How to have enough precision when installing Herringbone flooring

[_Alex_]

Hi,

 

I am installing engineered Herringbone flooring (8cm width x 30cm height x 1cm thick). I watched a lot of videos on this topic. I also followed the advice from a professional builder, to first put a central line using a laser (like in the image below), and let it dry overnight before continuing to work on the sides.

 

I can tell this method helps a lot, but I still have some small gaps and misaligns as a consequence of the central line not being 100% correct. These small imprecisions propagate into other rows later leading to small gaps.

 

I would like to know possible advices for a DYI guy like me (even if they are overkill) to achieve a more precise installation of this central line. Some options I am thinking of: 

1. Together with the central line, and before it gets dry, add 2-3 rows (not glued) of flooring on each side, so I can see possible misaligns and "trace them back" to the central line, fixing while still not dry.
2. Draw a template on the floor beforehand and make sure each piece of flooring is properly aligned.
    

Any advice will be welcomed, thanks in advance!
Alex

 

Edited March 9 by _Alex_
Grammar

[Big Jimbo]

I have done the above. To be honest, there will be slight variations in the size of each piece of wood. Regardless of what you do, you will end up with the odd small gap.

[MPH243]

I have done this as well,  It is like @Big Jimbo has said a small difference in each bit of wood will make gaps, you will just need to adjust a bit as you go along. 

 

It can be very frustrating.

[FluxyCored]

Each wood plank needs to be the same size and unfortunately, none are cut like that.

[markc]

As long as the pieces are roughly the same the pluses and minuses will average out over the floor and will never be seen

[Nickfromwales]

  On 03/04/2025 at 13:57, markc said:

As long as the pieces are roughly the same the pluses and minuses will average out over the floor and will never be seen

Expand  

Yup. Switch off the OCD if you want this type of floor, and it’ll all pan out just fine. 
 

Did about 45m2 for my next door neighbour (reclaimed) and once sanded, then filled with PVA and the sawdust as a filler, and then treated, it looked really good (and as it should). Not perfect, but perfectly acceptable.

 

If you’re an OCD freak, use something else.
 

Did my brain in tbh, so I just switched off and cracked on.