Update: Finally got through that crazy herringbone pattern in a big living room

Last Thursday, I was laying this intricate herringbone oak floor in a house over in Maplewood. The homeowner had a very specific vision and I was nervous about keeping the lines perfect. I spent about 6 hours just on the layout and first few rows, double-checking every cut. But by Friday afternoon, it all clicked and the pattern flowed together perfectly! The client was over the moon when she saw it. Anyone have a favorite trick for keeping those long herringbone runs straight without a giant guide?

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyf7915d ago

That old chalk line trick with a 45-degree block saved me on a job in Ridgewood last month.

averyc9415d ago

Totally get why that guide saved your buddy's day, @aliceharris! Honestly, the real trick is catching the drift before it gets bad. I've started snapping a quick chalk line every few rows just to double check, even with a block. It adds maybe two minutes but saves a ton of headache later. Lets you relax a little instead of stressing over every single tile.

aliceharris15d ago

Oh man, that sounds so stressful but awesome it worked out. Honestly, a buddy of mine had a total nightmare with a herringbone job last year because his long runs kept drifting. He ended up using a trick kinda like what @abbyf79 said, but he made a full plywood triangle guide that he could clamp down. He said it was the only way he could stop himself from going cross-eyed staring at the lines all day. Tbh, I think he spent more time building the guide than on the actual floor for the first hour. Still, it saved the job and the client never knew how close it came to being a mess.