While usually installed parallel to a wall, wood flooring can also be laid diagonally to give a unique look. Here’s how to go about installing this wood floor layout.

Installing diagonal engineered wood flooring:

  1. Pop a chalk line on the floor diagonally from corner to corner to establish a straight reference line.
  2. Apply the recommended adhesive to the subfloor on each side of the chalk line using a notched trowel.
  3. Install a row of boards on each side of the chalk line. Make sure the boards are exactly aligned with the chalk line.
  4. Weigh down the two rows of boards, and allow the adhesive to set.
  5. Install the rest of the flooring by working out from the center in both directions. Spread more adhesive on the subfloor and cut and install the rest of flooring.
  6. Install shoe molding around the perimeter of the room to hide the cuts on the end of the flooring.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Starting correctly is the key to installing engineered hardwood flooring. Establish a line with a chalk box in the center of the room, either parallel to or at a diagonal to the adjacent walls.

Next, apply the manufacturer’s recommended adhesive along this line with a notched trowel, and begin installing the boards.

You’ll want one board on each side of the line with the seam between them exactly on the chalk line all the way across the room. Any bend in this line will cause the tongue and groove seams in later boards to open up as they follow the curve.

Once the center run is complete, weight it down and allow it to dry. Once this strip of flooring is secure, the subsequent rows can be tapped into without fear of movement.

When making cuts around corners or obstacles remember that each board must move in two directions to join the existing flooring: in—to close the seam on the long edge of the board—and left or right—to close the short seam at the end of the board.

When the flooring is all down, trim it out around the perimeter with shoe molding to hide the cut ends and finish up the flooring.


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Danny Lipford

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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