I have a room that is 20' long. I am using 3/4", 3-1/4" wide solid red oak. It is an end room with a interior door on the short side. It is forced air heat.

Does this length require a start in the middle?

Thought someone said anything 20' and over, need to switch, but I couldn't find it.

Thanks

Are you running the wood lengthwise (the long way). If so, I don't think it would matter.

I've never heard to start in the middle, but I'm not a professional either. I just stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I DID start in the middle in another room 24x24, but that was because I was running the wood at a 45 degree angle, and it was too hard to square a little piece in the corner when starting out.

The room is 20' square.

just wondering: if you start in the middle, what promises that your end pieces will be equal, or that they won't end up being an odd size?

would you have to measure from the middle to each end wall and adjust the middle accordingly?

also, since the wood is tongue and groove...how do you nail the opposing boards?
impossible...isn't it?

Here's what I'd do. Layout as normal. Snap starter line from wall. Take 1/2 of length and divide by board width. In my case - 10' and 3.25. That comes out close to 37. Multiply 37 by 3.25 which is 120.25". Measure from layout line this distance snap a line and this is the the new start line.




You have to make a spline and glue into the the groove of your strater row and continue in the opposite direction.

so....doesn't that make half the floor "floating"?

Along with glue the splines get nailed. Splining from the center makes a double tongued board.

understood now....i had to do a little research.

thanks