Even today with hardwood flooring so popular, very few homes have the same type of flooring throughout. It just makes sense that different living spaces call for different floor coverings. Kitchens and baths don’t do well carpeted and who doesn’t like a nice soft thick carpet under their feet when getting out of bed first thing in the morning? But generally the point where two different flooring materials meet is not a smooth transition and the gap in between must be addressed by installing a transition strip or transition molding. The transition needs to be clean, smooth and seamless, but when that doesn’t happen, the following can occur:
Carpet Transition Point Problems
- Transitioning from carpet to any other flooring material can be challenging. Two different flooring options often present a height difference, creating a tripping hazard.
- Visual aesthetics is a definite concern when it comes to melding different flooring textures. An eye-pleasing neutral transition not only helps fuse both complementing and contrasting styles and designs but also can hide the unsightly and dangerous gap that often occurs between the two flooring materials.
- Transition strips work to protect the edges of both types of the flooring material from damage. For carpets it prevents the rough edge from fraying. Even if the edge has been rolled and tacked, over time the border may stretch and become both dangerous and unsightly. Engineered hardwood flooring is often installed as floating flooring which requires room to expand and contract as the ambient temperature fluctuates. If installed flush against the other flooring material, the floating flooring may begin to warp or crack.
Carpet Transition Point Solutions
- One option is to do nothing. This isn’t the standard operating procedure but can be done if the flooring materials are the same thickness and if both edges require no protection. Generally this can only be accomplished in tile to tile situations and the final decision to eliminate a transition strip should be left up to a professional installer.
- Different flooring materials will almost always require some form of specialized transition strip or molding. These transition pieces come in a variety of materials from wood to metal, plastic to vinyl. Your flooring installer will work with you to help select the right material for your transition needs.
- There are four standard transition options that are usually used depending on the situation.
- Ramp: This is basically what the name implies. Often when there is a significant difference in height between the two flooring materials a small ramp will be installed to mitigate the variance.
- T-Molding: This is a long vertical piece that attaches to the middle of a shorter horizontal piece creating equal gaps on either side of the molding. This works best on hard surfaces with similar heights.
- Reducers: Often confused with a ramp strip, a reducer is rounded to form a curve from taller to lower. The other big difference is a reducer locks into place unlike a ramp that is often bolted into the subflooring.
- End bar or cap: Similar to reducers an end bar or cap is frequently used around fireplaces, stairs and exterior doorways.
Are your carpets in need of some transition TLC? Or perhaps you have unsightly wrinkles, stains or holes? Pro Carpet Repair is here for all your carpet needs. Just give us a call today at 864-569-9366 and let’s get you on the schedule for a complementary evaluation. Or you can always email us at contact@procarpets.com or simply use our convenient online form. Pro Carpet Repair, proudly serving the Upstate for over 13 years.