AIBU to be irritated that my newbuild flooring changes direction?

[roisin18]

I may be over reacting but hear me out.

I have just bought a new build house, due to complete in a couple of weeks. We got a flooring package as part of the deal. I decided to go for wood effect Lino through the hall and kitchen (including the wc and utility room).

I was passing the new house the other day, And as it's finished (all scaffolding/fencing etc gone) I decided to have a little peak through the window to see how it looked. The first thing I saw was the fact that they have laid the flooring one direction through the hall, then changed direction in the kitchen. When I chose the flooring I told the sales lady that we had chosen not to go with carpet in the hall as we have muddy dogs and kids coming through the front door so needed something easy to mop. I then told her I'd like to have the same flooring extending right through the ground floor of the house (except the sitting room) to make it flow nice.

Am I being totally unreasonable to be annoyed that they have changed direction in the kitchen? It doesn't flow at all and just looks a bit odd (imo). Not sure what I can do about it now as it's already laid. I didn't explicitly say "please write down that it must all follow the same direction" as I felt that was common sense. Although maybe it's normal to change and it's me being weird?

I am possibly over reacting as I have spent a very very long time saving for my first house as a single mum and I just want to it be perfect. Aibu?

The general consensus is that the floorboards run in the direction of the longest length so that the room doesn't look stripey. This is fine except where one room is perpendicular to another and you may want to have it run in the same direction. Does this apply here? Neither is right or wrong, it's personal taste, but equally the fitter is following the rule book so to speak.

Hi,

Thanks for replying! Yes that's exactly what's happened here. The flooring changes so that it runs the whole length of the room. I can understand why it makes sense to have along with the longest wall. It's just not how I wanted it. Sounds as though I needed to my self clearer.

When we bought our new build in January they rang up the day before we moved in and asked us which way we wanted the flooring to run in the kitchen, utility and downstairs loo. I would definitely question it.

I understand what you mean, but if they'd laid it the length of the hallway and continued to lay the other rooms in the same direction, it would look better in the hallway, but it would look terrible IN the rooms.

It's a dilemma I would have with wood/wood style whatever.

I 'think' I would have to get over it not running the same way because the look IN the room would bother me more IYSWIM

Think about what you really want first and if you still want it the other way, then talk to them, say you'd had said you wanted it to 'flow' & it doesn't, with how it's been laid... and they'll probably make a suggestion of a remedy (to keep you happy) if they don't you can't ask for one...

But have a good think first.

Yes it's standard to flow with the length of the room, but I do think they should have asked if it is going in more than one joined area and you have specified 'same flooring so it flows'

We did this with long tiles whole of downstairs except lounge. Technically they go lengthwise in hall and extension but widthways in kitchen, but they all join and go same way

It's just not how you thought or wanted - so it is jarring and it's a big thing to live with - I totally get it

Congratulations on saving for your new home! How bloody exciting!

I can relate, but don’t let it ruin what is a going to be a a great new home for you.

It may have been laid that way because to do it the other way would have meant having a join in the middle. Not a great idea in a room with a lot of footfall, like a kitchen.

They would have done better to have asked if you had a preference, but that's probably asking too much of the usual housebuilders.

I'm worried about this exact same thing. We bought the same flooring for the whole downstairs in our new build. Hubby says I'm being ridiculous but the thought of it going in different directions triggers me. So I totally understand you being upset.

For what it's worth (i.e. nothing!), I would actually choose it the way you have it unless the kitchen is a very large square space. I've seen flooring run across a narrow space and it can be a bit zebra like.

However it's one of those things you never see again once you move in