Hardwood flooring in the hallway

[Melga]

I have completed the leveling of my living room, thanks for all the advise. I ripped up the subfloor, leveled the joists, and put new T&G plywood down.
I just completed flooring the dining room and den, next weekend I'm doing the living room. I have a question.
There is a transition from the den to the living room. I would like to keep going flooring from where I quit in the den, but the hallway from the kitchen to the living room is concerning me. If I keep going from where I quit, It could wind up that the flooring in the hallway may not run straight. Is this something I should even worry about?
I guess an option is to draw a straight line down the middle of the hallway to the far wall, then measure over to the den transition wall, mark that line straight, paralell to the hallway, and have any discrepencies that need to be worked out done on that wall and the transistion.
Is this how I shoud proceed?
Thanks

[Nick Arrera]

can you post a floor plan melga .is the kitche opening and the livingroom openiing
meeting into the hall at different locations ?

[skhardwoods]

Without seeing a floor plan, Melga, I would do as you propose, and snap your line. You can then measure off that line, to that wall and transition area, to see just how far off you will be. I personally would rather have the hall running true, as you can see both sides pretty clear, as opposed to an outside wall, where the runoff may be concealed by furniture.
The general standard is to square it off the longest sight wall.

[tony lamar]

If it's way off, why not turn a board sideways at the beginning of the hall and give yourself a fresh start ?

[Jim McClain]

Have you considered going in an entirely new direction? This is what I did for one customer:

Click for larger image.

Sorry about the quality of that image -- old and funky camera a long time ago. I did another job where I put the hardwood at a 45° angle in the hallway and entry. The 2 rooms were separated by a 90° board and the layout looked really good (sorry, no pictures of that one).

R'gards,

Jim

[Jerry Thomas]

Congratulations Melga, you've done a lot of hard work so far . A diagram would be very helpful in guiding you, but let's back up for a moment. You say you will be transitioning from the den into the living room. Explain how you are going to do that better for us. Is this what you are talking about? NWFA member, hardwood,laminate flooring installer - Transitions

If so you need to keep the flooring running true into the living room. Back up into the den and pop a chalk line allway into the living room, them check by measuring off both sides of that chalk line for squareness and appearance.

[Jim McClain]

Wow, really nice, Jerry. Lots of very good pictures and great ideas.

Jim

[Jerry Thomas]

Oh gosh, you're just saying that Jim.

[Melga]

Here is my floor plan. Hope it helps..
My issue is the 4 ft long kitchen to living room hallway.
Is that a short enough distance not to worry about being off a little?

[rgfloor]

Originally Posted by Melga I guess an option is to draw a straight line down the middle of the hallway to the far wall, then measure over to the den transition wall, mark that line straight, paralell to the hallway, and have any discrepencies that need to be worked out done on that wall and the transistion. Is this how I shoud proceed? Thanks

That is the exact way that it should be done.

[Jerry Thomas]

It doesn't really matter how long the hall is. You do need to be planning for that. As SK stated very well those walls are unobstructed and if you are very far off it would be noticeable. Choose your reference lines either from the hall back or what I prefer is to get the living room wall squared up first, then measure up about 8 or 9 ft and shoot a line down the hall to the tile and see how it looks.

Your main objective is right, any corrections that may be needed are done right at that pass through between the den and living room. You can usually get yourself lined up good with only having to rip one board that if done correctly you will never notice.