Narrow kitchen floor

[Salty]

Just wanted to get a few opioions on something. Our kitchen is narrow with an entrance door in one end and the other end open to the dining area. It is 4' 8" wide and 11'5" long.
LOML suggested that I put the plank flooring down in the 4' direction. I think it would look better in the long direction.
Is there any 'rule-of-thumb' on such a thing? Or is it just personal preference?

[Tequila]

Totally personal preference, but I'd go with the long direction as well.

[Timmah80]

Normally you would put a hardwood floor down so it runs perpindicular to the floor joists. Which almost always means the floor would run side to side. With laminates, you can run them any way you want, they have no load bearing. If it's on concrete, direction doesn't matter either. So I think if it was my house, I'd run the floor perpindicular to the joists.

[parnelli]

The 'sideways' way would make the space seem a little bit wider. The long way will make it seem longer and narrower.

[jAngiel]

Everything that I have heard and read (even the video that came with my flooring) suggests running the "boards" lengthwise. If there is a window in the room, run them toward the window otherwise run them along the longest "wall", cabinets in your case.

My two long hallways are run lengthwise and I think they look good that way. I thinks it also easier to lay them lengthwise too, you get more down before you need a cut made.

I really doesn't matter with the laminate but the suggestions are for lengthwise and I personally like the look better.

On a side note if you are using the snap together kind and if you run them lengthwise you will probably need two people. As you try to snap in a new board the already installed boards have a tendancy to want to come apart. My solution was two people, for me I used LOML as a helper, all I needed her to do was just stand on the part that was already installed to keep it from moving. Once I had a few rows done it held together on it's own.

[Cheeky]

the long way would wear better IMO. normal foot traffic can really beat up the edges (even minor elevation variations of each individual plank can be subjected to chipping, etc.)

[backpacker85]

Strictly a personal preference, and I like the lengthwise runs myself, for a couple reasons:

Sweeping/mopping would more likely be done along the joints rather than across them.

The butt joints could be staggered more, where with the boards run the short way, butt joints may tend to "stack up".

However, if run the short way, the floor could be installed without any butt joints, but it would take more material.

The only real reason to lean in one direction or the other may be any consideration to how this floor transitions to the dining room floor....

[Salty]

Thank you everyone for your input.
This job happens to be 6" x 36" vinyl plank flooring.
But, as the idea is to make the floor appear to be wood, although in truth you would have to be leagally blind to not notice, I think running them perpendicular to the joist would be in order. That would be lengthwise in the area.
Now I know many of you are thinking that vinyl plank flooring is a cheap way out, and you are correct in part. I have used similar stuff in an entry way that held up quite well. The main reason for this is because the boss of the house likes to use throw rugs. So, about 80% of this floor is, and will continue to be, covered with rugs.
I am thinking that if I use a quality 1/4" plywood underlayment and patch the seams and nail heads, it should provide a good base.
Oh yes, the dining area is carpet now and probably will be replaced with carpet later.
This whole kitchen-dining area is going to take some time so the floor will be about the last thing done.
In the meantime there is more wallpaper to remove, more wall patching and sanding, priming, painting, etc.
Then there will be new doors and drawer fronts, 1/4" faceframe covers and 1/4" plywood end panels. All this in Hickory, lightly stained. Then a new layer of countertop laminate, saw and regrout the wall tile and install a new range hood.
That should keep me busy until next winter!

[MikeR]

More work, but have you considered running them at 45 degrees?

I think visually more interesting.

Cheers,

MikeR

[Cheeky]

The subfloor usually has to be a minimum of 1 1/4" thick to run the flooring parallel to joists.

[siliconbauhaus]

From an architectural point of view I agree with the others that it should go in the long direction as it is a directional indicator and adds a sense of flow.

[ironhat]

"If Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy". Enough said!