Hello , im a first timer to install hardwood, name is jim. have the wood got the paper down, ready to make that straight line. OOPS old house!!! the walls arent straight!!! Have been trying that triangle thing trying to make a straight line, not working very well, seems a bit tedious!!! Cant seem to measure off the wall for the wall isnt straight. ANY suggestions would be helpful for laying that first piece ( whick i will counter sink screws to put into place). Just want the first piece to be as perfect (as can be), so all rows there after will be straight. I live on the second floor, so when walking upstairs then you turn to the right to the top of the stairs, BANG the wood is right there, (if that made any sense). Thank you for your time in reading this post!!!!

Typically, outside walls will be the straighest. By that I mean they will be more "square and true" to the building than interior walls can be. This is because exterior walls are built upon the foundation of the residence/building and the foundation is squared during the frame stage of building the foundation forms. Interior walls may not be square or parallel to exteroir walls, although they should be. There isn't any hard and fast rule about which wall to start off but I usually choose an exterior wall IF my reference lines show it is pretty good. Typically, I'll choose the longest run in the layout and snap a reference line to measure all the adjancent walls. Most often, they are within a 1/4" or so, which is acceptable. Keep in mind it isn't always the wall framing that makes walls appear to be "off" but the sheetrock, taping and texturing that can add as much as 1/2" or more to a measurement. If you can, measure off the wall "plate" instead of the sheetrock. Measue out an even amount from each end of your run and snap a chalk line. Now you have a straight line. Whether it is paralell to the other walls will need to be checked before proceeding.