Hardwood Question

Jesse Benson

I read on the internet that you should lay wood floors perpendicular to the floor joists. How important is this? I am getting ready to lay 5/8" x 3 1/4 bamboo flooring and of course the way that would be easiest to lay it would be parralell to the joists.

PrecisionFloors

How thick, and of what material is your subfloor made?

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TNGHomes

To get my warranty on the installation I would require 11/2" subfloor to run with the joists or on an angle. Check with your manufacturer on their specs for proper installation but for me its an inch and a half.

PrecisionFloors

For me its inch and a quarter (3/4" + 1/2") at a minimum but I have to install the top layer, but otherwise yeah its 1 1/2. Great advice.

ALWAYS check manufacturers specs if possible

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Precision Flooring
(772) 237-9900
Tile, Hardwood, Laminate, and Resilient
Installation, Sales & Repair - "We do it right the FIRST time"

Teetorbilt

With a solid subfloor, direction doesn't make any difference. The 'perpendicular to joists' goes back to the old days when most homes didn't have subfloors just boards nailed to joists.

A lot of flooring specialists will tell you to lay with the light source. ID's will tell you that laying with the major length will make the room longer and with the minor length make the room appear wider. Can't make up your mind? Go on the diag., real trendy about 10 yrs. ago.

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Tom R

All other reasoning aside, - - laying perpendicular to the joists gives you a flatter floor overall . . .

Glasshousebltr

I think have a few questions here.

How old is the home?
What type and condition of subfloor?
Floating or true hardwood?
Any dips and rises from joist crowning/movement?

I think it's pretty straight forward, if any of these answers draw some concern, add additional underlayment.

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Bob