Laying click 'n lock laminate floor...where to start first row?
 

Hey guys,


I'm going to lay laminate flooring in 2 closets, a hallway, and a 12 x 16 room. Looking at the diagram below, where should I start? My first thought is to start at the main doorway and work backwards, ending at the end of the hallway, but I dont think that will work? Or do I lay each room independently and use thresholds?

Starting at main entrance will be fine. You could turn hall different direction if you use a t-mold where hall meets room. Planks laid with length of hall look better. Don't forget to leave proper space at all walls. Use t-mold in both closet doorways.This allows all areas to expand and contract independently.

+1 -- I just recently put laminate flooring in my home office, t-mold under closet door is really a simple solution, works fine and looks good.

The T-molds and orientation are good ideas, but I would start at the wall opposite the main entrance. This would ensure a full width piece at the hallway opening and any ripped down piece to finish would not be immediately visible upon entering the room thru the main entrance.

I would simply measure the room and trim as needed the first row to ensure adequate width at the last row. Check the manufacturer's instructions, I bet they recommend something similar.

How do your floor joists run? Typically, instructions say to lay planks perpendicular to the direction of the joists.

Floor joists run left to right in picture above, but I am laying this stuff over top of existing hardwood flooring (that is in terrible shape, not repairable) that is laid over top of existing plank flooring. As long as the plank flooring is laid perpendicular to the floor joists (which it is), I should be fine.

Good to go then. I'd do some measuring to make sure when you are going down the hall that you don't end up with a sliver of a board on the left side. May have to trim the first board to make it work out. Don't forget your expansion spacing at board edges when laying it out.