Wood floor racking and positioning question. Should we square up to the door or the wall?

Question

I'm laying my first floor next weekend and I plan on putting a peice underneath and horizontal across the entry door. That said, I was planning on racking the rest of the floor so that the pieces that meet the door come in at an exact 90 degree angle. Visually this would make everything look straight across the room when you enter. The problem is we've found that our main vertical wall is off by over three inches on the far end. I prefer to have the difference on the wall but what's the best practice here? Should I miter a single peice for down the wobbly wall (and keep my 90 degree angle at the door) or should I line up the rack with the wall and miter an angle for each peice the touches the door?

Answer 1

We think it should be squared to the door because the wall may not be straight and looking into the room from the door will look better. This is only an opinion we are not experts.

Answer 2

Usually you line up with your longest wall. If it's really off, you could shift the angle a little, but not by more than half the width of a floor board. Think of how it's going to look by the baseboard. You definitely don't want your first strip to taper from 2 inches to nothing. Then your rug, if you have one, needs to line up with the flooring. Don't skew the whole room just so you have 90 degrees at the short wall.

This is a tough problem, especially in old houses. When hanging pictures, installing molding, putting up wallpaper... you always have to choose the way that looks "least bad."

Answer 3

I would miter the boards going to the door transition... it is probably out 1 inch or more in the large room, and it is easier to correct at the doorway by 1 or 2 degrees ..dont forget to "ease " the edge of the board to give you some bevel at the door transition ....congratulations on the new floor!!

Answer 4

Honestly, I'd say the fewer specialty pieces you have to cut, the better. The more pieces you have to custom fit, the bigger your margin for error. I'd keep your 90 degree angle at the door.

Answer 5

If I was you, I would do the floor!!