To further complicate it, the wood is not entirely level throughout the opening. i am opening up wall between kitchen/dining room. Often times contractors will avoid the linoleum for fears of older flooring that might be under it containing asbestos. I have the same problem as Val. Brian – Even though you’re gluing the wood it’s likely to move a big with temperature and humidity changes. Now I want to lay a floating laminate wood floor. The foyer runs into these rooms. Jul 8, 2015 - Explore Monique Ruiz's board "Transition strip from tile to wood" on Pinterest. Sam – You’re going to have to do a neat cut or fabricate a custom curved transition piece. Keep it clean. Is your stair nosing already in place? We’ve purchased our supplies for our concrete stain project as I mentioned above (non returnable), only to find a lot of paint covering the concrete. The 3/8 inch gap is to prevent buckling of the floor due to expansion from temperature and humidity. Other areas of the house were done ( not by me ) with 3 1/4 in. @ Lee – Maybe you could remove the concrete step and build a new wood one that would be easier to cover with the new flooring. Any suggestions or opinions would be helpful? Depending on the hickory, you might want to see if you can find some oak ones….depending on the colors/stains they might match well. Is this the best way to transition to the tile in the kitchen my only concern is whether this will look good once we have the hardwood on ever stair except for the top step! If you’d rather two floors not meet at all–like in the case of different shades of … my only concern is: as I always hear about the importance of the gap all around the perimeter , I wonder if it would be ok for laminated floor to touch the metal corner ( zero gap ) ? Any of those options that “geometrically” work is fine. Replacing the flooring completely is not an option. I would run a piece of flooring perpendicular to the wood and butt into it. The existing floor is 3/4″, the new floor (with pad) will be maybe 1/8″ lower. I think your suggestion would work better. We have knocked out a wall between kitchen and living room. I am removing the tile in the foyer and putting hardwood down. Dawn – The best solution would be to remove the tile and cut it on a table saw. If so this is an offer you can't afford to miss! The process for installing laminate transitions can vary depending on the product you purchase. The lines are long and so it will be very obvious. Is there a trim available to transition the two or is it a case of having a neat cut on the wood to meet up against the tiles and fill with Grout / Sealer?? Guess if I cannot find a site that sells this I’m going to have to find a carpenter that can make it which will be fun finding someone around here that can do that. My vinyl floors and tile were installed by a friend. Whether you’re installing solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, or tile the issues are all the same. 4-In-1 Transition Strip. I don’t plan to remove the tile and am thinking of installing vinyl over the existing tile. Upon pulling out carpet and hardwood it is evident the kitchen vinyl is elevated about 3/8 to 1/2 inch?? Then you’ll have to touch up the finish on that board. As in, do I nail, glue, weld??? I almost sure it is the tongue side though. Thank you. That keeps the two floor surfaces within about 3/16″ height of each other and the difference isn’t bad. @ Don – You can get sanded caulking now. Tear out all the 3/8″ underlayment where the tile was. How to fit a hardwood board to tiles face to face without a gap. You can find many of these transition pieces at: Online Floor Transition Pieces. Is there anything that exists like this? Presently we have old, ugly, faux slate linoleum in our foyer/entryway & want to update it. Thank you. Everything I’ve found is in the 4-6ft range. (On a side note the other entry to the kitchen used to have hardwoods up against it and the new wood and kitchen tile are just about even and a t-molding fits fine there.) However, the 5′ open area (has pocket French doors) adjoins the 15′ x 12′ room to that dining area. However, it sounds to me that you need a special transition piece. See also various other 10 Awesome How to Transition Hardwood Floor to Tile listed below right here! Hi all, I am looking to do the reverse of a transition, I am trying to remove the transition that I currently have and have a single uniform floor. Or is this typical, and not so out of the ordinary? @ Dorothy – Great question and it certainly fits the topic. He is cutting under the baseboard to install the floors, but in some areas the where he cut it broke is higher than in others places and it is leaving a small gap. Gina – If I had to guess they would probably recommend tearing out the 3′ wide section and then blending back to the larger room. Help please thank you carol dawson. For example, angle transitions from ceramic to hardwood like a fireplace hearth. Justin – From the sounds of it you already know that there are two solutions. What will the wood match up to at the other end of the hallway? Maybe it's time to refinish your deck or add some new decorative touches to your tired deck. Similar to Don above. My contractor says he will just shave the bottom of the door. Should I use an elevation transition similaar to the shown in your article, Todd? Because we’re installing radiant floor heating below, and because the subfloor is 3/4″ wood planks, covered with 3/4 particle board.). There are several basic issues that arise at the floor transitions. Perry, it’s interesting that I found this comment. Any drawback for affecting existing hardwood with T molding since this is a small lip. Except that the height difference is way more. he didn’t leave gap between flooring, so I have two 48″ lines (right angle) right where you enter my home where wood vinyl flooring butts up against the tile. Most flooring installers will install a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch plywood under-layment which gives them a very good gluing surface. The house is a split entry, raised ranch, with a standard floor plan. I just used regular grout. The track is set on grout and flange is under the tile. I see, thank you for the feedback. For various size of floorings in various areas there are different concepts that I could share to you. Greg – I’ll send you an email. Lynn – Most likely the linoleum has an under-layment under it. My thinking was to take up the hardwood and carpet but the vinyl could stay down and laminate right over it. I would really rather have a flat transition between the tile and hardwood, but don’t want to do anything that will mess up my very expensive floors. If you can’t do that then I’d recommend a circular saw to cut most of them, then a multi-tool when you can’t get close enough to the wall with the circular saw. their is a slight height diff. Will I need custom millwork? However, you’d need to be careful where you nail it. The wood floor in the photo that accompanies your article is beautiful. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Thanks. @ Richard – Any chance you could email me some photos? Bruce flooring ( gunstock ) but the 3 1/4 in. Lori – Well….they are both a bit correct. The hardwood is good quality, and about 40 or 50 years old. Tod I am wondering can you explain a little bit about how to get straight flush cut across an already instaled 3/4″ hard wood floor I had already told installer what I wanted and lookes like i was ignored so i will finsh the rest of house myself my idea was to do that first and male straight but was left with of things to deal with.Anything you can tell me i would greatly appercieate!I want it to look like the very top picture on this page when all done tile wood will all be flush and butted. Rick – Because of the drastic height difference I’d butt it to the tile so the top of it is flush to the tile. Started removing the carpeting in the dining room and great room and discovered they were 3/8″ lower than the tiled area. Most hardwood transition strips are made of wood or laminate to match the flooring. I am putting laminate wood flooring down in my dining room and also thru the kitchen. Option A is to remove the hardwood transition (2.25 inch) and install the laminate floor transition. Do you think this solution will be horrible? They removed carpet in the living room and hall and placed wood. A color matched caulking could be used to seal the joint but allow for movement. What’s the thickness difference you need to make up? What would be your suggestion be on handling the expansion gap needed for floating laminate hardwood transitions? I would leave a normal width joint (grout joint) between the wood and tile, then fill that joint with sanded caulking that’s color matched to the grout. I would ask the guy if he minds doing a grout joint between the picture framed wood and tile. I’m installing a floating floor next to existing cermaic tile in the kitchen. I know that if we used hardwood flooring to create the reducer that it would not be one continuous piece, which I’m fine with; however, it saves us having to finish the oak to the exact color of our floor. However, I wouldn’t worry about the gap where it meets the stair nosing. If you are trying to look for suggestions for 10 Awesome How to Transition Hardwood Floor to Tile This is the area to be. My family room has a parquet floor that runs up to the kitchen through a case opening. Screw heads should be below the surface of the transition strip. Mike – I would transition it the same way I did in the photos in the article. We are installing 1/2″ engineered hardwood that meets ceramic tile & there is a height difference where a regular piece of T-moulding is not going to sit flush on each side. Lots of times you can just nail them in place, sometimes you need to glue them if you have radiant heat or you don’t want to see nail holes. Wish I could figure how to send pic, what’s the best caulking to use? I want both floors to go together as seamless as possible. Then all of the hall wood should run into the two transition pieces with an angled miter cut on them. It’s an oak floor. I am also having my entryway between my living room, dining room and hallway tiled. What can we do to keep this strip glued down? I just installed tile in my kitchen and it adjoins our oak hardwood floor in two locations. What size floor joists? Type your search KEYWORDS In the Box Above. Wood in the foyer now appears to be aprox 1″ higher than wood in living room and hall. This can be done on the table saw easy enough. I’d ask your flooring installer for recommendations as well. I’m looking for some other options. How is this done and what could be the consequences in regards to any expansion and contraction? I am replacing carpet with hardwood in a corridor and there is a doorway to a bathroom. We have a doorway to the entry way to dining room; and a double doorway from dining room to great room. I know that many people put ply wood down to make up the difference, but my problem is that the kitchen leads into the family room that already has the same laminate flooring (we put this in several years ago). What does your flooring guy say? Not knowing that we would eventually do the kitchen and dining room we didn’t thing about the transition. I have just had installed a new solid timber floor on top of battens and it ends about 2cms above the front door threshold, The threshold is a terrazzo marble step above the font steps and half of it extends inside the house so the door opens over it. I am getting hardwoods installed in my split on Monday. @ Mike T – without seeing your actual application my first thought is to create some type of “curb” to re-mount the railings to. There are several styles of transition strips made in different finishes. Todd I’m sorry. Todd, we emailed you some pics this morning. However, my thoughts would be to think about what the expansion does. Search for more articles here. My first thought was to do this by putting in a plywood underlayment (but I am concerned about moisture since its basement and the existing subfloor is concrete), the other option that I am thinking about is a cork underlayment. Todd – The tile is slightly higher than the wood but from what I’ve read of other comments not too high for a transition piece or that its too noticeable. Do you have any suggestions on how to properly cut the parquet tiles without completely disrupting them/ruining them? The flooring people have smoothly rounded the last board which has only made it more dangerous as it is now a slip hazard as well. Also what if the transition was between the tile and a PVC frame. We’re thinking about either using a sanded caulk that matches the grout for the tile, but additionally, thinking about securing the transition side of the laminate to the sub-floor (wood) – leaving all the expansion to happen on the wall-side, where we can better live with the gap concept. I am installing my floating floor and I am kinda confused for the transition to tile . Which do you agree with? So the squishy noise is nothing to worry about? Janelle – Do you mean they ran the boards perpendicular to the door threshold? Carson – It’s not mandatory but….having grout butt up to each of the butt ends of the wood usually ends up bad. Because the height is just above the already tiled dining area… the new already purchased close matching tile will be 3/4″ higher and a trip hazard. I have pix I could easily email you if that would give you a better design idea. These cookies do not store any personal information. but my main questions are about the transition between tile (grout) and the hardwood: – Can I put the grout right up against the wood? The transition stip between the laminate and the linoleum in the kitchen was glued down with liquid nails. This is where most situations involve some sort of wood transition strip. Any help would be greatly appreciated! http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/schluter-ditra-tile-underlayment/. Did you notice this sooner or just now that it’s time to tile the floor. This leaves me with a 1/4 height gap. Good luck. Cheryl, Send me a photo, todd “at” frontstepsmedia “dot” com. Do you recall the species? With all your talk of transitions, I’m wondering if I’d be able to put in a nice transition from entry to dining room and then dining room to great room and still have it all look okay since the 7mm laminate (with 2mm underlayment) will be the same in all rooms. Transition strips do not bottom out; the leg of the "T" doesn't touch the floor. The wood floor will be 1/4″ higher than the tile and there is a 15 foot run needing a transition. Are both surface going to be level? Then it can have dado’s cut into the back to match the heights you need. That is Brazillian Cherry. Hardwood Flooring has become a very popular DIY project for many home owners. Your email address will not be published. 10 Awesome How to Transition Hardwood Floor to Tile, Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse. I am concerned on how to finish the tile against the wood. How does it work to plane out the higher wood for 12-16″ to eliminate the trip problem? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. (Why not use 3/4″ hardwood? To ensure you make use of the vast choice of tile floor covering concepts, you have to learn about the numerous kinds of floor tiles that you can deal with to install on your flooring. . The area leads to 3 openings, each with hardwood ( 2 oak 1 pine). Is this a normal solution to my problem?? However, stove installer says we need a 1/2″ backerboard adhered to subfloor. What can I do? Todd, I have a transition delimma. I’m doing engineered hardwood in my parent’s living room and hallway. The wood is 5 inch wide, hand scrapped, coffee stained maple. Todd, Know this post is older, so hope you are still reading posts. The strip is supported on both sides by the lips, and held in place with nails. Grout Sander How . I presently have part carpet and part ceramic tile over a concrete subfloor in the lower level of my home. Hi, I am having bamboo floors installed and around the rooms is a mortar cast baseboard adhered to the walls. Secure the transition strip in place using blue masking tape every four or five inches. I am also installing hardwood floors in my home and I ran across your posting. I plan to simply sand down the wood to meet the height of the tile and apply a finish to match, then fill the gap with a sanded flexible grout. Should I cut off a tongue from the last to the doorway board and then put in a doorway space board? I’ve also seen some wood reducer transitions that could accomodate a 1/2″ difference. You need a transition piece that sits over both materials to hide the gap. The hallway runs to left, with an open railing about 3 feet. If you were to remove the baseboard trim in those photos you would see a 1/2″ gap all around the room. They said the cycling of temperature would not be good for the tile. Any help would be appreciated. I used the same spacers I used for the tile (1/4″). Michele – I would personally nail it down if it were mine. Having said that I would imagine the floating floor manufacturer must have some type of transition that tapers down to a very thin piece that you can place in front of the steps. I’m exp’g the same problem (w/curved tiled) trying to transition to wood flooring. I want to rip out the carpets and install a uniform layer of Vinyl planks. Have a slate entry and putting in hardwood on adjoining living room with door between. Two ways to handle this: – Install underlayment under the engineered floor (we do this quite often, but we go into the situation knowing the added price). The lower level of my home has a open living and dining/kitchen space, the living space has carpet and the dining/kitchen has tile. A tile worker explained it could be done. Elevation changes are fairly common in remodeling projects when sub-floors can’t easily be adjusted for different flooring thicknesses. Is there another alternative? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I’d probably have a problem color matching the caulk so I’d rather not get into that. Todd – My husband and I are wanting to create an opening between our dining room and entryway. The tile has been laid for years and we are removing the existing carpet and applying a concrete “overlay”. I have a basement stair that is currenty being renovated to have hardwood installed. Todd – I’m liking the suggestion of a flush transition and grout seam. Most transition strips meant for different height materials look like they are meant for a greater height difference. Anyhow, we're not discussing the similarities yet instead we will be taking on the different flooring ideas that can aid you determine which kind of floor covering you should use on a details area that needs floor covering. Is this a problem? Not sure about cutting a custom transition, skills-wise. They have placed a piece of wood between rooms in transition area. By clicking on 'Accept' or continuing to use this website, you agree that cookies can be placed. I thought about using 1/4″ plywood strips to fill in and step it up and then fill that using self-leveling mortor so as not to have as thick of mortor but I still have the level versus flat problem. Vinny – That is true around the perimeter of each room. This is tough for a couple of reasons. Right now, there is a ceramic tile strip leading from my front door, into the kitchen and there is tile butted up against the tile (carpeted area is the living room. Tiled bath floor is 5/8″ to 3/4″ higher than existing wood floors. Ultimately, this will be almost an inch higher than the surrounding hardwood. Do you think that would be okay? 3. Because of this, the total height of my tile is only about 1/2″. So what I prefer to do us install a transition piece followed by one piece of the wood flooring parallel to the transition piece. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Thanks, Tammy. There’s about a 3 ft. diagnal. (We have pictures if you need to see what we’re referring to…we just don’t know where to send them), Vicki – email me the photos: todd @ frontstepsmedia.com. It has lifted already and it’s only been 2 days. Brian says: October 27, 2008 at 11:29 am There are transitions that are even more complex. I would keep the grout width to a minimum at that location to help with shrinkage. So removing it would involve removing the tile, then strip. Chris – I haven’t seen it done before. It’s also possible that the floating floor companies have some type of “pocket” or “receiver” trim that could be installed tight to the tile which allows the laminate to move. Suggestions? Is it possible that the kitchen has an additional layer of sub-floor or older flooring material under it? The floating floor is about 3/8 higher than the hardwood. I was planning to cover the entire living area on the first floor of my home with laminate. We’re installing replacing a floating engineered floor in the living room and hallway. I have a transition dilemma, too. Be nice. or was this a DIY job? I want to run a single course parallel with tile which will be 13 feet and then butt the floor to this. Thanks. I am skeptical that I have done this incorrectly. Do you have radiant heat? Living room has beautiful oak hardwood floors that have always had carpet over them. T-Molding doesn’t work well if both surfaces are at different elevations. In fact, the photo in the article shows my transition from wood to tile and there is a very slight 1/16″ to 1/8″ difference (tile higher than the wood). i am being told that when putting a hard wood floor, that i should leave a 1/2 to 3/4 space from the wall. Need any advice since don’t want to have to take up either floor and start over. I have purchased 3/8″ porcelain tiles which are to be installed throughout the remainder of the house. But I need it to reduce only down to my 1/2″ tile installation. I’d like to share some thoughts on how to transition hardwood and tile floors. You can find my email in the contact forms. @ Diana – Thanks for stopping by the site. the wood floors all run horizontally leading into the foyer, would horizontal new oak look strange leading front to back in the foyer? Proper care should be taken to install any necessary flashing or membrane under the tile to prevent water damage. 2. At that time I can bring the subfloor up with backer to match. Hi Todd, Thanks for the transition suggestion. The answer is simple, I’ve seen so many DIY flooring projects in homes that look really great except for one detail, the floor transition looks awful. Option B is to install laminate floor transition on top of the existing hardwood floor transition. Not sure if I can nail it? I need advice on floor height differences too. My hardwood guy says we must install t-molding between the tile and the hardwood to allow for expansion. Thank you Carol, Hi Todd, I have a peculiar Situation, I just installed a floating hardwood floor and want to put caulking for transition between the flooring and tile. 2. This is interesting. I have a more complicated tile and wood floor situation since we are using a floating wood flooring that butts up to tile (it’s on concrete). If you do you could take up a row of the old ones and make the transition with thin set?