Help & FAQ

A guide on how to read our working drawings, along with answers to common questions.

Important: Before you cut or order

All content on LayPattern is intended as a planning aid. The official installation instructions for your product always take precedence, particularly regarding expansion gaps, joint offsets, subfloor requirements, acclimatisation, and underfloor heating. Always double-check measurements before cutting materials or ordering from a supplier.

How to read the working drawing

On an unlocked room, the drawing clearly marks the starting point and the main laying direction (green arrow). You can toggle this visibility using Laying direction (or Mounting direction for ceilings).

The green dot is the start point and the arrow is the laying direction. Start at the dot and work along the arrow. With boards, each row usually starts with the offcut from the row before, which staggers the joints. Tiles centred in the room start in the middle and go outward, so the cuts match on opposite walls. In the app, the green box above the drawing also says how your pattern starts, for example if the first board must be cut.

First row. Lay it straight along the arrow, using a chalk line or a straightedge. Keep an even expansion gap to the walls with spacers.

Tongue & groove: tongue to the wall, groove to the room.

Click parquet: angle each board into the row before and press it down until it locks. No glue.

Which way the boards face. The tongue is trimmed off against the start wall, so the groove faces the room and takes the next board. Boards nailed or stapled through the tongue go the other way round. Always follow your product's own instructions.

Floating floor and gaps. A floating floor moves, so it needs a gap at every wall and around pipes, columns and thresholds. The Floating floor setting under Set-out is on by default and leaves the gap at the walls. Set Expansion gap to the figure in your product's instructions. Around no-lay zones, leave the gap yourself when you cut.

⚠ Note: The right expansion gap depends on the product, the room size and the humidity. LayPattern's figure is only a starting point. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. You are responsible for the gap you set.

Understanding Tongue and Groove

Not all locking systems are identical. For click-lock floors and interlocking panels, the designer automatically determines the optimal starting corner. For other profiles, we ask which edge you prefer against the wall.

One board viewed from the end. The tongue protrudes on the left, and the groove is the slot on the right. On modern click-systems, the groove's lower lip is longer and hooks under the next board, locking the floor together without glue.

Parquet and laminate (click-system)
Click-systems can only be assembled in one direction, so the designer automatically selects the starting corner. Use the “Turn layout” feature if you need to start from a different wall.
Solid floorboards and traditional wood panelling
A traditional, straight tongue with no click-lock hook. These can often be laid in either direction, which is why the designer will ask for your preference. Solid boards that are secretly nailed or stapled are typically laid with the groove facing the starting wall.
Interlocking ceiling boards and foil-wrapped panels
These lack a click-lock joint but are often fixed through a thin nailing flange concealed by the next panel. They can only assemble in one direction. Depending on whether they run parallel or perpendicular to the battens, there are two possible starting corners.

Labels on pieces and offcuts

R1-1: A full piece or section you are installing: Row 1, Piece 1 (counted from the start corner).
K1-1: The cross-cut offcut remaining from piece R1-1. Keep it.
S1-1: The ripped strip (cut lengthwise) remaining from piece R1-1. Keep it.

When you cut a board, the drawing will tell you what label to write on the offcut. Set it aside, and the cut list will tell you exactly where it needs to be reused. For herringbone and chevron patterns, pieces are simply numbered sequentially (#1, #2, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I start a design?: Open the designer and sign in or create a free account. Set the room's shape and exact measurements, name it, and press Confirm size & shape. Add a floor to try different layout patterns. Unlocking the room gives you full access to its precise measurements, cut list, material calculation, and PDF export. A free account allows you to save one room.
What is the difference between Free, Single Pass, and Pro?: Free: Floors only. Draw a floor, try every layout pattern, and save one room. Working measurements, materials, cut lists, and exports remain locked. Single Pass / Renovation Pass: Unlock one room at a time (Single Pass) or multiple rooms for a set period (Renovation Pass). Unlocked rooms show all data, and you can add ceilings. Pro: A per-seat subscription for professionals. All rooms are unlocked, offering multi-room projects, a client directory, custom logo PDF exports, and team management. See pricing.
What passes and features can I buy?: Single Pass: Full access to one room for 7 days. Extension (7 days): Add 7 more days to a room (must be purchased while the room is still active). Renovation Pass: Access up to 7 rooms over 30 days. Room Top-Up: Add 3 extra rooms to a running pass (up to 10 total). Electrical & Fixtures: Plan downlights, vents, and outlets on your ceiling. Each point is measured to the walls and marked on the exact board it intersects. Included with Pro.
What happens when my access to a room expires?: Access to the room expires, and the drawing is set to read-only. Working measurements, the cut list, and exports are locked. Nothing is deleted, and your work is safely stored. You can unlock the room again whenever needed. Need more time? Press Add 7 days in the designer before access expires.
Can I resize a room after it has been unlocked?: Yes. A room unlocked with a Single Pass or a Renovation Pass allows floor area adjustments of up to ±10%. Beyond this limit, the preview pauses, and the new dimensions will not be saved. You can revert to within the ±10% limit or press Reset room size. If you need a very different size, start a new room. Rooms under a Pro subscription can be resized freely.
How do I print or save the plan as a PDF?: In an unlocked room, press Export PDF at the top of the designer. The working drawing, cut list, and material overview will open in your browser's print window, allowing you to print or save it as a PDF. If the window does not appear, please allow pop-ups for LayPattern.
Can I share a drawing with someone else?: Yes. Open a saved room, press Share, and enter the recipient's email address. They can log in to view the room exactly as you see it, but they cannot make changes or export the plan. With a Pro subscription, you can also share projects with teammates and grant them full editing rights.
What does the cut list show?: The cut list shows every piece in the layout, grouped by size or listed individually. Custom cuts are drawn to scale with precise dimensions. Reusable offcuts are assigned a unique label on the drawing, and the list tells you exactly where that piece should be placed later in the installation. See Labels on pieces and offcuts.
Why is there a warning on my pattern?: Certain room dimensions make it mathematically impossible to satisfy the manufacturer's joint staggering rules across the entire surface. Other warnings may relate to fixtures, such as a downlight positioned directly over a batten. Press Why? next to a warning to see the cause and potential solutions (usually adjusting board length, laying direction, or batten spacing).
What is a license seat, and what happens if the team runs out?: Pro is billed per seat, with one seat equaling one user. The account owner uses one seat, and the rest can be assigned to invited members via the Team page. Members without a seat remain on the team as Team (unlicensed) but cannot open or edit jobs. Each seat covers up to 3 devices simultaneously.
Does LayPattern replace the manufacturer's instructions?: No. Always follow the official installation instructions for your product. LayPattern is an advanced planning aid, but the manufacturer dictates the physical requirements. Always double-check measurements before cutting or ordering materials.
How do I contact support?: Use the contact form and our support team will get back to you as soon as possible.