Can I Install Hardwood Floor Parallel To Joists

The most common way to lay install hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall or run in the installation.

Can i install hardwood floor parallel to joists.

If the subfloor is stiff enough there is no reason why solid nail down strip flooring can t be run parallel to the joists. I believe the national wood flooring association recommends a glued 5 8 1 2 subfloor combination for a parallel application. 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. If your subfloor is oriented strand board osb we d run the wood across the joists. My question pertains to an upcoming job. If you insist on changing the recommended floor direction add a minimum nominal plywood underlayment to the existing subfloor.

Hardwood floors that are installed parallel to the joists will eventually sag between those joists. Joist spacing will be 16 oc tji and subfloor will be 3 4 ply. Older houses with 1 inch planks running. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it provides the best result aesthetically.

Flooring is tbd but will probably be either 3 4 hardwood or 1 2 engineered. The subfloor is tji joists with 3 4 t g osb glued and screwed. 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. Determine where to start consider your starting point very carefully.

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