Laminate flooring is aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting, and tends to offer a unique flooring option most people enjoy.
While all of this is true, you are going to want to ensure the laminate floor is installed the right way.
This includes figuring how its direction.
You will want to consider laminate flooring changing direction without transition and what to account for when setting the planks down.
It is not recommended to have laminate flooring changing direction without transition. The transitional point helps with durability and also helps distinguish rooms. It’s best to use a t-molding strip for the transition.
It’s natural to think installing laminate flooring without a transition is smart. You will just want to continue installing the flooring as-is until you are done throughout the entire floor.
This is wrong.
The reason it’s wrong comes down to needing a breaking point for the flooring. You will want to optimize the direction of the laminate floor based on the room’s layout. What works in one part of the room isn’t going to work in others on the same floor.
This guide will showcase what you need to focus on with laminate flooring changing direction without transition.
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Tips For Laminate Flooring Changing Direction Without Transition
1. Always Use A T-Molding Strip
Changing direction between rooms with laminate flooring is common.
There is nothing wrong with changing direction and it is recommended too. The reason is to help position the flooring in a way where it optimizes how the room looks.
However, you should not install laminate flooring without a transition.
This is to make sure there is a noticeable transitional point between the two rooms. Otherwise, this can take away from the aesthetics of the space and make it look ungainly.
To do this the right way, you will have to install a t-molding strip.
This strip is going to be installed horizontally to help break the two rooms apart. This allows you to restart the laminate floor’s direction based on what works for you.
2. Focus On Creating A Breaking Point Between Rooms
You have to think about creating a breaking point between both rooms.
This is a mistake that’s often made.
If you install laminate flooring without a transition, it is going to look odd. You won’t know where the next room starts and this can take away from the aesthetics of both spaces in the house.
The best approach is to do your best to break the two rooms apart and that starts with the flooring.
You can also do the same with the paint color on the wall or the theme of a room. However, the flooring has to be a starting point when it comes to transitioning to another room.
3. Consider Moisture Buildup
If you have laminate flooring changing direction without transition, it can also become a durability risk.
This is something people don’t account for.
Expansion gaps are required to make sure the wood has room to move. This is when the wood begins to expand due to moisture and those “expansion gaps” become important to ensure it doesn’t crack or break.
You have to consider moisture buildup during the installation process.
If you change the direction without a transitional point, you will make it harder for the wood to settle.
4. Make Repairs Easier
Let’s assume the laminate floor starts chipping and needs to be repaired.
It is a lot easier to do this when there is a t-molding strip in place. You can remove the strip and immediately access the laminate floor planks in that part of the house.
If not, you are going to need to dig out the plank from the middle, which can damage the surrounding planks.
It’s best to keep your options open rather than impacting multiple rooms due to how the planks are set up on the floor.
Final Thoughts
These are the details to think about when considering laminate flooring changing direction without transition.
It is not recommended to have laminate flooring changing direction without transition. This leads to an unappealing design, durability issues, and overall concerns of moisture-related damage. It’s best to use a t-molding strip to create a transition point between the two rooms.
This is a common mistake that’s made because most people assume the flooring can go in separate directions as long as it’s installed properly.
This is untrue.
The direction of the flooring can only be changed when there is a t-molding strip as a breaking point.
Invest in a good t-molding strip, install it horizontally, and then change the direction of your laminate floor in the next room. This is a great way to increase the quality of your laminate flooring.
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