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My upstairs hallway is... Complicated. Due to the house's history, it is on two different levels, and has space carved out of it for chimney, built-in bookcases, corner of a bathtub, and a closet.

It also has a fairly hideous and worn out carpet that I'd like to get rid of. Unfortunately, what's under the carpet is vinyl tiles, quite likely containing asbestos, so something else will have to be put down to re-encapsulate those.

Floating floor would be the obvious solution. But in such a convoluted space, I'm not sure where to start from.

My instincts say run most of the boards in the same direction as the existing floorboards, to minimize calling attention to the difference, and just kludge thresholds as best I can. But I wanted to do a fast sanity check as to whether there is a best, or at least better, practice for handling this sort of space to minimize trial-and-error.

("You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all different...")

northward view of upper corridor, showing irregular outlines and small step at bedroom southward view from lower corridor, showing larger step between the two sections

picture showing the tile under carpet padding. *Update:" It turns out that the lower section of the hallway is just carpet over padding over subfloor. However, I have confirmed that the upper section is the same tiles as in the adjacent bathroom; photo above. I'm still walking on that, so I could consider just exposing the tile. But it's not exactly pretty, so I am still thinking about the floating floor. (Greenish tile under salmon wall? Though repainting is easier than flooring, and the tile seems to work ok with the bathrooms lilac.)

Junction between carpet and bathroom floor for comparison: enter image description here

keshlam
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Lay out as much as the flooring as possible in one direction first. Give it a couple of days to just look at it. Change to the other direction and repeat. This is long term(5 to twenty years or more) flooring, so getting it right is important. Some people are picky about direction.

Cutting measurements are very important. Measure twice and cut once, and repeat is good saying to go by.

Doorways can get fancy with shape copiers/coping saws or use an oscillating saw to cut door moulding just above flooring.

You will want fine tooth blades for a table and/or a mitre saw(reason to go to toy store for one or both).

Make sure you cut the right end off. Most of those planks have grooves/tongues on all four sides. Do not repeat my mistakes.

Make sure your S.O. agrees with your choices(or get her choice).

Except for the cuts you have it easy. I choose to start at a straight empty wall and work towards the fridge/stove/dryer/washer. Next time I start moving heavy stuff first.

You want to leave about 1/4 inch at the edges, covered by baseboard. Read instructions first.

crip659
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