Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Dec 07, 2020 12:57 pm Hi all, About to lay my floors (well, builder is) and I'm a bit uncertain about the direction. They are floating, going onto the subfloor (slab). I know the common wisdom is to align with direction of the entrance ways but wondering people's thoughts. Have discussed with builder and considerations are:- 1. If laid 'lengthways' from front door (see pic 1), I will have approx 11.5m of continuous 'lines'. So if any movement over time, those joints won't line up. 2. If laid horizontally, in theory I should have an expansion joint somewhere across them which would provide a bit of an eyesore. I live in CBR so not so bad for humidity. The pics are: from entrance way, looking at dining room, then kitchen into living area, using the yellow exentsion lead as a reference point. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Any tips greatly appreciated ! Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 2Dec 07, 2020 1:16 pm The rules of the thumb: a) towards the main source of light and b) ALONG the main walking routes, but almost never ACROSS. This will be defining the life for your floors in the high traffic areas, e.g. corridors. Consider engineered floor too, they expand much less and there are many nice ways those days to join floors as well as separate areas visually. Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 3Dec 07, 2020 1:18 pm Thanks. They are engineered (floating). The rule of thumb is lengthways, my main concern is the potential expansion of boards running over 11m, then appearing mis-aligned. It's anyone's guess of course as to whether that will happen ! Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 5Dec 07, 2020 1:40 pm ![]() You would just need to calculate the expansion gaps properly based on manufacturer recommendations. I guess they would have to be somewhere around 20 mm for 11 m. Yep.The maximum width and length the product can be laid is 8 metres before additional expansion is required - widths and lengths beyond 8 metres require the rooms to be broken up and additional expansion allowance needs to be incorporated (1mm for every 1mtr). Therefore, running lengthways it means an expansion gap smack bang in the eyeline running lengthways (markedin yellow below). So the aesthetic toss up is expansion there, or horizontally which is outside the 'usual' recommendation. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 7Dec 07, 2020 4:05 pm Go direct stick rather than floating. It's a much better result without any drummy feeling. It looks like it's a reno so you will have to get the slab ground to get it nice and clean. Then applied moisture barrier (I like Sika MB) then direct stick with Sika T55 adhesive. The floor will be nice and solid without any issues. I don't know what flooring you are installing but I installed all my flooring as noted above and I have a line of flooring that would be around 23m in length without any expansion joints and it is trouble free. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 8Dec 07, 2020 4:13 pm ![]() Go direct stick rather than floating. It's a much better result without any drummy feeling. It looks like it's a reno so you will have to get the slab ground to get it nice and clean. Then applied moisture barrier (I like Sika MB) then direct stick with Sika T55 adhesive. The floor will be nice and solid without any issues. I don't know what flooring you are installing but I installed all my flooring as noted above and I have a line of flooring that would be around 23m in length without any expansion joints and it is trouble free. Thanks Chippy, yep concrete is being machined. Floor is a Hurford spotted gum but think I'd need to convince the builder of glueing rather than floating (not sure if it's more work !) and what impact would that have on the underlay ? https://hurfordflooring.com.au/wp-conte ... US-PDF.pdf Re: Floating Floors - which direction to lay ? 9Dec 07, 2020 4:38 pm ![]() ![]() Go direct stick rather than floating. It's a much better result without any drummy feeling. It looks like it's a reno so you will have to get the slab ground to get it nice and clean. Then applied moisture barrier (I like Sika MB) then direct stick with Sika T55 adhesive. The floor will be nice and solid without any issues. I don't know what flooring you are installing but I installed all my flooring as noted above and I have a line of flooring that would be around 23m in length without any expansion joints and it is trouble free. Thanks Chippy, yep concrete is being machined. Floor is a Hurford spotted gum but think I'd need to convince the builder of glueing rather than floating (not sure if it's more work !) and what impact would that have on the underlay ? https://hurfordflooring.com.au/wp-conte ... US-PDF.pdf Here's the direct stick installation instructions from Hurford. You don't use the underlay when you direct stick. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Hi Renee We build basements so I can definitely help you out with some rates. Although mine are from Sydney and Melbourne could be a little cheaper. So if you use my… 1 6526 ![]() To put anything over slate you will need to put self level compound over the entire area as slate various in thickness and is very un even. To install most types of… 1 11644 ![]() Sorry, don't know costs, but there are a couple of very important principles you need to get right (and now) .... (1) never agree to any "upgrade" unless you first know… 5 21647 |