A homeowner in Tacoma pointed out my plank staggering looked off, and now I can't unsee it.

I was finishing up a big glue-down LVP job, feeling good, when the client asked if the short end joints were supposed to be so close together. I looked and, sure enough, I had a few spots where the seams were less than six inches apart (which is a no-go, I know). I was just going too fast and not planning the layout from the center of the room out. Now, I always snap a chalk line down the middle and dry-lay the first three rows to check the pattern before any glue goes down. It adds maybe twenty minutes to the start, but saves a headache later. How do you guys plan your plank layouts to avoid that 'stair-step' look?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellyr1818d ago

Man, I know that sinking feeling all too well. I had a job once where I was so in the zone and fast that I didn't catch a few bad seams until the homeowner pointed them out. It's the worst when you think you're cruising and then realize you've got a repeating pattern that looks more like a ladder than a floor. @robert64 I actually tried starting from the door wall on a small bedroom job last month and it helped the flow a ton, but I still keep a tape measure handy and check every row as I go. I think the key is just forcing yourself to slow down every third row and take a long look before locking anything in.

robert643mo ago

Ever think about starting from the door wall instead of the middle?

davis.dylan3mo ago

My old boss at the carpet store insisted on starting in the middle for every install. I argued with him for years until we had this huge open floor plan job. Starting at the door wall made the seams disappear perfectly and saved us a ton of time. I had to eat my words on that one. Now it's the only way I'll roll.