Across the joists
Q: The big question: Which way to lay the flooring? The long way – parallel to the 20′ length or the short way – parallel to the 14′ length.
A: The hardwood floor should run across the joists and not parallel to them unless your sub floor is 1 1/2 inches thick. If this is not the case regarding the sub floor, and the room dimensions make the floor look bad to run it across the joists, then the next best idea is to install diagonally. This will cost more in wood and labour.
Similar Q: I have some very nice (old) hardwood flooring. I want to put it down in my now gutted kitchen. The floor is down to the original ‘structural fir’. Which way should I lay the hardwood. With or across the flooring?
A: If the old flooring is ¾ thick it should be installed across the joists. If it is old style 3/8 strip it likely isn’t worth it to remove from one area and install in another because it would likely be to thin to take a sanding needed to flatten it out after re-installation.
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