Looking to update the look of your space with new floors? Laminate is a popular flooring option that offers all kinds of benefits for home and practical concerns too. The laminate floating floor is versatile, strong, scratch-resistant, much easier to install than other floor types, is available in a wide range of styles, colours and finishes, and although it is less expensive than traditional hardwood, it doesn't fall short when it comes to look and quality.
Once you've picked a beautiful laminate floating floor for your home, you will have another important decision to make – how to install it. While horizontal and straight patterns are the most common, there are some other options you might want consider for your project. Here are some of the pros and cons of different installation methods to help you make the best choice for your space.
Straight
Straight patterns are easy to lay out and one can use a wall as a starting point and move across the room in simple strips. One great advantage of this installation method is that it creates little waste, as it doesn't involve complex cutting patterns and most boards can be used in full. When run through connected rooms or in an open space, this pattern also helps create long, continuous lines.
Due to the popularity of this pattern, it can be less exciting for a person after a unique look. It is also simple to install only in rectangular rooms – a more complex room may cause this pattern to change directions or become partially diagonal.
Diagonal
Because this layout usually creates the longest lines, it helps make a space look its largest. This makes it a common choice for open floor plans in small spaces, such as apartments and condos, where expanding the look is essential for creating an airy feel. Because this layout doesn't follow traditional shapes, it helps prevent the floor from looking off in rooms with unusual angles and shapes.
However, this installation method can create more waste as many boards will need to be mitered at the edges than meeting at simple parallels. It also requires a more skilled installer to be done, especially for a patter at an odd angle.
Perpendicular
While it is a technically a straight pattern, it is less common to see because it requires much more cuts, which means more waste and labor time. However, it can be a great option to help widen a tunnel-shaped room by emphasizing the title width there. It can also add a rustic, warmer appeal to a room by emphasizing the individual boards.
Chevron
This pattern invokes a sense of wealth and grandeur of historic states, making it a fashionable choice for contemporary, modern and transitional homes. Because it creates straight lines, it helps lengthen a room while creating drama with engaging diagonals. The downside of this pattern is that it requires every board to be cut, which creates waste and take significantly more time to be completed.
