Can I Install Hardwood Floor Parallel To Joists

A flooring contractor howard brickman responds.

Can i install hardwood floor parallel to joists.

First renail the existing plywood subfloor so that the old nails are tight and add new nails to achieve a maximum nail spacing of 6 inches. If the subfloor is stiff enough there is no reason why solid nail down strip flooring can t be run parallel to the joists. If you insist on changing the recommended floor direction add a minimum nominal plywood underlayment to the existing subfloor. The most common way to lay install hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall or run in the installation.

With 5 8 plywood or thicker the plywood itself will grip the fasteners well enough to avoid the floor from pulling up so hitting joists periodically throughout the installation is less of an issue. I have a client that would like their 3 4 birch flooring to run parallel to the joists. Is this ok or should another layer of sheathing be put on the floor perpendicular to previous and then install flooring. However that is mostly personal preference.

My question pertains to an upcoming job. The subfloor is tji joists with 3 4 t g osb glued and screwed. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it provides the best result aesthetically. If you prefer a layout that requires the boards to run parallel to the joists you need to shore up the subfloor by adding a layer of 3 8 inch plywood.

If your subfloor is oriented strand board osb we d run the wood across the joists. Older houses with 1 inch planks running. Hardwood floors that are installed parallel to the joists will eventually sag between those joists. Flooring is tbd but will probably be either 3 4 hardwood or 1 2 engineered.

I have always installed hardwood flooring perpendicular to the floor joists.