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In herringbone, rectangular planks are laid at 90° to each other, the end of one against the side of the next. The result is a zigzag that runs through the room. In some languages it is called a fishbone floor, after the skeleton it resembles.
A and B planks
Click and tongue-and-groove herringbone comes in two mirror-image versions: A (left) and B (right). Each has its tongue and groove on different sides, so they lock together at right angles. Standard straight-lay click planks cannot be used: their profiles only connect end to end and side to side. Buy the same number of each, usually sold in separate boxes.
The planner labels every piece A or B.
Setting out
- Decide the direction of the zigzag. It usually runs along the length of the room or towards the main door.
- Snap a centre line. Each V point sits on it. Centring the pattern gives equal cut pieces at both side walls.
- Build the first few V's on the line and check them with a large square. A tiny angle error grows quickly over a room.
- Fix a straight batten along the line as a stop while you build the first course, then work outwards.
- Lay all full pieces first, then cut the edge pieces. Most are angled at 45°.
Plank sizes
Common herringbone sizes are 60 × 12 cm and 70 × 14 cm. Longer, wider blocks look calmer; small blocks look busier and more traditional. The length is usually a whole multiple of the width.
Waste and time
Plan for 10–15% extra. Expect herringbone to take two to three times as long as a straight floor, mostly because of the edge cuts.