallet using a metal bracket. To get around pipes and other protrusions, you will need to make a hole with a jigsaw. A video about the installation technology can be viewed below.

Summary

As you can see, the choice of direction for laying the laminate is determined by many factors. According to the designer's idea, the styling pattern may contradict generally accepted rules. This is required to achieve a certain effect or to match the arrangement of furniture, which will compensate for the dimensions of the room.