Laminate flooring- which way to go?

ginvzt

It usually says start laying floor from the door. The living room we are going to do has a big window, then on the left side of the window there is a door at 135 degrees from the hallway into the living room and at the end wall (opposite wall to the window) there is a door to the dining room.

The question is would you still put the the boards at 90 degrees angle to the window or would you lay them parallel to the door from the hallway? We also plan to lay the flooring in the hallway and dining room.

weekendwarrior

ginvzt wrote:

It usually says start laying floor from the door. The living room we are going to do has a big window, then on the left side of the window there is a door at 135 degrees from the hallway into the living room and at the end wall (opposite wall to the window) there is a door to the dining room.

The question is would you still put the the boards at 90 degrees angle to the window or would you lay them parallel to the door from the hallway? We also plan to lay the flooring in the hallway and dining room.

It is best if you fit the laminate in so that the long lenghts are facing the window, so that the long joints are less visible, like this- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/laminate_flooring/laminate_flooring_basics.htm

You normally start at the door like this-
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/laminate_flooring/fitting.htm

This is because you have cut the bottom off the architrave and door casing and it is almost impossible to get a board underneath unless you start in this position, like this- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/laminate_flooring/door_frames.htm

Where the laminate meets the floor covering from the other floor, at the doorway you need to use a covering strip. Unsure you also leave an expansion gap under this as well!

onejontwo

weekendwarrior wrote:

I'm not 100% certain what you mean here, I normally cut long lenghts with a circular saw, so that I get them perfect, I don't suppose you could do a sketch ?

Aha! a circular saw! that's the reason you haven't had a problem. Unfortunately I don't posess one, and it hardly seems worth buying one for the sake of one bedroom.
I have a jigsaw but it's extremely difficult to match the cut made from a circular saw. Apart from buying a circular saw (although if I absolutely need to I will) would you recommend my second option of laying them parallel to the window (although this is frowned upon)?
Your answer is much appreciated.

Dennis99

onejontwo wrote:

Aha! a circular saw! that's the reason you haven't had a problem. Unfortunately I don't posess one, and it hardly seems worth buying one for the sake of one bedroom.

http://www.hss.com/ or local equivalent.

real1314

buy a circular saw.

even a cheap £20 job will be a lot easier than a jigsaw for cutting across the planks or dow the length.

it'll save you tons of time. I've done laminate with a jigsaw, a handsaw and a circular saw. the latter is the best by far.

weekendwarrior

onejontwo wrote:

Aha! a circular saw! that's the reason you haven't had a problem. Unfortunately I don't posess one, and it hardly seems worth buying one for the sake of one bedroom.
I have a jigsaw but it's extremely difficult to match the cut made from a circular saw. Apart from buying a circular saw (although if I absolutely need to I will) would you recommend my second option of laying them parallel to the window (although this is frowned upon)?
Your answer is much appreciated.

It's your own personal choice really. You have to look at it for an awful long time and personally I always try and do the best I can.

You can get a cheap circular- http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101378&ts=67187&id=38500

Hiring is dead money, that one at that price will not break the bank and will last a good few years and will be useful for many projects.

But if you think it will look ok the other way then do it that way, there's no point making the job harder than it already is

Best of luck with it

onejontwo

weekendwarrior wrote:

It's your own personal choice really. You have to look at it for an awful long time and personally I always try and do the best I can.

You can get a cheap circular- http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101378&ts=67187&id=38500

Hiring is dead money, that one at that price will not break the bank and will last a good few years and will be useful for many projects.

But if you think it will look ok the other way then do it that way, there's no point making the job harder than it already is

Best of luck with it

Thanks for that , to be honest I didn't realise they were so cheap -£60 + I would have thought!
Anyway a circular saw it is then, thanks again for your advice.:beer:

onejontwo

Thanks for all the advice ! One last question:- when I buy a circular saw can I use the blade that comes with it or is there a special blade for laminates?

gardnt1

Fitting this stuff day in and day out i would advise a circular chop saw, but for one room, a jigsaw and some laminate blades is fine.
as to where do i start? it all depends on the length of room, position of windows and what type of laminate boards you use!

traditionally , and as per most instructions, lay towards the biggest source of light. when the sun shines it makes the joins less apparent.......however with a good quality laminate such as quickstep this really doesnt matter and personal preference or even ease of laying takes precidence.......doorways can be awkward, and simpler if laying towards a door..but if you have a bevelled laminate then going with the longest part of the room IMO looks better, and as confidence and experience gains, then you can literally start wherever you want!

if you say you are going into a hall aswell, why not lay straight through? i have done this on so many jobs because i feel it looks so much better.
as with most jobs in life if you do have the tools then things are much easier (especially doorway undercut saws).

ormus

i used a wickes jigsaw and the proper blade. make sure you cut the right way!
ie place the panel face up or down. (cant remember off hand)
try a scrap panel first!

needless to say i didnt!!!