Flooring plank orientation in narrow hallway

[davejo]

Builder asked which way we wanted him to orient the flooring planks. He suggested perpendicular to the hallway walls to make it look less narrow. Its about 7 feet wide.

Other consideration is that hallway connects onto a 40 foot catwalk that will need flooring at some point so maybe its easier to add onto existing flooring if the planks run perpendicular as well.

Asking to see if there are any other considerations involved before we instruct our builder.

 

[mike93lx]

7' is a narrow hallway? Is this commercial?

My home hallway is 3' wide and the flooring runs perpendicular to the walls.

 

[Vantastic]

He suggested that because it would be easier to install. Run the lengths of the planks long ways down the hall and catwalk for a professional look/layout.

 

[awdblazer]

i have always installed the long direction in any room

 

[PCustoms]

Typically you go the long wayn I n a room.

Keep in mind where the hall connects though, as the dominate area should be correct orientation. I have a 3' hall with planks sideways, bUT it conects to a an try and kitchen.

 

[TexasShooter]

You want the flooring planks, wood or tile, to run long ways in the room or hallways. When you run it across the room you tend to notice all of the joints.


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[chase237]

I think you have to consider transitions as well. We put down some planking in a previous house and while I was concerned about running it perpendicular to the walls down the hallway, we wanted it to run lengthwise in the kitchen / dining room and didn't want to transition it when it got to the hallway.

I was concerned about the "railroad track" look going down the hall but it all looked great so no concern warranted. A 7 ft wide hall, I can't imagine you'd even notice. Mine was just a normal residential hall.

 

[terry603]

I always thought flooring was laid long way as you enter the room
I would think perpendicular to the wall would look odd

 

[CTyankee]

As others says...go the long way. We did a home that had a huge open living area you entered down a long hallway. Nobody wanted to make the call which direction the flooring should run, so we ran it diagonally....Pain in the ***, but it came out nice.

 

[jake00]

You typically want it perpendicular to the joists.

If you run it long way, it's easier for the floor guy to sand

 

[larry4406]

You typically want it perpendicular to the joists.

This!

Flooring is always laid perpendicular to the joists.

 

[davejo]

Yes I was wrong, the hallway is 42 inches, the catwalk 6 feet wide. I think the joists change directions at the catwalk but I'm not positive. Its held up by steel beams.

we are talking bamboo flooring by the way and the remodeler is flaky in general.

 

[TexasShooter]

Not the best picture, and no hallway, but as you enter said space you want them running length ways. Goodluck.


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[Cave Creek Ray]

Whatever is easiest for the contractor... that is what he would recommend.

LOL... (I have NEVER seen a hallway with flooring not parallel to the wall!)

 

[coldh2o]

You typically want it perpendicular to the joists.

I don't think so. Unless it's designed that way (which I've never seen) you are not relying on the flooring for any structural rigidity, particularly with the short lengths of hardwood available today. Rigidity comes from the subfloor (which in older houses was often planks, and would be perpendicular to the joists - or at a 45 degree angle).

Another vote for going the long way. I don't see any issue with changing to a different direction for adjacent rooms, it breaks things up. You can do nice transition at the doorway.

 

[bdamico]

I think you want it running with the walls unless it messes with the flow in the rooms it enters

 

[B T C]

In my fairly recently built house, the hardwood in my entrance hallway runs perpendicular to the walls, perpendicular to the floor joists and parallel with the rest of the wood flooring in the house.

 

[Steves32]

Mine was concrete floor w/ engineered wood floor glued down. Since we were doing multiple rooms, ran boards down the hall parallel, flowing out into the other rooms. For me, nothing looks worse than changes in direction for same flooring. Wood runs down hall & into 4 other rooms as well. Our master bedroom is the only room left with carpet. Had to keep wife happy. I would have installed wood there to if up to me.

 

[larry4406]

I've no experience with Bamboo flooring, so follow the manufacturer's instructions when in doubt.

All of the houses I build have traditional 3/4" oak tongue and groove floors (sand on site). The NOFMA installation manual is quite clear on installing the boards at 90 degrees to the joists. In many of our houses, the joists change direction, so the wood floor direction changes as well. The joist directional changes are always at cased openings, doors, etc., so that never in a single room does the hardwood direction change. We also install a single header board (sometimes called a turn board) at doorways and cased openings when the boards run thru the opening (turn board is in the plane of the door/opening). The turn boards help define the space as well as creating an easy break point should repairs be needed in the future.

If the customer were ever to go to litigation on our floors, the NOFMA standard is the bible. Failure to have installed per standard, would be an easy win for the customer. Thus, we always run the wood perpendicular to the joists.

Direction of finish flooring. Direction of finish flooring
should be at right angles to the joists as shown in
Fig. 4. This is generally the longest dimension of the
room or building and gives best appearance.

http://northcal.com/PDF/hfim.pdf

 

[jake00]

I don't think so.

Don't think all you want, https://woodmonsters.com/images/NWFA_Installation_Guidelines_2008_11_17.pdf

 

[jake00]

Asking to see if there are any other considerations involved before we instruct our builder.

Have your builder hire a hardwood flooring pro....

 

[coldh2o]

I've no experience with Bamboo flooring, so follow the manufacturer's instructions when in doubt.

All of the houses I build have traditional 3/4" oak tongue and groove floors (sand on site). The NOFMA installation manual is quite clear on installing the boards at 90 degrees to the joists. In many of our houses, the joists change direction, so the wood floor direction changes as well. The joist directional changes are always at cased openings, doors, etc., so that never in a single room does the hardwood direction change. We also install a single header board (sometimes called a turn board) at doorways and cased openings when the boards run thru the opening (turn board is in the plane of the door/opening). The turn boards help define the space as well as creating an easy break point should repairs be needed in the future.

If the customer were ever to go to litigation on our floors, the NOFMA standard is the bible. Failure to have installed per standard, would be an easy win for the customer. Thus, we always run the wood perpendicular to the joists.

Direction of finish flooring. Direction of finish flooring
should be at right angles to the joists as shown in
Fig. 4. This is generally the longest dimension of the
room or building and gives best appearance.

http://northcal.com/PDF/hfim.pdf

Thanks, that's some good information. I'm always interested in learning more and appreciate a thoughtful and descriptive comment.