In a method of laying and installing rectangular panels having a first and a second parallel long side (701, 702) and having a first and a second parallel short side (801, 802), the panels are installed in parallel panel rows extending along the long sides of the panels. An alignment panel (1) is coupled to the first long side (701) of each panel of a first panel row (100) before a next panel (102) of the first panel row (100) is installed.