Darlington Oak Laminate Flooring Installation?

I bought enough of this cheap laminate flooring from Lowe's to cover my small room. On the inside of the box it shows how shorter boards are placed next to longer boards to give a stepping effect. Is this required for this type of laminate or can they just be placed side by side? Does stepping give the floor added strength? Thanks. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=56323-30029-D1411WG&lpage=none

Public Comments

1. You have to stagger the placement so that it will give the floor strength, if you put them side by side it will crack and or break easily and they're a @#$%^& to replace:)
2. It's not required. It's just for looks. Follow the instructions unless you have a look in mind.
3. it is cosmetic to stagger the boards. It will look very awkward to funny to line them all the same length. You never see it done that way. It is not required though.
4. I have laid alot of that particular flooring and am headed to Lowe's to pick up more Darlington oak in the morning. Its actually pretty good flooring. We use it in apartments and it seems to be holding up very well. Any way Start in a left hand corner .Assemble a complete row . When you cutoff the last piece in the row to fit , the piece that's left over is what you start the next row with. That automatically staggers the joints and makes the floor stronger. I always assemble whole rows ,then lock togather the newly assembled row to the flooring already in place. When looking down at the flooring the longest lip faces new rows. I always tap all joints with a scrap after I lock then togather. Hope this helps. If you were here tommorrow I could give you a quick lesson.
5. this should help they have all the answers