In which direction to lay the laminate diagonally. Diagonal laying of laminate: material calculation and installation features. Calculation of material for this installation method. Is it true that more of it is needed than with traditional installation?

There are two main ways to lay laminate flooring: straight and diagonal. The first option is easier for beginners, but it is suitable mainly in a narrow, elongated room. If it is close to square in shape, it becomes possible to work diagonally - and you need to be able to do this properly.

Pros and cons of the method

Often among the disadvantages of laying laminate diagonally are increased labor intensity and complexity of calculations. More material will have to be used - the amount of waste doubles and triples even for the most skillful and experienced people. But still, there is a significant advantage: attractive appearance and the ability to create a spectacular design. A glance sweeping over long joints between the panels, it is better to accept this method of floor design.

Diagonal technology allows you to visually expand the space in the room, which is very beneficial for small apartments and houses. Judging by the reviews, this solution looks especially good in a space that is not cluttered with furniture and other interior items. The drawing can be prepared as varied as possible, and any professional designer uses this. And a responsible builder will not refer to difficulties, because he also understands the stylistic advantages of this option.

Laying laminate strips diagonally in a room with a very complex shape turns out to be even easier than using the classic “direct” method. But keep in mind that any master will undertake to lay a covering in this way only with an increased payment, because he values ​​his time and effort.

Preparatory work

Laying laminate flooring diagonally requires very precise calculations and competent cutting. It is best to cut the laminate into no more than three rows of panels. When preparing a larger quantity, be sure to number each block so as not to forget where exactly to place it. Since perfectly right angles are not found everywhere, it is more correct to estimate the angle for cutting panels adjacent to the walls by trying them on. The laminate, laid over protrusions, recesses, and pipe outlets, is cut according to cardboard templates.

Regardless of whether you lay laminate flooring diagonally or straight, you need to prepare the surface. The floor is treated with leveling mixtures until it is in perfect condition, all debris is removed, foreign objects. Immediately before installation, it is advisable to sweep the subfloor and strengthen it with a primer. Cellophane film is placed on it, and then a backing or sheets of cork. That's it, after this you can only begin the main part of the work.

How to put it correctly?

The generally accepted rules are:

• laminate must be kept indoors for at least 24 hours before installation;
• it is leveled;
• strengthen;
• clean the base;
• lay the substrate;
• Prepare wedges for compensation gaps (blocks of wood or cuttings of the laminate itself, preferably 10-15 mm wide).

Laminate flooring should be laid from a corner first drawing a right triangle on the back of the boards(its angles are adjusted depending on the straightness of the wall joints in the room). The hypotenuse must “look” in the direction of the groove. The triangle is placed in the corner and wedged so that an interval appears.

Do not throw away the remaining part of the board; it will still be needed when laying it in the other half of the room.

When a gap has appeared, take the whole panel, from the border of the side where the groove is, in the direction of the area with the tongue, draw a line at an angle of 45 degrees. Now, from its end point, lay a segment whose length is the same as at the base of the triangle. Connect the second point to the base, again at 45 degrees, so you should get an isosceles trapezoid. By following these simple principles, you can achieve excellent results even without special skills and abilities.

Required Tools

Any laminate can be cut cutting tool with small teeth. Experts recommend using special machines and electric jigsaws, circular saws. Unless you are going to use repairs as an opportunity to exercise willpower and patience, do not try to use hand saws or hacksaws. In addition to the basic tools, you will also need:

• hammer;
• roulette;
• block for tamping;
• wedges for forming gaps;
• ruler and pencil for measuring short pieces of material.

Calculations

It’s easy to estimate the approximate consumption of material: knowing the area of ​​the room, add 15% to it and divide by the known area of ​​a single panel. A formula with more accurate results has also been developed. The length of the room is conventionally designated as X, the width as Y; for the length and width of the laminate panels, the designations A and B are used, respectively.

The area of ​​the room is calculated by multiplying its length and width. The stock is calculated multiplying UxV and by 1.42; This results in an area for which the laminate would definitely be sufficient if it had not deteriorated at all during installation. Then both numbers are summed up, divided by the area of ​​a single block and the resulting number of panels is rounded upward.

Prepare a diagram of the premises and discuss with the seller again how much coating to take, otherwise you risk facing an excess or, more often, a lack of material at the most crucial moment.

Execution technique

The diagonal method of placing laminate flooring is divided into three typical varieties:

• In the first of them, work begins from the corner, the very first element is a right triangle.
• In the second, they begin to act indented from the corner, the initial fragment is a trapezoid.
• And in the third scheme, the installation is carried out from the middle, from a line running diagonally across the entire room, the first row is made prefabricated.

The layout most often starts from the corner that is farthest from the entrance, moving from left to right when working. The initial row is placed with the ridge facing away from you and the groove towards you. If blocks with a typical lock are used, they must be placed in the same plane and, placing a wooden spacer, knocked out with light blows of a wooden hammer. Since it is easier to drive the tenon into the groove, rather than “catch” the tenons with the grooves, the work proceeds from the corner in one direction.

When a row is formed by several panels at once (and this happens, of course, in most cases), you can either add them one after the other, or immediately form a chain, then attaching it to the previous one. Snap blocks no need to knock, two-way docking is possible, either from the middle or from an indentation from the edge.

Laying out using the trapezoidal method requires that the length of the smallest base of any figure does not differ from the length of the largest base of the previous one. If one panel is not enough to close the gap between the walls, entire rows are assembled, and the corners can be cut only from the blocks that complete the chain.

You can lay laminate flooring from the center of the room with your own hands, connecting opposite corners with a diagonally running strip(it is drawn on the backing). If this is difficult for you, there is an easier way - nails are driven into the corners or screws are screwed in, after which a lace or rope is pulled between them. Measure the angle separating the diagonal and the nearest wall, it will show exactly how to cut the first panel. It is placed in the corner with its wide part on the prepared line, and fenced off from the wall with wedges.

As many panels as needed are attached to the original block at the ends, only the final row requires a cut at a certain angle. Each tier duplicates the previous one, but they are cut so that the seams do not coincide and run apart.

To the right and left of the middle you need to use suitable elements. When there is no threshold between several rooms, and the same flooring will be used in each of them, cutting the laminate in the opening is not done. And those panels that do not fit in one room will be immediately connected to the next.

It is advisable to lay laminate flooring with tongue-and-groove locks only in one direction, and from a corner; if you choose a cover with snaps, this does not really matter, and subsequent chains can be attached to the previous ones from different sides.

Starting work from the middle of the room, save the smallest fragments for later so as not to waste material in vain. Centimeter-long expansion wedges are placed from the wall to the edge of the blocks, which can then be removed - their role is to avoid immediate contact of surfaces and create an expansion joint.

Important: make sure that the walls do not begin to narrow throughout the entire work, since the installation will then begin one by one.

The final part of a certain layer turns into the initial part for the opposite segment. When laying laminate from individual manufacturers diagonally, pay attention to its specific features. Problems may arise with products from:

• "Kronotex";
• "Berry Flour";
• "Tarkett";
• "Vitex";
• "Pergo".

Each of these concerns has its own developments that affect the features of the displacement, the type of lock and the size. If you suddenly find it difficult to connect blocks, creating entire rows with alternating long and short locks may be a solution.

Forming a laminated floor is, on the one hand, a process that requires strict adherence to technology and execution by professionals. On the other hand, you can do the installation yourself. Let's consider laying laminate diagonally and analyze the advantages and methods of this method in comparison with the usual direct formation of the coating.

Laminate floors have become extremely popular today. Many people decide to do all the installation work on their own, which allows them to get aesthetic pleasure from the result, while also saving money. But non-professionals lay out the floor, as a rule, in the most in a simple way installation, that is, placing the panels along or across the room.

This standard installation is good if the room has the correct geometric shape. And when the walls in the room are uneven or designed with a curve, another installation option will help out: diagonal laying of the laminate.

At standard version During installation, the lamellas are laid out parallel to any wall in the room, and when laying the laminate diagonally, at an angle to the wall, usually 45 degrees. This is the optimal angle of deviation of the boards from the wall, but given that the adjacent walls are not exactly perpendicular, the angle of the panels inside the same room may deviate from 45°.

Laying laminate flooring diagonally: pros and cons

This method will help to hide violations of the straightness of the walls and hide flaws in their geometry. Mastering the technique of laying laminate diagonally with your own hands will help you with more than just this. The diagonal layout of a laminated floor is used by designers to create the effect of expanding the size of a room; this is especially true for small areas.

This option for finishing the floor looks especially advantageous when the room is not too crowded with furniture and other things: the diagonal arrangement of the boards visually stretches the floor, and the room seems more spacious and brighter.

Laying laminate flooring diagonally looks much more interesting than when standard installation. It is possible to create a very diverse pattern; any professional designer will not fail to use this. So, the aesthetic advantages of this method are obvious.

The disadvantages of placing the laminate diagonally include increased labor intensity and complex calculations. The consumption of material for finishing the floor increases due to an increase in the amount of waste, even when professional layers work.

Laying laminated boards diagonally, even in rooms of complex shapes, is no more difficult than using the standard method. But when recruited to perform installation work in a diagonal way, the specialist will demand an increase in payment.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages, the pros and cons of diagonal laying of laminate?

• violations of the straightness of the walls and their flaws are hidden;
• a design move to visually expand the space of a room; it looks most advantageous with a minimum of furnishings;
• perfectly expresses the external beauty of the coating, especially if there is a chamfer and wood pattern on the panels;
• if the window is asymmetrically positioned in the room, not in the center, laying the panels diagonally is more advantageous;
• looks more impressive and elegant, decorates the interior of the room;
• an excellent solution for finishing floors with a solid canvas, without thresholds;
• The combination of straight and diagonal laying of panels makes the floor original and unique.

• the most important disadvantage is the increase in material consumption relative to the standard installation method, i.e. financial costs increase. When laying the material yourself, you will need about 10-15% more material than with direct installation. Experienced specialists perform such installation with less waste;
• When hiring installation specialists for installation, the cost of work is more expensive than with classic installation.

Consumption of laminate when laying diagonally

Calculating the number of laminated boards using the classic installation method is not difficult; it is performed by relating the size of the room area to the area of ​​the board.

Classic (direct) installation method:

1. First row: whole panels are laid out, the last one is cut to the required size.
2. In the second row, the cutting from the last board of the first row is laid first. Next, entire panels are laid out, and the last one is cut to the required size.
3. The third and all subsequent rows are laid out similarly. The first in each row is a scrap from the last board of the previous row.

Scheme for laying laminate diagonally:

The installation principle is the same as for direct installation. The outer panels are cut off on both sides of the row. The trimmings are triangular in shape.

When installing laminate flooring diagonally, more flooring material will be required. In this case, the amount of laminate is calculated based on the area of ​​the room, as for standard installation, adding 15% of the calculated amount of material for waste. Professional installers with extensive experience in installation work will complete the installation with the least amount of waste - 5%. For beginners, when purchasing material, you should make a reserve of at least 15%.

If you choose a laying angle other than 45°, material consumption will increase further, as the amount of waste will increase. Therefore, when deciding how to lay the laminate diagonally, choose the optimal angle - 45 degrees.

Laying laminate diagonally with your own hands: step-by-step instructions

Debris and all contaminants are removed from the pre-prepared, leveled base. Next comes the laying of the underlayment. If the substrate is sheet, lay out the sheets with joints spaced apart. The sheets are fastened together using tape. With the rolled version of the backing material, we roll out the rolls along the floor to the walls. In places where heating pipes meet, the substrate is trimmed.

There are two installation options:

• Laying begins from the far corner of the room towards the door. The first element placed in the corner is a part of the board in the form of a triangle, obtained by cutting the board at 45 degrees on both sides of its top. The elements of the subsequent rows are trapezoids, cut on both sides at an angle of 45 degrees.
• Laying begins from the middle of the room, from the diagonal line of two opposite corners. The first row is the longest, assembled from several panels.

When laying, do not forget to leave a technological gap near the walls and heating pipes. To make the gap size the same everywhere, either special wedges or cuttings of laminated panels are used.

For precise cutting at 45 degrees, you can make a template or use a square.

Laying from the corner

Most often, the layout starts from the corner of the room. It is better to place the long sides of the panels in the direction of the sunlight entering the window; the joints will be less visible, and the floor will look better. Each initial row consists of one cut board, shaped like a trapezoid. Its upper side is equal to the lower side of the trapezoid located in the previous row.

Laying from the center

How to lay laminate flooring diagonally, starting from the center of the room?

It is easier to perform these operations together, because in the longest rows in the central part of the floor it is necessary to connect several boards. In the absence of a second stacker, a small load can make the work easier: having connected part of the row by snapping the locks, you should place the load on the connected boards and continue connecting the remaining lamellas in this row. In this case, there will be no fear that previously connected boards may come apart under the load.

It is important not to forget to leave technological gaps of 1-1.5 centimeters between each wall and the slats. They will allow the laminated coating to “walk” in size without consequences due to changes in climate indicators in the room.

It is convenient to use wedges or trimmings of laminated panels to maintain the same size of gaps. Upon completion of installation, the wedges are removed, and the gaps will be hidden under the baseboard after it is installed.

If a threshold-free method of laying a laminated floor is performed, that is, there are no thresholds between the rooms and the corridor, and flooring material the same is used in doorway the boards are not cut. Slats that do not fit in a given room are covered in the next room:

The design of the places where the lamellas come into contact with the pipes can be done in two ways:

The contact point between the panel and the cutouts and the pipe is sealed with sealant.

So, we have completed the exclusive diagonal layout of the laminate. As you can see, nothing overly complicated. It took more accuracy, preliminary calculations of material consumption, and planning.

As a result, we get a beautiful and unusual floor, made with our own hands, and a visual increase in space, a feeling of spaciousness. And this is not so little, especially for small apartments.

How to properly lay laminate diagonally - watch the video:

The combination of laminated panels of contrasting colors or simply different shades looks great when laid out diagonally; this gives the flooring brightness and expressiveness. A diagonal laminate floor made from panels with expressive chamfers looks advantageous.

Like a classically laid laminate floor, a diagonally laid one looks great when there is at least a slight difference in color from the wall coverings. But here it is important to see the line: not to overload the room with either dark or light tones.

If you use a light laminate when laying it diagonally, it is better to select panels with a good chamfer or with a noticeable pattern in different shades. Then the diagonal layout will be expressive and advantageous.

We wish you success in decorating your home with such an unusual layout of laminated panels, may everything work out for you.

Laying laminate flooring diagonally to make the room more beautiful and spacious

Laying laminate flooring diagonally is gaining more and more supporters every day. The benefits of this flooring known to everyone, because it’s relative inexpensive material which looks great in any room. In addition, installation of laminate flooring is quite simple and will not cause difficulties even for beginners. It will only take a few minutes to learn how to place the slats correctly, after which the process will go very quickly. But if you want to make the room even more beautiful and attractive, try laying laminate flooring diagonally. The result will be more than pleasing.

Diagonal laying of laminate flooring - what is its advantage?

The installation instructions that are provided when purchasing laminate flooring usually indicate the easiest installation method. It consists of parallel placement of boards in relation to the walls. The main disadvantage of this method is that the features of the room itself are not taken into account. For example, it will not be very convenient to lay out rooms decorated in a circle or semicircle with parallel slats. In this case, diagonal installation will help out. At this method The boards are laid at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees relative to the walls, and not parallel to them.

Laying laminate diagonally

If you figure out how to lay laminate flooring diagonally, you can hide uneven walls or imperfections in the room layout. Designers often resort to a similar method to lengthen and expand small rooms. For example, diagonal planks visually lengthen the floor, especially if there is little furniture in the room. Due to this, the room seems more spacious. An important factor when choosing diagonal laying is that the floor pattern looks much more beautiful and interesting.

The following main advantages of laying laminate flooring diagonally can be identified:

• If you have uneven walls at home that are also not perfectly parallel to each other, the usual installation method will enhance the effect. In the case of diagonal laying, all irregularities almost completely disappear due to the correct texture of the selected material and the desired angle of laying the coating.
• Some window openings do not meet standard standards and this introduces certain changes in the decking process. If you use diagonals, the floor will be laid out in such a way that the light falls in the right direction.
• With the help of diagonal installation, it becomes possible to visually stretch and expand the room, emphasizing the originality of the room, focusing exclusively on the unusual and the original way covering flooring.

Calculation of the amount of material - how many strips will be needed?

When installing lamellas using this method, there are also several disadvantages. Thus, laying laminate flooring diagonally on the floor with your own hands is more difficult compared to the traditional method. Plus, you'll need a little more consumables. Due to trimming and sawing, you will need to purchase 15-20 percent more laminate in advance than you originally planned.

Calculation of material quantity

Naturally, you can turn to the help of specialists with extensive experience in this field of home improvement. In this case, the percentage of overspending will not be very large and will not exceed 5 percent. However, the services of professional builders cannot be considered cheap, so most people try to lay the boards themselves.

How to prepare the base necessary stage work

Diagonal laying, like any other procedure, requires certain preparatory steps. The load-bearing base of the walls should be checked for the percentage of deviation and damage assessed. If possible, try to align problem areas that can be corrected.

Preparing the floor for installation

If your floor is concrete, remember that height differences per 2 m2 should not be more than 3 mm. Otherwise, you will need to fill in a layer of leveling mass or thin-layer screed. If more serious faults in the foundation are detected, more complex operations involving pouring up to 10 centimeters of cement-sand screed are required. One way or another, the process of preparing a concrete floor will take a lot of time - up to seven days for small deviations and up to a month if a concrete screed is required.

Differences in height of a wooden floor can also be significant, but the main problem lies in the design, which should not contain hidden or visible damage. These include bacterial and fungal infections. For further work, it is necessary to treat all problem areas with special antiseptics, including replacing individual wooden elements. At the same time, existing height differences can be leveled and corrected using various substrates.

Without leveling the base, further work makes no sense, since laying the laminate requires the most even surface possible. Only in this case will the coating serve you without deformation, defects and other mechanical damage throughout its entire service life, retaining all its positive qualities and advantages.

How to do everything yourself and not spoil anything?

When you have completed the preparatory procedures, leveled and cleaned the surface, the actual laying of the laminate diagonally begins. There are two main methods:

• From the center of the room. You will need to pull the threads from opposite corners of the room diagonally; their intersection is a guideline for installation. The first row should be laid out parallel to the thread, starting from the center to the left.
• From the corner of the room. In this case, you need to move towards the door from the window. To make the joints between the dies less noticeable and not attract attention, you can place the long end connections of the lamellas in the direction of the light that enters the room from the window.

Laying from the corner of the room

The process of installing the boards itself is not particularly complicated. First of all, the end locks of the lamellas are assembled, after which the fully assembled and finished row is combined with the next one. It's much easier to do this when you have an assistant. Otherwise, you can resort to some tricks, for example, using not very heavy weights to make the process of snapping the lock joints easier. It works in the following way: by snapping one part of the row into place, we place a weight on it. After this, you can safely start working with other locks, without worrying that the very first one will come apart.

We recommend laying out the slats in a checkerboard pattern. In this case, there must be a distance of at least 40 centimeters between the plates. In this case, the laminate will be the most durable, strong and reliable; it will withstand loads for a long time without kinks or breaks. Leave a small gap between the boards and the walls, the thickness of which should not be more than 2 centimeters. During humidity or temperature fluctuations, such gaps can compensate for the shrinkage and swelling of the laminate.

Another useful observation is to install special pegs in the gaps in order to maintain the same distance around the entire perimeter of the room. Upon completion of installation, the pegs are removed, and the seams themselves are sealed with baseboards attached at the junction of the walls and the laminate. The greatest difficulty in the process of laying laminate diagonally is caused by cutting the boards. After all, they must be cut perfectly precisely so that the angle fully corresponds to the contour of the wall to which the die is applied. The same pegs can be useful here - you just need to measure the length from the top point of the lamella to the peg and in exactly the same way from the bottom point to the peg.

The board must be cut from the back using a regular hacksaw or, ideally, electric jigsaw. After this, we calmly lay the laminate, sawn at an angle at which it will fit as tightly as possible with the wall. As you can see, absolutely anyone can lay laminate flooring diagonally. The process is somewhat more complicated compared to traditional methods styling A little more source material, planning, preliminary calculations, accuracy and time are required. However, the result in the form of an elegant and beautiful floor that visually enlarges the room will delight you for a very long time.

Diagonal layout of the laminate and parquet board in the interior

I see the floor diagonally.

Laminate and parquet boards are good not only for the color and texture of the wood, which gives the interior a special coziness. This coating allows you to influence the perception of the room, which is especially important for long panels with a longitudinal pattern. Probably, many have noted this visual effect at home: if such a covering is laid, for example, along a corridor, its length visually increases. Dies lying across the room. on the contrary, they shorten it, but add width.

Another method of laying is much more neutral in this regard - diagonal. Visually it adds volume, but does not steal either length or width. A floor with laminated or natural boards lying diagonally looks stylish and interesting.

Let's talk about the features of the diagonal arrangement of parquet and laminate in the interior.

Diagonal laying of parquet and laminate in the interior: what do you need to know?

Effects. When we find ourselves in a room, the eye instantly catches any lines in it. It is they who lead our gaze and allow us to form a first impression of the size and shape of an object. If the lines on the floor are located lengthwise, the room seems longer to us. If across - wide. And if diagonally...

When laying laminate and parquet diagonally, our gaze slides to the corner - to where the lines of the coating are directed. The corners seem to move away from each other, making the room seem more spacious in all directions. This effect gains double strength if used light material with clearly visible stripes. During installation dark coating I can alternate strips of different saturation - this will add expressiveness to the floor.

Diagonal laying of flooring is well suited for narrow and very narrow rooms, as well as for rooms with an irregular layout. The fact is that the tiles running parallel to the walls focus attention on them. Laminate and parquet, located diagonally, on the contrary, distract it from the walls. The diagonal layout seems to redraw the room.

Focus point. Since this arrangement of boards accentuates the corners, one of them can be made the compositional center. For example, install a fireplace in the corner to which strips of flooring lead. The compositional center will draw attention to itself, due to which the size and shape of the room will be “in the shadow”. Instead of a fireplace, in this focal corner you can place a TV stand, a large floor mirror, a dining table, a display case or a corner sofa.

Docking. When combining diagonally oriented boards with tiles, it is advisable to place both materials at the same angle. Typically, tiles are laid so that the direction of its “seams” coincides with the position of the laminate or parquet joints. This avoids "chaos" on the floor when different coatings conflict with each other. Otherwise, the interior can turn into a “perfectionist’s hell.”

Joining with tiles

The angle of the boards. It is advisable to place the dies at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the walls or close to it. If the angle significantly deviates from 45 degrees, the floors look ugly or at least unnatural. There is that same feeling of chaos and irregularity.

Parquet boards and laminate diagonally: one important plus and one significant minus

Plus. Many people prefer that the covering in corridors and rooms be laid completely, without joints or thresholds. Often in such situations, owners find themselves faced with a difficult choice. For example: if you install laminate flooring across a corridor, then in a room perpendicular to the corridor it will lie lengthwise. And vice versa: if it is across the room, then in the corridor it is parallel to the walls, which is not what we would like at all. What to choose? By giving preference to diagonal laying, the owners will save themselves from this dilemma. The board will lie approximately the same everywhere.

Minus. When positioning parquet boards and laminate flooring diagonally, there is always more waste. Accordingly, floors are more expensive. Moreover, masters also rate such work a little higher. Whether these expenses are justified is up to you to decide.

About the features of diagonal laying - in our next article.

Parquet and laminate diagonally in the interior

Light-colored coating laid diagonally adds volume to the room

Combined laying of parquet boards

Board diagonally: good choice for a narrow corridor

The material contains images from the Depositphotos.com photo bank

See also:

How to lay tiles in the bathroom and toilet: horizontally or vertically?

Gray laminate and parquet in the interior

Tile in the hallway: the most practical choice

Which is better: laminate or parquet board?

Diagonal laying of laminate - how to lay it correctly

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

Basics of laying laminate flooring at an angle

A common thing for many homeowners is to buy laminate flooring and install it exactly 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 its own services, since they do not attract potential customers.

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

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

Traditional flooring installation involves laying planks parallel to one pair of walls. Diagonal laying implies maintaining an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. The angle is selected depending on what angle is observed at the junction of two walls. Read also: “Which laminate layout is best for the room.”

The advantage of diagonal laying

Usually, laying laminate diagonally with your own hands is done because it is original. But, nevertheless, laying laminate flooring diagonally has its pros and cons, and they must be taken into account before purchasing materials and starting work.

We are talking about the following advantages of the technology:

• hiding various design flaws;
• smoothing out 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.

Actually, you can experiment with this method of installation if you have enough time and money for this. For example, designers, taking into account the latest fashion trends They like to create zoning of rooms, combining a variety of colors and textures, or joining different floor coverings. Read also: “How to lay laminate along or across - choosing a laying method.”

Calculation of the amount of laminate for installation

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

Starting diagonal laying of laminate

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

You can start the installation process:

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

Features of the installation process

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

Without an assistant, the procedure is performed using a small weight. First, several panels are snapped together, and a load is placed in some place so that when working on the remaining part, the previous section does not fall apart. Read also: “How to lay laminate flooring - do-it-yourself installation sequence.”

Laying, as in the case of the usual parallel version, must be carried out with some divergence of the ends of the boards. Each row should shift by about 30-40 centimeters, as is the case with the installation of a ship deck. This condition is required to increase the strength of the coating.

In addition to how to lay the laminate diagonally correctly, you should take into account some of the features of this coating. We are talking about a possible change in the size of the flooring due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the room. Every specialist will say that it is necessary to create a compensation 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 increased temperature or air 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 yourself. Upon completion of the work they are removed. The gaps themselves will be closed with decorative skirting boards.

Of course, laying laminate diagonally has disadvantages, but they are trivial: 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 laminate when laying diagonally can be eliminated if you seek help from a specialist during installation, then the excess consumption of material can be reduced to 3-5 percent.

The biggest difficulty for novice workers is the stage of cutting laminated panels, which must be placed against the wall. The idea is to cut at an angle, completely following the contours of the wall. Pegs help in this, by which the nearest and farthest points on the panel are determined, connected by 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 bar.

The article describes in detail how to lay laminate flooring diagonally, what are the main advantages and difficulties of this process. If the owner wants to get a high-quality and organic-looking coating in his own home, then this method is perfect. Read also: “How to lay laminate flooring - sequence of actions.”

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

If your room is narrow or has non-standard layout, installing flooring diagonally can solve this problem. The right choice The colors of the laminate and its correct installation in relation to the incident light from the window can transform any, even the most ordinary-looking room.

Laminate is a material with many advantages. Among the advantages are beauty, versatility, resistance to temperature changes, and moisture resistance. You can walk on laminate flooring without any problems in heels, move furniture on wheels and ride on children's cars.

Laminate retains its functional qualities for a very long time, the main thing is compliance with certain rules.

The process of laying laminate flooring largely depends on the type of floor on which the work will take place. No matter what base the laminate is laid on, the surface must be smooth and free of dust.

Laminate flooring can be laid on a cement screed. To do this, it is important that the screed is level and dry. Therefore, if you decide to lay laminate flooring on cement, you need to wait at least 7 days before starting work. IN winter time, if there is no indoor central heating, it should take 3 weeks until the cement floor is ready for further use.

When laying laminate flooring on a cement screed, it is recommended to cover the floor with plastic film to prevent moisture release. You can also use a polystyrene backing between the floor and the laminate flooring if you need to insulate the floor.

If the laminate is installed on wooden floor, it will not be possible to level it with cement. In this case, you can use OSB boards to get an almost flawless floor. For insulation, also use a substrate or isolon.

Before starting the installation process, let the laminate sit indoors for a while. He must get used to the temperature of the room.

Diagonal laying of laminate: features of operation

Like any job, laminate flooring requires certain skills. The diagonal method is slightly different from the standard installation. The flooring of the boards is not mounted directly along the wall, but starting from the far corner of the room.

Craftsmen who have more than once encountered laying laminate flooring on a bias can do this work without any aids. They can cut laminate by eye, join boards without problems and easily determine the angle of inclination.

But if you decide to cover the floor with boards yourself for the first time, it is better to install beacons on which it will be easier to lay the laminate.

By appearance the finished floor with diagonal laying of the laminate will look like brickwork.

Key points when laying laminate flooring diagonally:

1. The room is visually enlarged. If the floor is made light, the room will become spacious and bright. A colorful floor consisting of laminate of different shades will attract attention.
2. When laying diagonally, the emphasis is on the corner of the room, so in this way you can shift the focus from the walls or other parts of the room to the corner.
3. When laying laminate diagonally, the seams between the boards are less noticeable.
4. If you use diagonal installation throughout the apartment, you can avoid installing thresholds between rooms.
5. Laminate flooring does not need to be nailed or screwed. The material may become deformed or crack.

This method of laying laminate flooring has significant disadvantages. The material consumption is greater than with conventional installation. To save money, you can start laying from the middle of the room and move towards the corners. Also, calculating the material is more difficult than with direct installation

Consumption of laminate when laying diagonally

Laying laminate flooring diagonally requires accurate calculation of the material. Specialists or consultants in construction stores will help you calculate how many boards will be needed for the floor in the room. There are cases when the calculation is made very roughly and then there may not be enough material or there may be more boards than necessary.

You can calculate the laminate consumption yourself by calculating according to the described scheme the approximate piece consumption of boards to cover the entire floor. Add 3-4 boards to the resulting quantity in case something gets damaged.

If it is not possible to make detailed diagram premises, but there is a general quadrature, you can calculate the flow rate as follows. When laying diagonally to total area room add 10-12% and divide the resulting number by the area of ​​one board. Divide the number of boards by the number of laminate in the package.

How to lay laminate flooring diagonally: laying technology

Before you start laying laminate boards, you need to lay down the underlay. Roll out the material over the entire surface of the floor, glue the joints with tape or masking tape. To prevent the backing from moving when laying the boards, you can make a small overlap on the walls; the excess can be easily cut off with an ordinary stationery knife.

Perhaps in order to lay the laminate correctly, you will need a diagram that will show sequentially how to lay the boards more conveniently and economically.

The diagonal layout of the laminate begins from the distant corner of the room, which is located near the window. You can lay laminate from right to left or vice versa - there is no fundamental difference. When installing boards, you need to take into account the angle of inclination; it varies from 30 to 45 degrees.

Work progress:

1. The first row is assembled from a whole board, the ends of which are cut at an angle for the correct joint with the wall.
2. You can prepare a template according to which the board adjacent to the wall will be cut. Using the template, cut the next board and connect it to the main row along its entire length.
3. Assemble the next row and connect it to the previous one. Using this technology, lay out the entire floor.
4. Install the baseboard. It will hide all errors.

The laminate is connected to each other using special locks. To join the boards together, you need to insert the board into the lock at an angle of 30 degrees and smoothly lower it to the floor. If you hear a “click” sound, it means you did everything right.

When laying the laminate diagonally, you need to maintain a distance of 20-30 mm from the wall. This is done to ensure that the coating does not deform when loaded on it. These indentations will later be hidden by the plinth.

Laying laminate diagonally (video)

A high-quality result can only be obtained by following all installation rules. Despite the fact that diagonal installation is a more complex and painstaking process than standard installation, the finished result will exceed all expectations. Thanks to this method of installing laminate flooring, you can transform the room, make it original and beautiful.

Laminate has long established itself as a practical material. It is considered stylish and attractive. The specificity of this material allows it to be laid out in geometric patterns of varying complexity, and the effect of such installation will be indescribable. For example, laying laminate flooring diagonally is an unusually beautiful option that can significantly transform a room.

Pros of using diagonal laying:

1. With this installation, the panels are located at an angle to the walls of the room, successfully hiding all the shortcomings. If the walls are not parallel, the usual arrangement of panels will only emphasize this drawback, and diagonal laying will hide it.
2. Diagonal laying creates a unique visual effect of visual expansion of space. This will be especially relevant in small spaces.
3. The main advantage is the beauty and sophistication of the finish.

Price issue

If you decide to use this installation option, then be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend more material, and therefore more money. This is explained by the fact that where the ends of the laminate meet the walls, they will have to be cut at an angle to “fit” them in place. It turns out that more material will go to waste than with the classic method of laying out panels.

Experienced craftsmen make do with a 5% supply of material when laying, because they have developed an instinct for the optimal location. For those who decide to do this for the first time, it is better to take 10-15% of the material in reserve.

Pay attention! It’s better to buy all the material you need for installation at once. Because there is no guarantee that after some time you will find exactly the same color.

Necessary tool

• roulette,
• jigsaw,
• metal ruler,
• small wooden block and a rubber hammer,
• pencil,
• spacer wedges.

Laying laminate

The most common layout for laying laminate flooring diagonally is from the corner of the room. The work is being carried out in stages.

1. First, the surface is carefully prepared. If work is carried out on concrete floor, then it should be smooth and dry. When laying on a wooden floor, it is also checked for reliability. Align wooden surface You can use sheets of plywood.
2. Then a substrate is laid on the surface. The joints must be glued with tape.
3. To control the accuracy of the installation, you need to stretch the rope diagonally across the room.
4. To select the required angle of inclination of the panel, you can first lay out several boards on the floor.
5. After you collect several rows, they need to be fastened together. To do this, use a rubber hammer. Just do not overdo it when connecting, so as not to damage the locking connection.
6. The gaps between the walls are fixed with wedges.
7. If it is necessary to lay boards where pipes pass, holes are pre-cut in the panels, which can be filled with acrylic or silicone-based sealant.
8. The final part of the work involves installation of skirting boards. For this purpose, it is better to choose high-quality material with the ability to pull the cable inside it.

Trimming corners

Trimming is carried out at an angle of 45°; for this, a square is used or you can prepare a template in advance. The first rows are made from one panel. Each row is a trapezoid. The adjacent side should be equal in length to the outer part of the previous row.

1. First, using a square or template, mark the cut location and use a jigsaw or other tool to cut out the required angle.
2. When you reach rows of several panels, you must first saw off the corner from the leftmost plank and connect them into one row. Such a connection will be temporary, so you should not be zealous in achieving density.
3. Next, we measure the size of the remaining piece (don’t forget to take into account the thickness of the wedge that is inserted between the wall and the canvas), take the next panel and cut the required angle according to the resulting size.
4. The entire row is disengaged from the previous one, the resulting corner is inserted, and all connections are finally fastened.
5. Thus, row by row all corners are displayed. Having reached the edge of the room, you need to change the direction of the segment of the left corner. Further work is carried out in a similar order, only in the opposite direction.

Having completed all the work correctly, you will receive an even and beautiful coating.

1. When choosing a material, you should not settle for cheap options. Due to poor quality, various defects may appear during operation.
2. After purchasing laminate, you need to let it “sit” in the room where you decided to put it. This is necessary so that it gets used to the room temperature after storage.
3. Laying work can only be carried out in dry rooms. Increased level humidity can affect the quality of the material.
4. During installation, it is necessary to leave “thermal joints” between the wall and the panels. They will provide additional protection against compression or expansion. Gaps must be provided on all sides of the room. The gap is calculated as follows: for every meter of room width, you need to leave a 1.5 mm gap around the perimeter.
5. If there will be heavy furniture in the room where the laminate is being laid, then the gap should be left within 10 mm from each wall of the room.

The photo shows examples of laying laminate diagonally; you can also watch a video where the work process is described in more detail.