6

I have recently fitted some new laminate flooring to my living room floor. This floor meets directly with the tiled floor of the kitchen. I'm looking to fit some sort of transition bar between the laminate floor and the kitchen tiles, however, the complication is that along with run of the length of where the two floors meet, the height difference between the two floors changes.

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

The first picture shows the two floors as they meet (this length is approx 2 metres). I couldn't quite get the complete length in this picture, but it shows most of it. The second picture shows one end of where the two floors meet. This is the end at the top of the first picture in the first photo. The third picture shows the other end of where the two floors meet (this is not shown in the first photo).

There is a small "channel" between the two floor types, and this channel is slightly wider at one end than the other (as can be seen in the 2nd & 3rd photos) - the width of that channel is approx. 30mm at the end shown in picture 3 and approx. 20mm at the end shown in picture 2.

The bigger issue, I believe, is that on the end shown in picture 2, the height between the top of the tile floor and the top of the laminate floor is approx. 5mm, whereas the height difference between the top of the tile and the top of the laminate in picture 3 is approx. 15mm.

I am aware that, under normal circumstances where the floor differential was consistent along it's length, I'd simply fit a "reducer" (i.e. something like this) however, I've no idea what to do in my case where the height differential fluctuates along the length of the floors meeting.

I've considered a PVC based reducer that will have some inherent flexibility, which may need to be "shaved down" in order to stay flush with both floors at both ends, however, I've no idea if this would work (or how difficult it would be).

Has anyone come across anything like this before? Anyone got any ideas what the best approach would be to finish this job and fit an appropriate "covering" that would transition the two floors correctly?

Improve this question

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
5

You should consider doing something mosaic-y there because the size difference will always prevent you from putting in a milled transition piece.

enter image description here

If you try to install something that looks perfect, it will always look imperfect. But if you go with something that is intentionally imperfect, it will look intentional.

Improve this answer
2
  • -1 this doesn't give the wood floor any expansion space.
    – BMitch ♦
    May 11, 2016 at 20:21
  • @BMitch Yes it does. The floor can still expand in all the other directions. This limits expansion on a relatively small area. Probably won't matter.
    – user19565
    Aug 13, 2019 at 17:53
3

I've come across this situation a few times. I've always ended up fabricating a custom wood strip much like a door threshold, but I've not come across one as long as your's before. Trying to twist a reducer strip will not work well for large height differences as the leading edge on the higher side gets canted up away from the finish floor, creating a dirt trap, not to mention looking very amateurish. As you say, you could shave down a thicker reducer. If the two elevation lines are close to straight, just sloped, you can get most of the cutting done on a table saw, with a little time spent shaving for any waviness.

Shaving the whole thing without a table saw will work as well, it'll just take a while.

Improve this answer
2

I had a similar problem between my new hardwood and tile floor, and asked here in this question. I ended up making a custom piece from the hardwood.

enter image description here

You could do something similar. The piece would run perpendicular to your existing floor like mine.

enter image description here

There are also lots of other great answers in my question that may help you.

Improve this answer
2

I think custom milling a wood transition piece would be ideal, but likely a bit of work. If you're looking for an easier way out, I'd consider a metal transition piece (sometimes called 'carpet trim'). That should have enough flex to accomodate the change in height:

metal floor transition

It looks like you can even get the metal transitions in a 'wood' finish:

enter image description here

(Both images above taken from the Home Depot web site)

Improve this answer
1
  • You can get some quite wide ones, otherwise he'd have to make his own.
    – hookenz
    Jul 11, 2013 at 23:11
0

A tile mosaic laid at an angle so as to "ramp" up to the height of the floor wood look nice.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    -1 the reason for the current gap is to allow the wood floors to expand and contract. Tiling directly to the wood would be a mistake.
    – BMitch ♦
    May 11, 2016 at 20:19

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.