I thought I new how I was going to lay out the floor for our house, and than I ran it by several people and everyone seems to have differing opinions.
As from my prior post, I plan to lay plywood over the existing T&G pine that is on the floor joists. Thus, I understand I can run the new flooring in any direction I'd like.
Here's the layout of my 'old house' the rooms in gray are the ones that will be getting the wood flooring. The picture is oriented with north being the upper portion, and the front door is near the center of the south side.
NE room is dining room. butler's pantry separates it from kitchen.
My plan was to run it straight away from the front door into the dining room.
Does this make the most sense?
Thanks for the help!
Quinn
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/240/3264 ... 27ed_b.jpg

Since each area is really separated by doorways and walls, I think the way I would install this house is to "border" each room except the kitchen, pantry. So, I'd install a 4 or 5 board apron in the entry/foyer area and another in the dining room. In the entry, since it is nearly square, one could install the field in any direction. The dining room field would look best run the length of the room. It takes more effort to install an apron/border first, but especially if your's is an older home, bordering the floors would be more period correct. You could consider a feature strip as well. The kitchen could be done in either direction as well, whatever looks best to you. By installing aprons/borders, it allows one to "section off" rooms at treat them as separate, individual installs. And run the flooring in the best direction for that room. This works best if using strip flooring. Plank is not meant for border work.

I like Gary's idea of bordering the dining room, and foyer; except for the additional work involved. If you are a novice installer, remember to allow a lot of extra time on this project.
Personally, if I were not going to add any installation feature to the installation; then I would orient the entire installation in an E-W direction.
Although this goes opposite to primary direction of travel, it does suit the individual spaces better within those spaces.

Well, I told my wife about your ideas for the border. You should have seen her eyes light up!!
Now you've gona and created more work for me! I hope you're happy!!
heheh.
Anyway, if I go ahead with the border in the dining room, how is that installed? The border would be installed with tongues toward the field, then the last tongue ripped on the tablesaw? Do I miter the corners, or just butt them. Do I need to create grooves and splines for where the border meets the field? The last couple field strips would the be face nailed, right?
Thanks!
Quinn

By Gary really threw in a wrench. That kind of work takes a lot of precision! Personally I would run the flooring as you suggested. It would make the foyer seem larger too. Looks better in my opinion running perpendicular into the area.

See, we have different opinions here too.

What going on the stairs?

Some info on installing borders...

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... orders.htm

A good video would be cool...one day

Well, admittedly, this is quite a bit more difficult for the novice. I've done so many it is a cake walk for me. I think if you do a good search of this forum, you will find many of your questions answered. I know we walked a guy through a border not that long ago; within the last year. In the photo gallery are lots of pictures as well. Do a detailed search here and see if you can find the info you're looking for. I know we have covered this topic numerous times.

Thanks for the information! I think if I tackle the border it will be the dining room only. I'll see what I think after I read some more information. While I've not laid hardwood flooring, I'm a reasonably competent woodworker, and sometimes enjoy a good challenge
As for the steps, They are original oak planks and in good shape. They will stay.
Thanks again!
Quinn

Well, I've read all sorts of information and posts on borders. Pretty interesting... I really am intrigued. While I feel confident I could do such an install (and actually I really enjoy a challenging project like that), I'm a bit concerned about the extra time involved.

I do have another question about the layout though. Assuming I lay the floor east to west on my previous drawing...
I'm wondering what I should do between rooms that will get the wood flooring... I've realized that since the rooms re-connect through the pantry, Everything must be lined up perfectly from the start, and everything must be perfectly square (doubtful in my 1896 victorian), so that it all runs abck together perfectly in the pantry, right???
Hmmm.... Should I instead put thresholds between each room? How wouly you all handle such a situation?
Thanks,
Quinn

If you put a threshold between the kitchen and pantry, you would be able to future proof yourself to be able refinish the kitchen as a separate area, if needed, remembering that this floor will take the most wear.

However, I personally do not like thresholds if they are simply a perpendicular board. If you make them a design feature, then they would look like they belong there. In which case, I would install them in all doorways leading from room to room.

If you wish to avoid thresholds, I would start on the ezterior wall in kitchen, run the floor up to the entry to pantry and measure (ACCURATELY) back to bring the floor up to the same line in both the pantry and the dining room. Done precisely, the floor will then line up and you can progress through the install. You may have to make a minor adjustment where the floor again reconnects at the foyer.