where do you start when you install a hardwood floor. if you have parkay squares where do you start?

i need to know where to stat because i have seen the result when you start on the wall.


13 Responses to “where do you start when you install a hardwood floor. if you have parkay squares where do you start?”

  1. pknutson_sws Says:

    The corner farthest from the door or entry

  2. clyde Says:

    Do yourself a favor and visit a Home Depot or Lowes and they will get you started. Even a local flooring installation company. They would be glad to help.

  3. christy b Says:

    i have seen on all of the home repair shows to start away from the door that you want to get out of when done and up against a wall so that you have a pretty good straight line to start with

  4. Monty Says:

    Start from your longest straight wall that runs the opposite way to the window.

    Gives the room the impression of greater size.

  5. williegod Says:

    Check out any upcoming DYI classes at Home Depot to see if it’ll be covered.

  6. diannabishop Says:

    i suggest finding the square center of the room. I am so nit picky I want everything perfect. :D So I find the square center (dead center) and lay the first square and go from there! Good Luck

  7. sarcastic_cheeto Says:

    lay a few out to see what “pattern” you want
    for proper spacing try to start with the most visible space so that if you have any “cut tiles” they will be in a n area where you will be less likely to see them

    good luck have fun and don’t stress

  8. ijcoffin Says:

    I marked a line down the centre of the room, the long way. Then I glued down one row of parquet tiles along that line. That gave me a solid base to butt against the next day when I laid the rest of the tiles down.
    It worked well for me. Good luck and have fun

  9. snakewort Says:

    you need to measure to find the center of the floor then mark along outside walls and snap a chalk line tho divide the floor into 4 equal parts. In other words if the room was 12ft square you wold place a mark at 6 ft on all the walls and snap 2 lines that would intersect like cross hairs in a gun scope. Then you start with the first 4 tiles meeting at the center point and work out following your line to keep yourself straight.

  10. Joe L Says:

    if it a 12″ tile divide the room in half both directions start where they intersect
    you can use a 1x nail it to the floor along your reference line and work from it

  11. wiseornotyoudecide Says:

    Alway start at the largest wall, you do this because by code you have to leave a 1/4″ gap from the wall, hence the reason for trim after install. GOOD LUCK

  12. dennis Says:

    you need to find the center of the room. unless your squares are seem less. it won’t look good to have a full square on one side of the room and a sliver on the other. by center of the room i mean both the length and width. find the center on each end wall and snap a chalk line. due the same with the side walls. also keep in mind that when it comes to door ways you want to end in the middle. good luck

  13. mr danger Says:

    you always start in the center. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing a wall , a floor or a ceiling you always start in the center. The reason is simple: by starting in the center it guarantees that the tiles around the perimeter will be of equal size from one side to the other. To Find the center of the room: label the corners a, b. c, d, .Snap a chalk line from a to c and from b to d where the intersect is your center.

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