Laying laminate diagonally

Laying flooring is a responsible process that will require responsibility, patience and careful preparation. This especially applies to laminate flooring if a diagonal installation method is chosen. This type of lamella arrangement has become very popular lately, as it can transform a room beyond recognition. If you don’t know how to lay lamellas diagonally, methods for arranging the coating and recommendations for high-quality installation are described below.

What kind of castles are there?

All locking elements in the planks have a single system - mortise-tenon, but may differ in the profile system. There are 8 types of locks in total, but the most common and easiest to use are 3:

1. Lock is the simplest option, the fixation of which is caused by a peculiar click when the tenon is pressed horizontally into the groove. In order for the installation to be high-quality and durable, the outer fabric is beaten with a mallet. Slats with such a lock are almost impossible
   dismantle with preservation, since over time, under constant load, the grooves are worn out and may separate. In addition, the surface under the coating will have to be prepared very carefully, otherwise changes can cause rapid wear of the locking elements.
2. Click is an improved model of the first type of lock.The tenon in the lamellas has a small hook that fits into the groove at an angle of 45 degrees. The bar is inserted and gently lowered down until you hear a characteristic click. You need to act very carefully, as applying strong force can break the spike. Additional fixation gives the lock additional strength. The covering can be dismantled and reassembled up to 4 times.
3. T-LOCK - developed by Tarkett, is a combination of two locking elements. When laid, a durable, reliable coating is obtained that can be disassembled and reassembled several times, while the locks will remain intact.

In addition, at the moment you can find locks on laminate flooring with plastic and aluminum elements, which not only firmly interlock the planks, but also allow you to assemble and disassemble the floor covering an unlimited number of times.

Laying methods

At the moment, there are two ways to place slats diagonally on the floor surface:

• from the center - the canvas is mounted towards two opposite sides;
• from the corner.

If the work is done by one person, then it is better to choose the second option - if you have an assistant, you can install the laminate using any of the methods described above. It is especially convenient to lay the slats in two directions from the center: one person to one corner, the other to the opposite.

Advice! If installing laminate flooring is new to you, it is better to use direct installation of planks. This will make laying or laying laminate boards correctly with your own hands much easier. In this case, there is no need to accurately measure the angles and make the appropriate cuts - everything is quite simple.

But, if you still decide to perform diagonal laying, treat this process with full responsibility and follow certain instructions, there is also a diagram.

Before you start laying, check out some expert advice on this:

• you should not give preference to inexpensive material - the lamellas will wear out very quickly and irreparable defects will appear;
• Before laying the laminate on the surface, bring it into the room where it will be permanently located and leave it for a day. The material must adapt to room temperature:
• Installation of the coating is carried out only in a dry, heated room.

Important! Despite the fact that the material is moisture-repellent, one must not forget that high humidity can cause the planks to swell and become deformed - the coating will be uneven and unpresentable.

Rules and recommendations for diagonal laying

In order for the diagonal laying of lamellas to be done efficiently, you need to follow the recommendations of specialists:

• You need to attach the strips strictly observing the angle chosen for the work. The most optimal thing would be to create a template, according to which the material will subsequently be cut. It is better to carry out the process with the tool you are used to;
• if a jigsaw is used during work, then it is set at maximum speed so that there are no chips or burrs on the lamellas - the desired even cut;
• The grinder is also well suited for cutting if you install a special disc on it for laminate or iron.

If you follow these recommendations, the surface will be smooth and neat.

Laying from corner in 2 directions

Before starting installation, remove debris and dust from the plane. Then lay the underlay under the laminate.When using sheet material, it is laid in a checkerboard pattern with the seams staggered, and the layers are fastened with special metallized tape.

There are two options for arranging diagonal floor coverings for laminate, which are worth considering in detail:

1. Laying is done from the far corner towards the exit. The first element is an angle that is cut out of the lamella at an angle of 45 degrees. The plank is cut on both sides. Next come the trapezoidal elements, with the side cut at the same angle.
2. The process begins from the middle of the room, along a diagonal line that should be drawn between opposite corners. The longest row in this situation will be the first row.

Important! Do not forget about the technological gap - a distance from the walls and heating pipes of 1 cm. To make it even, cut lamellas or special wedges are used.

The most common and simplest method is considered to be laying from the corner, while it is better to place long elements towards the window. Each subsequent row begins with an element similar to a trapezoid, in which the sides of the top and bottom are equal.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• make an accurate measurement taking into account the technological distance from the wall;
• after the size of the element is determined with a tape measure, using a template or a construction angle, mark the strip along which the edge is cut;
• if there is more than 1 lamella in a row, then the cut is made on the first plank on the left in the shape of a triangle;
• First, the row is assembled completely on the floor, and only then is it installed in the groove of the previous one and tapped. It is important that the locks lock well. For greater strength, they can be coated with a special sealant;
• As soon as all the large rows have been laid, and the master has approached the opposite corner, the direction of cutting the lamellas should be changed. But at the same time, the principle of installation itself does not change;
• The very last thing to install is a small triangle, installed in the corner - just like at the very beginning of installation.

Laying from the middle of the room in both directions is slightly different in operating principle:

• mark the room. To do this, you can draw a diagonal from one corner to another or stretch construction twine, securing it with self-tapping screws;
• To properly arrange the cutting angle, it should be measured well. To do this, it is enough to determine the distance from the stretched rope to the wall;
• cut the lamella and lay the long side diagonally - do not forget about the gap;
• then continue laying to the opposite corner, which is formed from the cut strip according to previously determined parameters;
• then laying is done on both sides, with all joints shifted in a checkerboard pattern. This is necessary to avoid rapid deformation of the floor covering from loads.

Advice! First, connect the lamellas from the end side. As soon as the row is completely ready, it is attached to the previous one from the long side.

If the work is done in pairs, the process will not be difficult. When assembling a long row, an assistant supports the slats, and the master snaps them into the locks. One person can also carry out installation diagonally, but you will have to use a special weight that will press the lamellas already installed in the locking device.

Finally

At the moment, such a material as laminate is one of the most popular and inexpensive, therefore it is often used by private developers and apartment owners to furnish their homes.One of the positive aspects of this material is the ease of installation, which anyone can do independently. If you approach diagonal installation competently and responsibly, you can get a beautiful, strong and durable surface that will transform any interior.