Laminated coating flooring is no longer an innovation and is in great demand among many homeowners. The article will discuss how to lay laminate flooring: lengthwise or crosswise, since this is precisely the question that arises among inexperienced layers.
Laminate installation process
Regardless of which direction of laying the laminate was chosen, the installation of such a coating is carried out according to the following scheme:
- It is important to understand how to lay laminate flooring correctly so that you don’t have to redo anything. Panels can only be mounted on level base. The permissible difference can be no more than 5 millimeters.
- In some cases, it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing film, which significantly increases the cost of installation.
- The rough base must be cleared of debris, dust and dirt before installation.
- When installing laminate flooring, do not forget about laying a layer of substrate under the flooring. The thickness of the material should not exceed 5 millimeters. If the laminated panels have a thickness of 8 to 12 millimeters, the thickness of the substrate should be in the range of 4 to 5 millimeters.
Connecting laminated panels
Regardless of how the laminate is laid: lengthwise or crosswise, the panels can be secured in two ways:
- For the adhesive mixture like protozoa PVC tiles or tile.
- Floating method using “Click” and “Lock” types of locking connections.
The choice between laying laminate along and across
An inexperienced installer may, when choosing how best to lay laminate flooring, be guided by the direction of the sun's rays entering the room through the window openings. This will help control how visually perceived daylight at two in various ways laying flooring.
It is more expedient when choosing how to lay the laminate: along or across the room, use the longitudinal installation method. The reason for this choice is quite simple: if you lay the laminate across the room, then the sun's rays falling perpendicularly on it will highlight all the joints as much as possible (read also: " "). It would be very difficult to call such a coating aesthetic, because in the photo and with visual inspection Every seam on the floor will stand out.
Tools for laying laminate
Regardless of how to lay the laminate: along or across the room, the following set of tools will be required to carry out the work:
- electric jigsaw or hacksaw for metal. A wood saw cannot be used, since large teeth will ruin the decorative layer on the surface of the laminated panels;
- long measuring device;
- scissors with long blades;
- sharpened knife;
- fasteners: nails, screws;
- cord, rope or fishing line;
- wooden wedges and bars;
- drawing tools;
- square;
- rubberized or light hammer. The second can be used exclusively with a rubber gasket so that when hitting the panel it is not damaged. The risk of deformation specifically concerns end joints designed to connect panels to each other. Read also: "".
Installation of laminate flooring with click joints
Installing panels with such fastenings is quite simple, and their service life is long. Such a connection provides a minimal gap between the laminated panels, but even this will not prevent the seams from being visually highlighted when laying the flooring perpendicularly sun rays entering the room. Accordingly, the type of locking joints does not affect how best to lay the laminate: lengthwise or crosswise.
Installation sequence with “Click” locks
Laying laminated panels with Click locks is carried out as follows:
- The width of the room is measured taking into account the compensation gap between the flooring and the wall, which should be about 1 centimeter. This will allow you to create a floating floor without the risk of it deforming as the temperature rises and the panels expand. If the area of the room exceeds 12 square meters, then the thickness of the compensation gap should increase according to the following scheme: 1.5 millimeters for every meter of room length.
- Then you need to calculate the width of the laminated panels the row that will be laid last.
- You should start laying from the far left corner of the room. and the first row should be located with the protruding part towards the wall.
- We have already decided on the best way to lay laminate flooring., which means that installation must be carried out longitudinally parallel to natural light. Each subsequent row must be laid with an offset of 30-40 centimeters relative to the previous one. This will evenly distribute the load exerted on the furniture covering, household appliances, residents.
- The lamellas are connected to each other at an angle of 45 degrees. Then the top board lowers, and a characteristic click will make it clear that it is fixed.
- Subsequently, the algorithm of actions is repeated. As the last row, it is necessary to lay pre-cut laminated panels of a characteristic width. It is also permissible to cut the boards in length.
Features of mounting with a “Lock” connection
Adhesive installation
The method of laying laminate on an adhesive mixture is less popular compared to floating.
It has a number of disadvantages:
- increased complexity of installation;
- extra expenses for the adhesive mixture;
- after installation it is impossible to dismantle the covering and lay it again;
- glue mixture does not tolerate heat, and then the laminate cannot be laid on top of heated floors in this way.
Laying sequence:
- Any glue that gets onto the surface of the panels must be promptly removed using a slightly dampened rag.
- After 3-4 rows of laminated panels have been glued, you need to pause for 2-3 hours until the glue dries completely.
- If the coating has not moved and is laid correctly, then installation can be completed.
- The last row must be laid using a crowbar to carefully place the row in the area between the wall and the flooring.
Other installation features
About the fact that laminate flooring must be laid parallel to the sun's rays entering the room.
It is also worth noting a number of other features:
- The above-mentioned laying of the panels perpendicular to the sun's rays penetrating into the room allows you to visually expand the room. In the photo and upon personal inspection, the room will look more spacious.
- It is also possible to lay the panels in a non-standard way, if the layout features require it.
- If we consider the laying of panels relative to the walls, and not to the lighting, then when laid in length, you can visually lengthen the room, and in width - expand it.
Bottom line
The article describes in detail existing methods laying laminate flooring and their features. The question of how to lay laminated panels: lengthwise or widthwise has also been resolved. Very often, the installation method is chosen according to the design that was chosen for finishing the room. The choice remains solely with the owner of the house.
Laminate manufacturers emphasize in their advertising campaigns that the installation of this popular floor covering has become so simple that anyone can handle it. Who has no experience working with laminate at all. You need to read the instructions, watch the company’s advertising video, and as a result of your efforts, the room with the new floor will quickly be transformed, and the admiring family will extol your construction achievements. Despite the fact that before installing the flooring, your success in this field was not much different from the ability of one of the characters of the English writer Jerome K. Jerome Uncle Podger to hang pictures.
Indeed, the improvement of panel interlocking systems has greatly simplified the installation process. If laying laminate flooring with a Lock lock requires certain experience and skills, then the next generation of locks - Click - does not impose such requirements. And the market already sells laminate flooring with 5g and Megalock locks, and even with aluminum locks. Soon everything will be like in Russian fairy tales, when all you need to do is bring the packages into the room where the installation will take place and hold the flooring without opening the boxes for a couple of days. To adapt to the temperature and humidity in the room. And then you open the packages, and the panels themselves are laid “at the behest of the pike.” However, the devil, as we know, is in the details.
Laying laminate
The work of installing the flooring has become much easier. The same cannot be said about preparing the base before laying. The base must be level, stable and dry. The difference in height is permissible within 2 mm per 2 m. In some cases, a waterproofing device is required before laying the substrate and the laminate itself.
Laying the substrate
Substrates differ in the material from which they are made, characteristics and cost:
Manufacturers claim that the substrate is able to level the base under the laminate. This is an exaggeration. The substrate must provide heat and sound insulation. The underlay can compensate for minimal unevenness in a leveled old wooden floor or plywood base, but no more.
Important! The substrate is laid end-to-end, the joints are fixed with tape. This way it will not move when laying the laminate.
Choosing a installation method
We determine the method of laying the covering: diagonally, perpendicular or parallel to the light (along or across the room). Diagonal installation is more often used in narrow rooms - this is one of the ways to visually expand them.
It is usually customary to lay the laminate perpendicular to the light source (the long side along the flow of light) - this is a window in the room. In daylight, the joints between the panels are less noticeable.
However, when laying the covering on a wooden floor, you must be sure to focus on the direction of the floorboards. On such a floor, the laminate is laid perpendicular to the floor boards to reduce possible deflection. If the old wooden floor is covered with plywood on top, the flooring should be laid traditional way- perpendicular to the window.
In small narrow rooms without natural light (corridors, hallways), laminate flooring is laid across in order to visually expand the room.
Laying laminate flooring with different types of locks
For installation work you will need:
First, plastic wedges are installed to maintain a 10 mm gap between the laminate and the wall. The first row is laid horizontally from the corner of the room in the direction from left to right. The ridge of the panels of the first row is directed towards the wall. The panels are connected at their ends. The last panel in the row is cut with a jigsaw or hacksaw and laid in a row. You can start the next row with the remaining piece of the panel (provided that its length is more than 300 mm). It is important that the seams in adjacent rows do not match.
Advice. To give panel offsets a more accurate appearance, a technique such as “offset by a third of the board” is used. One third is cut off from the new panel, after which it is laid.
The first and second rows are joined. When using panels with a Lock-lock, you will need to hammer them with a mallet (through a die) to fix the ridge in the groove of the adjacent panel.
Click system panels are laid at an angle of 45° until they click into place. This coating can be disassembled if necessary.
The panels of the last row will most likely need to be cut to width. Remember that the cutting line will be covered by the baseboard, so small unevenness in the cut area is not a problem. After laying the laminate on the wooden floor is completed, the wedges are removed and the baseboard is installed. First, see how much you need to trim the panels of the last row. Flooring It will not look very good if the width of the panels of the first and last rows is very different. In this case, it is better to trim the panels of both the first and last rows.
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 often used to give the interior originality. The main disadvantages diagonal laying are considered:
- high level of abrasion of joints;
- increased laminate consumption;
- need to use special means for care and cleaning of floor coverings.
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 laying is used, and with low ones - longitudinal.
- IN narrow corridor L-shaped 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 hallway or room begins with preliminary preparation surfaces.
Concrete floor
Old concrete floors develop cracks over time. Before laying a new floor covering, they must be widened and sealed. 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 that it needs to be processed grinder 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 all the bad and the good side each of the methods. 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 - modern finishing material, which has long gained great popularity. It can be seen in administrative offices and private cottages. Appearance 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 do right choice, take into account several important factors:
- 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 a laminate floor, 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. Classic rules in this case they have no effect.
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 visual effect expanding the 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. Most practical basis for laminate flooring it is considered:
- concrete screed;
- wooden floor.
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 available 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: - stages of work, advice 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.
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 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 beautiful view simple and inexpensive laminate.
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.
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, it is achieved minimum consumption material. 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.
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 complete assembly of the first row, last panels sawed off 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 wood covering, the plates are placed across the floorboards.
For detailed instructions on laying laminate boards, watch the video below.
Modern laminate– it’s not easy to imitate wooden or ceramic floors with a flat surface. On sale are boards with a lumpy surface, like the texture of a wood cut. There is also embossing that imitates a surface scratched with a metal brush (“brush”).
The light focuses attention on the volume, the play of the resulting pattern created by seams, chamfers of individual floorboards and the texture of the laminate. If the floor becomes an additional decoration of the room, you should carefully consider the direction of installation.
This option is suitable for beginners and those on a budget. For any choice of laying pattern and row offset size (for example, by a third of the board), only a few elements are trimmed. Some of the cut pieces will be used at the end or beginning of the row. Small pieces will also be needed for laying laminate around heating pipes. 
Important. If the laminate boards are not chamfered, longitudinal laying taking into account the direction of light along the rows will create the effect of a solid sheet without joints.
Installing floorboards in this way is a more labor-intensive task: there are more elements for trimming. But if laminate boards with a chamfer (beveled edge) are chosen for the floor, such installation will additionally emphasize the beauty of the design. 
Advice. Choose transverse installation if you want to add additional volume to the space of the room. Rows of stripes will visually expand a narrow room
Important nuances of laying laminate along or across the window
Before starting work, determine what will serve as the basis for the new coating. You can leave linoleum and parquet if:
- the surface is hard, smooth;
- no wet areas;
- there are no colonies of mold and mildew;
- the wooden floor is not damaged by wood beetles (borer, bark beetle, shashel), or rot.
Carpet and any type of soft flooring are removed. Laminate laid on such a base will quickly fail.
Minor unevenness in the floor can be eliminated with self-leveling mixtures (for concrete and cement), sealant or grout.
Important. A vapor barrier is first placed on the concrete floor, then a sound-absorbing underlay is placed.
In narrow and long corridors, even if there are windows, the direction of light is usually not taken into account. It is more important to visually expand the space. In some cases, several colored spots from the laminate different color and widths turn an ordinary floor into a stylish element of the room.
Suitable for straight corridors:
- wide floorboards with a uniform pattern of one tone (light ones will further expand, and dark ones will visually narrow the space);
- Laminate with imitation ceramic tiles, stone.
Attention. If individual elements have a “lock” rather than a regular groove, when laid transverse to the direction of regular movement of people, the fasteners quickly come out, creaking and cracks appear.
Many manufacturers apply a small pattern along the length of the board with a regular larger image (wood cut, stone). When individual rows are combined, the joint is hidden and the seams become invisible. If the wear resistance of the laminate is high (see packaging markings), you can lay the floorboards on the floor both lengthwise and crosswise.
Useful tips: how to lay laminate flooring along or across a room
Traditionally, boards are laid on the floor in the direction of light from the window. This decision is followed by:
- When separate element three-layer (not five) with low wear resistance;
- instead of a “lock” there is a regular groove.
The reason is simple. It is difficult to achieve a beautiful, even distance between joints. And the light falling from the window will highlight the flaws. When the laminate is of high quality, there is no doubt about the skill of the workers, and the designer’s idea is to visually expand the room; the boards are laid perpendicularly. However, such installation will be more expensive: more packages of laminate are purchased with a reserve for cutting.
When choosing a solution for the direction of the laminate board, consider:
- If new flooring is being installed on wood floors, the correct choice is perpendicular to the boards. This prevents sagging areas of the floor.
- If there are no windows, and the room is narrow and long (corridor), lay laminate planks across, achieving visual expansion space.
- If the room has two or more windows, consider the overall light intensity.
- If the arrangement of furniture is known, take into account the load created. The legs of a chair or sofa should not put pressure on one floorboard - otherwise the fastening will quickly break due to the load. The degree of load withstanding is indicated by the marking.
- If the room is low, longitudinal laying is preferable.
It is important and psychological perception drawing on the floor. It is more comfortable to walk along a long row than to “step over” the floorboards. In some cases, after the renovation is completed, the laminate is re-laid because of this.
Any doubts left? Place several laminate planks on the floor. Turn on and off the chandelier, lamps, close and open the curtains. By rotating a piece of laminate flooring, select the optimal pattern on the floor.
