Expert: Stephen Major (Owner--Major Design Group) - 7/6/2007

Question
If I install hardwood floors in my living room and a office next to it, should I run the hardwood right into my office or put a threshold in the doorway then continue with hardwood?

Answer
Bob,

It is better to run the floor clear through both rooms.  What we normally do is snap a start line along the longest possible axis of the installation, to get the straighest possible line.  In your case this would go right through the door of the office.  Then install a course of flooring to the line, with the back (groove) edge set to the line.  Back it up with screwed scrap and proceed to nail additional courses from the tongue edge.  Then turn around and install a wood strip (double tongue) into the groove of the starter course.  Blind-nail the groove edge down and proceed to lay flooring in the opposite directioon away from the starter course.  

In other words, you will be starting the floor somewhere in the middle of the room.

Best  of luck and lt me know if you have additional questions.

--Steve Major