Laminate is one of the most popular floor coverings. The natural color and texture add warmth and coziness to the room. At the same time, it is difficult to surprise anyone with such material. The most common option for laying laminate flooring is longitudinal. Further in the article, the diagonal styling method will be considered.

Advantages and disadvantages

This type of installation gives a spectacular appearance to the room, adds volume, while the length and width do not visually decrease. Also, this method will look relevant in long and narrow rooms. In rooms of complex shape, it is undesirable to choose longitudinal styling - all flaws will be visible, so another option should be chosen.

The advantages of this styling include:

• The ability to hide the unevenness of the walls. If there are more than four corners in the room or the walls are not parallel to each other, such styling will help to hide almost all the imperfections. With longitudinal installation, all these shortcomings will be clearly visible;
• In small rooms, there is a visual increase in volume, especially when the room is not very busy with furniture;
• It clearly emphasizes the naturalness of the coating;
• When the window is asymmetrical, diagonal laying allows you to achieve better and more uniform penetration of light into the room;
• In a square and rectangular room, such laminate flooring will add special beauty. To do this, it is advisable not to make the floor monotonous, but to choose several colors and combine them correctly;
• If it is necessary to connect two rooms, the transition of the floor from one to the other room will be less noticeable;
• With the right combination of straight and diagonal laying, your floors will look amazingly beautiful;
• Easily determine the focus point of a room. In the corners from which the coating pattern comes, it is necessary to place something large that attracts the eye: a fireplace, a chest of drawers, a corner sofa or a large floor mirror.

The main disadvantages include:

• Increased consumption of material and a large amount of waste. Material consumption increases by about a quarter relative to the actual floor area;
• A lot of time for calculations, sketching a plan and for the work process itself;
• A small room with asymmetrical walls is the most inconvenient for these types of work. There will be much more waste;
• If moisture gets in, especially on a cheap material, swelling or changes in the properties of the material are possible. Only expensive laminate flooring will be able to withstand changes in humidity or a small amount of water.

We calculate the costs

To start the calculations, you need to know these parameters: length, width, area, number of angles, degree measure of angles. We also determine the angle of laying the laminate itself. Most often, an angle of 45 degrees is chosen due to the convenience of calculations. Less commonly, an angle of 30 degrees is used, the rest are almost never used due to the complexity in calculations and drawing.

To correctly calculate the number of elements, you need to know exactly the floor area, length and width of each part. You also need to remember the geometry. There is a universal formula for calculating, if the laying angle is 45 degrees, it looks like this: Number of elements = (area of ​​the room + (width of the floorboard x width of the room x 1.42)) / area of ​​one floorboard.

As an example of calculation, you can take an area of ​​6x9 m.The width of the part is 10 cm, its length is 1 m.The quantity will be = (6 x 9) + (0.1 x 6 x 1.42) / 1 x 0.1 = 548.5 floorboards ... It can be concluded that 549 elements will be needed to cover a room with such dimensions. In this case, you must always take a stock: it is recommended to take 10% more than it turned out in the calculations, that is, 549 + 10% = 604 parts.

For angles other than 45 degrees, there are no universal formulas, so it is easier to use just such an angle.

The ways

There are two styling methods:

• From the center to two opposite corners;
• From one corner to the opposite.

The first option is chosen when working alone. When working together, you can choose both the first and the second option. Together, you can start from the center and move to different corners.

There are also some tips for styling methods:

• Don't settle for the cheapest laminate flooring. During installation and over time, various defects may appear;
• Before installation, the material must be kept in the room where it will be used for 24 hours. This is necessary in order for the laminate to get used to the temperature;
• Work must be carried out in a warm and dry environment.

Technology

Before starting work, you must prepare the necessary tools:

• Hacksaw or jigsaw;
• A hammer or mallet;
• Square;
• Roulette;
• Pencil or marker;
• Scotch;
• Stationery knife.

It is also best that, before starting work, a plan-drawing of a diagonal layout is drawn up, on which it will be clearly indicated how many boards are needed and how to properly lay them. This diagram will help both when buying material and when installing it, putting the picture in front of you.

First you need to carefully clean and make the floor even and clean. After that, the underlay is laid over the entire floor surface. Joints and seams are sealed with tape. Excess pieces are removed with a knife.

It is necessary to decide whether there will be a room without or with thresholds. If there are thresholds, you need to calculate the gap from the material to the wall and make a blank in order to observe this gap.

We start laying from the corner of the room. You always need to take into account and cut the holes for the pipes in advance.

When connecting the first and second rows of laminate, you need to either ask someone to stand on them, or use a load. After that, you can safely continue to work.

Laying the part obliquely with your own hands is necessary in the same way as when laying a brick. It is necessary to make displacements of 25-35 cm so that the coating is stronger and does not deform at the joints.

Parts must be trimmed at the same angle. You can use a pre-prepared template, and for a 45-degree angle, you can use a regular square.

When a row will have more than one floorboard, they will need to be assembled in a row first. Only then can a number of parts be laid at once. You can immediately assemble a trapezoid with corners, but there is an option to collect only long parts, and measure and saw off the corners separately. A hammer or rubber mallet can be used to seal the parts perfectly.

Using this technology, there is a row by row to the opposite corner. At the end, there is a small corner. It is necessary to correctly mark and carefully insert it in the right place.

For waterproofing, the joints of the elements are pre-coated with a hydrophobic compound or silicone.

Layout rules

In order to properly lay the laminate, it is necessary to saw it correctly.

To do this, you must follow some rules:

• Strict adherence to the angle that you have chosen for the job. The best thing is to make a template and work with it. It is best to cut with the tool you are used to;
• When working with a jigsaw, there should be increased speed. This is necessary to avoid chips and burrs. At low speeds, an even cut will not work;
• Cutting with a grinder is not difficult if a disc is installed for metal or laminate.

Laying linoleum, subject to the rules of laying out, is not a big deal. The process itself will be simple if you properly prepare the surface, choose the necessary material and be ready to work yourself.

Interior ideas

You might wonder if it makes sense to lay the laminate diagonally. After all, this occupation is more expensive and takes more time than conventional, longitudinal installation. This requires a lot of skill, constant observance of all angles. But the result is worth it.

Diagonal styling makes the room wider, which is especially important in long and narrow spaces. When choosing contrasting boards, this type of installation allows you to achieve a beautiful play of colors and shades. This type of installation is universal and can be used in all rooms.

Tasteful flooring has a significant impact on the overall picture of the interior. That is why you should be extremely careful when choosing such a coating so that the selected material not only looks beautiful, but also lasts a long time. Today, laminate flooring is rapidly replacing parquet flooring, thanks to its practicality and ease of installation.

Before starting the installation work, be sure to familiarize yourself with a number of rules and recommendations that will contribute to achieving the best result.

When shouldn't laminate flooring be laid?

There should not be any special problems with laying laminate planks, but there are a number of factors in which the installation and selection of laminate should be extremely careful. These rules include the following recommendations:

Choice of technology

One of the important tasks when installing laminate flooring is the choice of laying technology. Among the most commonly used installation techniques, the following are distinguished:

1. Glue method. As the name suggests, this installation method consists in fastening the laminate elements together using special adhesive mixtures applied to the end part of the boards. The main advantages of this method:

• a high indicator of the reliability of the coating due to the tight sealing of the joints, through which moisture does not enter the thickness of the flooring and does not deform it;
• resistance to temperature extremes, since the locks of the boards are reliably fixed with an adhesive composition;
• ease of installation.

Important! The only significant drawback is that all the parts are tightly glued and if something happens to one of the coating elements, then it will not work to replace it, but a complete dismantling of the coating will be required.

1. Castle Lock. This method is somewhat similar to the previous one, only the parts are fastened in a horizontal plane. Installation is carried out as follows:

Instrument preparation

In order to carry out a high-quality installation of laminate flooring, initially prepare a set of tools and materials. To do this job you will need:

• jigsaw;
• tape measure and ruler;
• construction pencil;
• hammer;
• square;
• wooden blocks for hammering boards;
• spacer wedges for gaps;
• special adhesive solution (depending on the choice of installation method);
• laminate boards.

Important! Give preference to quality materials from well-known manufacturers so that in the near future you do not have to deal with dismantling a freshly laid laminate.

Diagonal laminate calculation

It is quite simple to calculate the required amount of material for decorating the floor with such panels diagonally: add another 15% to the number of meters of the total area of ​​the room in which the laminate is supposed to be laid.

Important! If you are laying the installation for the first time and do not have installation skills, then the material consumption will most likely amount to footage + additional 20%.

Room preparation

Every homeowner who has ever encountered renovation work (finishing walls, ceilings, facades) knows how important it is to prepare the base. Depending on the base material, preparatory work will be carried out in different ways, therefore, below we will consider two main types of surfaces.

Concrete floor

Concrete floors are often predominant in multi-storey residential buildings. In this case, fill the cement-concrete screed as preparatory work. This method is the simplest without the involvement of builders and special equipment.

When performing a concrete screed, consider a few important points:

Wooden floor

Wood lends itself much faster to deterioration, even with the use of special impregnations. Therefore, when preparing a wooden base for a laminate, take a number of measures:

• be sure to replace rotten elements of the floor or those that have become covered with mold and fungus with new ones, microorganisms that attacked areas of the wooden floor will not harm the substrate, but will adversely affect the laminate.
• secure loose elements with self-tapping screws - this will prevent the appearance of unpleasant squeaks;
• if significant deformations of the wooden floor are detected, it will be advisable to completely replace it, rather than carry out the restoration;
• if there are irregularities in the floor, cover them with sheets of plywood or chipboard.

Important! This method is quite economical and will help to extend the life of a wooden floor by 15-20 years.

Laying the underlay

After the base is prepared, proceed with laying the underlay material, which performs a shock-absorbing function under significant loads on the coating, and also acts as a heater and sound insulator. To design a backing, purchase one of the following materials:

Installation of the substrate is quite simple:

1. Spread the material on the base joint to joint.
2. Fasten the connection areas of the backing sheets with adhesive tape or masking tape.

Important! Lay the material, leaving a 50 mm gap on the walls, which, after laying, cut off with a knife.

How to lay laminate flooring diagonally?

Before proceeding with the installation, you need to understand the question "how to lay the laminate diagonally?" In this case, you need to follow the simple instructions and recommendations for installation, and then the result of your work will exceed expectations.

Installation technology rules:

1. Choose the direction in which you will mount the boards. Often, the laminate is started from the far left corner.
2. Choose the angle of the boards - the most acceptable angle is 30-45 °.
3. Place 10mm spacers between the walls and the edges of the laminate to prevent the panels from adhering to the wall and create expansion joints.
4. Lay the panels in a staggered manner.
5. Adjust the initial 2-3 rows along the existing angle between the walls, since not in all rooms the walls are joined at an angle of 90.
6. Make sure that the cut piece is the beginning of the elements of the next row.

1. Cut the panels as follows:

• measure the distance from the edge of the penultimate part to the wall on one side of the plank, not forgetting about the expansion joint;
• draw the data obtained with a pencil on the laminate board;
• take measurements of the distance on the opposite side;
• mark the second indicator with a pencil on the bar;
• connect the two marks together;
• cut the part along the marked line with a jigsaw.

Important! It is better to cut the laminate from the inside out so as not to damage the front surface.

There is a certain list of additional recommendations, the observance of which will certainly ensure a high-quality installation of the laminate. Read them carefully:

Laying laminate flooring diagonally. Video

Conclusion

Refining the floor with a laminate, as you can see, is quite simple without much effort. This coating is very practical due to the fact that it does not require special maintenance. But, like any other finish, laminate flooring requires careful handling, namely:

• move furniture and heavy objects without touching the floor covering;
• do not allow abundant humidity in the room;
• dry clean regularly.

Following these simple rules will ensure a long life and a great look for your laminate flooring.

Laying laminate flooring in itself is an extremely responsible business, requiring careful preparation, accuracy, patience, and accurate calculation.

All this will be needed even more if it is decided to lay laminated panels diagonally.

But the efforts spent will be rewarded a hundredfold - the covering laid in this way literally transforms any room.

Traditionally, laminate is laid so that the long seams between the panels are aligned parallel to the rays of the main source of daylight, the window.

And what opportunities does diagonal styling open up:

• First of all, the window (one or several) may be positioned not quite standard, with an offset to one or another corner. It may turn out that it is the diagonal styling that will fully comply with the principle of parallelism to the rays of light.
• Panels located at an angle to the walls of the room are great at hiding its geometric imperfections. So, if the walls are not parallel to each other, the traditional laying technique will only emphasize this defect, and the diagonal one will make it almost invisible.
• The diagonal arrangement of laminated panels gives an interesting visual effect - visual expansion of space, which is very important in cramped rooms of small apartments.
• Such styling just looks very beautiful and gives the interior of the room an exquisite originality.

Is it true that more laminate is needed?

Yes, if it is decided to resort to diagonal laying - the consumption will be higher, the laminate should be purchased with a certain margin. The explanation is simple - in the areas where the ends of the panels adjoin the walls, they will have to be cut at a certain angle, "adjusted in place". No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to achieve “waste-free production”.

Experienced craftsmen, according to them, only need a 5% stock of laminate - they have already developed a professional flair for the most optimal arrangement of panels.

For those who will carry out a similar installation for the first time, the reserve should be larger.

There are recommendations to purchase a stock of 15 or even 20%, which is probably still beyond reasonable limits.

Among the decorators, it is customary to rely on a 7% reserve rate, but for a beginner, for a guarantee, you can take a stock of 0.1 of the total area of ​​the room.

If this value is divided by the area of ​​the panels in the same original packaging, you can get the exact value of the packages required for a complete diagonal coverage of the room with a laminate.

All the required amount should be purchased at once - there is no guarantee that the laminate of this batch will be in the store after a while.

And panels of even one model, but of a different batch, may noticeably differ in color shade, which will be immediately noticeable on the floor.

Preparation for styling

In order for the laying of the laminate to be successful and the coating to be of high quality, it is necessary to perform a number of preparatory measures.

Indoor floor preparation

Laminate can be laid both on a concrete screed, after completing a set of necessary waterproofing works and installing a special substrate, as well as on an old floor covering - linoleum, boards, etc. The general requirement is that the floor must be perfectly flat and stable at any point.

If subsidence or squeaks are observed in some place, appropriate repairs are required.

Linoleum should not have delamination, bubbles, through scuffs, obvious signs of destruction of the concrete base under it.

• If, then priming is necessarily carried out with waterproofing compounds of deep penetration. In addition, the floor is covered with plastic wrap from above. All work on this basis begins to be carried out only after the coating has completely solidified, in accordance with technological standards.
• A substrate is laid under the laminate - polyurethane foam or natural cork. Its sheets are installed end-to-end and fastened with tape.
• It is even better if it is possible to completely cover the room with OSB plates - they will give both a perfectly flat surface and an additional noise and heat insulating effect.

Preparation of material and tools, work planning

The purchased laminate, after its delivery to the place of work, must be unpacked and allowed to rest in this form for at least 2-3 days.

The panels adapt to the temperature and humidity of the room, in this way we eliminate the possibility of warping after installation.

It is imperative to draw a plan for the upcoming work, observing the scale and taking into account the length and width of the purchased laminated panels. This drawing will give a visual representation of the sequence of laying, help to avoid mistakes when cutting the material.

What is the preferred stacking angle?

It is best, of course, to rely on 45 degrees - panel trims will be the most versatile and waste will be significantly reduced.

An angle of 30 - 40 degrees is allowed, but if you make it less than 30, the coating will look ugly.

Preparing for work in advance:

• jigsaw or hacksaw with a fine tooth;
• a hammer, preferably wooden or rubber;
• curved pry bar for installing finishing wall panels;
• tape measure, square, ruler, pencil.

It is advisable to immediately stock up on 10 mm thick wooden spacer wedges to provide an expansion gap along the walls.

Before starting work, you should definitely enlist the help of a friend - with diagonal laying, it is especially necessary.

Diagonal laminate laying process

Two schemes are used for laying the laminate diagonally - from one, the far corner of the room, or from the center, sequentially in one direction and the other.

From the corner

When laying from a corner, start with one solid panel, trimmed on both sides to the required angle.

It is she who will set the direction for the rest of the coating.

Do not forget that it should be wedged 10 from the walls to compensate for the thermal expansion of the material.

If a heating pipe passes in the immediate vicinity of the corner of the room from where the work begins, it makes sense to start laying from here, immediately cutting out a hole for it at the junction of two panels - this will greatly simplify this operation.

From the starting panel, which made up the first row, it is more expedient to go to the center of the room. The corner that remains uncovered can be laid later, using short cuts of material, which will certainly appear during the work.

Obviously, each subsequent row increases in length with this arrangement. It is imperative that the transverse seams be displaced by 1/2 the length of the panel - this is more beautiful, and the strength of the coating will be much higher.

Panels of each row are necessarily pre-fastened at the ends, with the exception of the sections adjacent to the walls.

• The row is laid out in its place, but does not rigidly interlock in the lock with the previous one.
• Then a measurement is made at two points, on both sides of the end of the last flat panel to the wall.
• This distance, reduced by 10 mm, is transferred to the panel to be cut, a line is drawn and a cut is made along it with a jigsaw or a hacksaw.
• The same is done on the other side of the row.

An important point to make here is:

If the opposite walls are parallel, then the corner left after trimming should fit perfectly to the other side of the row. This must be taken into account in order to avoid waste of material - it is necessary to trim from one side to use them for the other.

And one more important remark - the fatal mistake of many novice repairmen is inattention to the location of the spike and groove of the lock of the laminated board - after cutting it often turns out that the corner is cut in the other direction.

The proverb about "measure seven times" is relevant here as never before.

After all the details for the complete row are ready, it is removed from the lock, assembled at the ends completely, and only then it is finally brought into engagement with the lock part of the previous row.

It is here that the help of a friend will be invaluable - when the length of the row becomes significant, it is very difficult to cope with such a procedure on your own. After installing a solid strip, it is wedged from the wall with wedges.

In a similar way, the installation continues throughout the room. Exceptions can be the inner corners of the room - there you will have to take measurements at three points - along the edges of the board and at the very point of intersection of the walls.

In more detail and clearly, the process of laying the laminate diagonally is shown in the video. Laying is done from the corner in a checkerboard pattern, it is described in detail how to start the corner and how to finish with the transition to another room.

From the center

Some craftsmen prefer to lay diagonally from the center of the room.

In this case, a long prefabricated row is laid first, which will set the general direction for everyone else.

Its installation is carried out in the same way as described above. After that, the installation of the coating is carried out, first completely to one corner, then to the other.

This technique is especially relevant in cases where there are external corners in the room - for example, a large ledge, a column, or when the coating is inextricably passed from one room to another.

In such a situation, it is advisable to lay the first row tangentially to the outer corner - so worries with opening will be significantly reduced. If this is not possible, you will have to carry out careful measurements at three or even more points.
When glued laminate is laid, then after the first three rows, it is imperative to pause for 3-4 hours for the glue to set well.

However, the use of the scheme "from the center" when laying laminate with locks of the "Click" type may not be applicable.

This locking system involves inserting the tongue part into the groove at a certain angle and then snapping it into place, that is, the installation should be carried out only in one general direction.

Spreading out to the sides of the center on some models of this type of laminate may simply not be possible. This must be taken into account when planning work.

At the end of the installation, all that remains is to remove the spacer bars and screw (to the wall, not to the floor!) The skirting boards.

In general, diagonal styling absolutely does not tolerate haste. Only careful measurements, attention and accuracy will result in a beautiful original finish.

And in order to minimize waste, during the installation process, it is advisable to constantly sort the remaining cuttings and use them as much as possible in the work.

Reading time ≈ 9 minutes

If you want to create a unique and original design in your apartment using quality and affordable materials, try diagonally. Such an unusual way of laying will undoubtedly draw attention to the floor in the room and diversify its appearance. This technique is especially used with incorrect wall geometry or non-standard layout.

Is diagonal styling right for you?

In order for the floor to become a decoration of an apartment, you need to determine exactly which installation technology is suitable for your interior, diagonal or straight.

Direct styling and its features:

• It can be performed in rooms of any configuration with smooth walls and without any distortions of the box of a residential building.
• Recommended for rooms with lots of furniture and carpets on the floor. Laminate in this case will not be very conspicuous, so you should not waste time and effort on the original styling. Graceful lines and interesting transitions will simply disappear behind corners and ledges.
• The drawing should be laid parallel to the beam of light, therefore it is recommended to start the flooring from the far door. As a result, lighting will successfully hide gaps and seams between parts, which will make the coating perfectly smooth and glossy. However, this will work if the windows in the room are located only along one wall.

Diagonal decking and its features:

• The diagonal laminate flooring is shown in the video below, it is also able to make unnoticeable geometry of the walls invisible and visually correct the layout.
• Decking technology in this way is more difficult than direct laying. It is advisable to have experience with the material so that the result is high-quality and successful.
• Laminate should be purchased with a margin so that you can safely trim parts. The calculation of the material here is also carried out on an individual basis.

Features of the laminate:

1. Laminate panels are easy to install on the floor in any room, even a beginner can handle it.
2. A wide range of models of various colors, textures, sizes and styles, which allows you to use this material in rooms with any interior and design.
3. Modern laminate is a durable and moisture-resistant floor covering that is resistant to abrasion and mechanical damage. It is installed not only in residential buildings, but also in areas with high traffic, for example, in offices, meeting rooms or conference rooms.

We calculate the consumption of material

• First you need to decide on the layout method and decide whether it suits your layout and interior: from which corners you should start laying, and how much waste will remain after cutting the material. Laying laminate flooring diagonally is shown in the video below.
• Usually the area of ​​the room is divided by the area of ​​the material in the package and the resulting value is rounded.
• Never calculate offhand, otherwise the laminate may not be enough. It's also better to buy an extra stack of laminated panels with a margin.

There are two ways to lay the panels diagonally:

1. From the corner, starting from the far window towards the door.
2. From one corner to another corner. This laying technology is called "deck", since the panels are laid out from the center. Using a special fishing line, it is necessary to determine the diagonal and make the markings, and then start laying first to the left up to the corner, then to the right. The layout process according to this method will be more laborious, but more economical. Since you will need to carefully mark and calculate the number of lamellas more accurately. Diagonal laying of the laminate with your own hands is shown in the video.

Diagonal laying steps

For proper styling, you need the following tools:

1. Measuring tape.
2. Ruler and pencil.
3. A block of wood to tap the lamellas.
4. Mallet (joiner's hammer).
5. Spacer wedges to secure gaps between panels.
6. Electric jigsaw.

Preparation of the base

For laying lamellas, a flat surface is required so that during operation the floor does not deform and the material is not damaged:

Also, don't forget the underlay for the laminate panels. It can be cork or polyurethane, sheets are laid end-to-end, and it is fixed with a special wide tape.

Pull the line, line, or rope diagonally between the two corners to fix the direction of the future boards. The line will help control any slightest deviations from the angle of the lamellas. In the interior, diagonal styling looks best at an angle of 45 degrees, but not less than 30.

Layout instructions

Consider in detail two ways of layout: from the corner and from the center.

From the corner

Start with one solid board, cutting it at a predetermined angle at both ends. This panel will set the direction for all other details. Also, start working from the corner where the pipes are present, having previously cut holes of the required diameter in the board.

After installing the starter lamella, move towards the center of the room. You will be left with a small uncovered corner, which will be mounted at the very end. You can cut it from any trim, which will remain in sufficient quantity.

As you move towards the center, do not forget to offset the transverse seams by ½ the length of the boards. Fasten all laminate elements with their ends, except for those that are joined to the walls. There should be a distance of 1.5 - 2 centimeters between the wall and the board.

Insert one panel into the other and snap into place by lightly pressing on the floor. First, you need to connect all the locks on the boards in one row, and then fasten the laid row to the previous one. If you are working without an assistant, use a small weight to help you fix the styling.

It is necessary to cut the outer lamellas at a certain angle in order to repeat the line of the wall. To do this correctly, you need to measure the distance from the highest point of the row to the spacer peg against the wall, and then from the lowest point. We transfer these distances with lines to the panel, make markings and cut out the desired shape.

From the center

This method can only be used when laying an adhesive laminate. In the case of working with panels with Click-type locks, such a layout is not possible, since some models do not imply a separation from the center to the sides due to their structure.

The first is the row in the center of the room with the longest panels, it is he who will set the direction for all the other boards. Installation is carried out in a known way, after which we move towards the left and then towards the right corner.

After installing all the lamellas, it remains to remove all the bars for the spacers and install the skirting boards.

Laying the laminate can be done in any room, the main thing is to calculate the material consumption and take into account the geometry of the walls. In addition, such a floor does not require much maintenance and will last you a long time. A video of a master class with step-by-step instructions will help you better understand the technology and delve into the intricacies of the process.

Laminate is gaining more and more popularity as a floor covering, which many owners not only buy for the interior of rooms in their houses, but also strive to install it on their own without involving specialists from construction companies. The article will talk about how diagonal laying of the laminate with your own hands is performed, no worse than that of professionals, and what are the features of this process.

Basics for laying laminate flooring at an angle

It is common for many homeowners to buy laminate flooring and install it clearly according to the instructions on the package, but there is no elegance or zest in such a coating. No construction company will present photos of such floor coverings as an advertisement for their own services, since they do not attract potential customers.

It is reasonable to use this method only in cases where certain conditions of the room require laying the boards side by side and not otherwise.

If the room has some layout flaws or, on the contrary, the designer's idea (rounded walls or characteristic projections of floors), then the option will look aesthetically pleasing when the laminate is laid at an angle to the walls.

The advantage of diagonal styling

Usually, diagonal laying of the laminate with your own hands is done because it is original. But, nevertheless, laying the laminate diagonally has its pros and cons and it is necessary to take them into account before purchasing materials and starting work.

We are talking about the following advantages of the technology:

• hiding various flaws in the layout;
• smoothing uneven walls;
• visual expansion of space in very narrow rooms with a lack of natural light;
• naturally, the diagonal arrangement of laminated panels is much more beautiful.

Calculation of the amount of laminate for laying

Before laying the laminate diagonally, it is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of material in order to carry out installation without additional purchases and overpayments. Diagonal laying implies increased costs, because the laminate is purchased not just barely, but 15-20 percent more (for waste). If the owner previously had experience in laying such a coating, then you can make a stock of only 5-10 percent.

Beginning of the diagonal installation of the laminate

Naturally, laying the laminate at an angle, like any other covering, can be done only after careful preparation of the subfloor: leveling and cleaning from dust, dirt, debris, liquid, etc.

You can start the styling process:

• from the far corner of the room, located opposite the front door. This is done so that the joints of the planks (on the long sides) are located along the sun's rays entering the room through the windows. Thus, you can make the joints less noticeable, which makes the coating more aesthetic in the photo and visually increases the space;
• also laying can be done from the center. To do this, a cord is pulled across the center diagonally between opposite corners of the room. Laying is carried out parallel to the cord with a gradual distance from it to the sides.

Features of the laying process

Initially, a row of panels is assembled into one one-piece long structure by snapping in the locking fasteners. Then he joins the already laid row. Before laying the laminate diagonally, you should find an assistant who will help at least at the initial stage, since the longest rows will pass through the center and it is quite difficult to combine such rows with each other.

Laying, as in the case of the usual parallel option, must be carried out with some discrepancy between the ends of the boards. Each row should be displaced by about 30-40 centimeters, as is the case with the installation of the ship's deck. This condition is required to increase the strength of the coating.

In addition to how to lay the laminate diagonally correctly, some features of this coating should be taken into account. This is a possible change in the dimensions of the flooring due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the room. Each specialist will say that it is necessary to create an expansion gap between the laid laminate flooring and the walls.

The width of such a gap should be from 1.5 to 2 centimeters, and then the coating will definitely not be deformed due to an increase in temperature or humidity. In order to maintain the distance from the laminated panels around the perimeter of the room to the walls, you should use special pegs or small bars that you can make with your own hands. Upon completion of the work, they are taken out. The gaps themselves will be covered with decorative skirting boards.

Of course, the diagonally stacked laminate has disadvantages, but they are commonplace: the high complexity of the work carried out and the high cost of materials (taking into account the fact that you need to buy more). The increased consumption of the laminate when laying diagonally can be excluded if you seek help from a specialist when laying, then the overspending of the material can be reduced to 3-5 percent.

The biggest challenge for novice workers is the stage of cutting laminated panels, which must be positioned against the wall. You need to know how to cut the laminate so that the work is done without difficulty. The bottom line is to cut at an angle, while completely repeating the outline of the wall. The pegs help in this, by which the near and far points on the panel are determined, connected with a line and cut from the inside using an electric jigsaw.

Points are determined by measuring two distances:

• from the top corner of the row to the inserted peg;
• from the bottom corner of the row to the inserted peg.

Then points are set at the same distances from one and the other part of the plank.

Outcome

Do not forget that professionals from a construction company will help to overcome any difficulties, who can take responsibility not only for laying, but also for choosing a floor covering, taking into account the basic wishes of the owner.