Today, Beesley and Fildes will guide you through the benefits of staggering laminate flooring and how to achieve this look. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional builder, we will help you turn this complex task into an achievable feat.

Why Should You Stagger Laminate Flooring?

When planks are laid in a uniform pattern, the seams align, weakening the floor's structure. This makes it more prone to shifting, denting, and general wear and tear.

The load is distributed evenly across the floor by staggering the planks, ensuring a more stable surface. This will increase the longevity of your floors as they will expand and contract as a whole rather than individual planks.

Strategic staggering prevents the same pattern from being placed next to each other, creating a cohesive look for your home.

Necessary Tools and Materials

When staggering your laminate floorboards, you will need to gather the following tools and materials:

Tools

Laminate planks
Tape measure
Circular saw or mitre saw
Spacers
Rubber mallet and pull bar
Tapping block
Pencil and ruler

PPE: Wear protective clothing, such as safety gloves and glasses, to prevent injury.

1. Measuring and Planning

Measure the length and width of the room with a tape measure, adding an extra 10% to your calculation to account for waste. Mark any measurements with a pen and ruler.

Decide what direction to lay your planks. Laying them parallel to the wall can make a room seem bigger, whilst laying them perpendicular to the windows can minimise the visibility of the seams.

When staggering your planks, use the ? rule. For this, offset each plank by approximately one-third of the plank's length from the ends in adjacent rows.

2. Staggering Techniques

There are various patterns you can choose to stagger your laminate flooring planks with for a stylish look. Some of these include:

Herringbone pattern

This is a more complex design, yet it creates a more sophisticated look for your home. This involves laying the planks in a V shape, requiring more cuts.

Random Stagger

The random stagger includes placing the planks down randomly. However, avoid placing two rows down next to each other in the same pattern to prevent the seams from meeting.

We recommend leaving 3-4 rows between rows with the same pattern.

Brick Pattern

This pattern mimics the layout of brick. For this, offset each plank by half its length from the planks in adjacent rows. This adds dimension and simplicity to your floor.

Chevron

The chevron pattern involves the planks meeting at a point. However, the ends are cut at an angle for a unique zigzag pattern, requiring precise cuts.

Basket Weave

The basketweave pattern mimics the interlocking pattern of a basket. For this, lay the planks so that they appear to weave in and out of each other.

Diagonal Lay

One of the simpler patterns, install the planks at a 45-degree angle to the walls. This layout makes a room appear larger and more dynamic.

3. Cutting Laminate Planks

When cutting the laminate planks, use a circular saw for straight cuts and a mitre saw for curved. When using a circular saw, cut with the decorated surface facing down.

Lay the plank on a smooth, flat surface before cutting to prevent injury. Tape over the cut line with painter's tape to prevent chipping, and cut at a steady pace.

5. Installing the Planks

Once the underlay of your choice has been laid, lay the planks. Place spacers around the wall to create a 10mm expansion gap.

Then, install the first plank with the groove side facing the wall. For the next plank, install the tongue into the groove of the first plank at an angle, then lower it to snap them together. Use a soft mallet and tapping block to fit them into place.

Continuing laying each plank for the first row, using a straight level to ensure it’s straight once it’s finished. For the following rows, ensure the end joints are 30cm apart from the joints in the previous rows.

Use a pull bar to snap the planks together at the end of each row. Cut the planks lengthwise on the last row to fit snugly.

Invest in Durable Laminate Flooring With Beesley and Fildes

Are you looking to invest in a floor that you can rely on? If so, our laminate flooring is the perfect match for you.

With a variety of colours, styles, and designs to choose from, you can find a durable floor for any home interior.

Browse our laminate flooring today, or check out our flooring and accessories to find the perfect product for you.