Can you lay hardwood with the floor joists?
Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring.
How do you install hardwood flooring on joists?
Install hardwood floors perpendicular to the floor joists, parallel to the longest wall, leaving a ¾-inch expansion gap around the perimeter. Join the ends of the boards over a floor joist, where possible, avoiding joints that form an H. Keep joints that line up at least two rows apart.
Can hardwood flooring be installed parallel to floor joists?
Hardwood floors that are installed parallel to the joists will eventually sag between those joists; if you insist on changing the recommended floor direction, add a minimum ½” nominal plywood underlayment to the existing subfloor.
What wood goes over floor joists?
Plywood and OSB subfloors over joists are most common in newer homes and new construction, typically in homes with basements or crawlspaces.
Do you have to install engineered hardwood perpendicular to joists?
The best appearance is usually achieved by installing parallel to the length of the room, but always install perpendicular to the floor joists (wood subfloors) unless special subfloor conditions are met. Always rack out the flooring before installing to avoid clustered end joints and repeating patterns.
What direction do you lay hardwood floors?
The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.
How thick does the subfloor need to be for hardwood flooring?
For hardwood finish flooring, which average about 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch in thickness, 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch-thick plywood is the preferred subfloor, though there are a variety of grades designed for specific applications. Using tongue-and-groove plywood can reduce squeaks, as the sheets will seat together better.
Does the tongue or groove go against the wall?
Which to Install First. Which side is the tongue, which the groove, and which goes first during installation? The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation.