Laminate Flooring Transition Piece

8 years ago

Purchasing a new build and I recently went by the home and noticed a transition piece in the entry way. There are no transition pieces anywhere else in the home other than where the laminate meets the bathroom tile and that's to be expected. Why is this strip located here? The builder is telling me it has to go where it is, but I could have picked 10 other places to lay that piece if it was absolutely necessary. I'm not a flooring expert so any advice would be useful.

Featured Answer

PRO

Uptown Floors

8 years ago

It's likely they installed the floor then it began to "rise" or buckle in the foyer area. That will happen in cases where a laminate floor is butted against something, like the front door threshold. I've seen and repaired the exact same issue several times (years gone by) when I installed laminate flooring. It was probably cut out with a skill saw/rotozip at the first door casing area where some expansion space was allowed, eliminating the problem. Thus the transition piece.

One of several disadvantages of laminate flooring in larger layouts. Let's hope that's the only one you'll need. Only time will tell.

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Comments (6)

Ashlie Greising
Original Author
8 years ago
I really hate the look of the transition piece. Is there anyway it can be eliminated without having to redo the entire flooring in the house? For example, just re-install the flooring from the front door up to the transition piece? or is this not possible/economical? Thank you for your advice.
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PRO
Uptown Floors
8 years ago
Ashlie:

If you're looking for that seamless appearance, it's a lot of work. Seamless meaning it would have to be "weaved" intothe area on the other side (towards the stairs) of the current transition piece.

The biggest issue I see besides that is what do do near the walls. The baseboard would have to be removed. I'm assuming it's a click together floor. Aren't they all today? You need space to click it and get under the baseboard at the same time. Yea there are tricks without a click near the walls, but both sides? Perhaps somebody has a solution to do that without pulling the base off.

But those danged laminate floors need expansion space. You could be back to square one again...months down the road.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
8 years ago
Sorry Ashlie, but the MAXIMUM LENGTH of the laminate has been exceeded. Most laminates have a maximum run (wall to wall) length of 30ft. I'm going to bet my first born that the run from the LEFT door jam (find the plank that lines up with the left door jam and follow that line PAST the stair post to the back wall) to the FAR WALL (just past the pump out) is MORE than 30 linear feet.

That is the single reason you have to have a transition strip (t-molding). The builder had a choice: put it at the doorway in the foyer or RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM. Zoinks! Yah. Nasty. So he did the only thing he could = put it in the most "out of the way" spot = foyer breeze way.

To get rid of that t-mold = new floor. Sigh. All that money on flooring only to need a new floor before you move in. Yikes. A permanent floor (glue/nail/staple/mortar) is one way you can get a continuous run LONGER than 30 linear feet. The other is a HIGH END (ahem - super expensive) floating composite core floor that allows 50 linear feet (extremely rare with an extreme price tag).

Most homeowners don't like the price tag of those types of floors so the $45 t-molding in a doorway becomes more than acceptable.

On the bright side, it is a PERFECT match to the floor and is well camouflaged. I know many a professional floor installer who would be proud to call that install their work!
Mrs. S
8 years ago
It's a pretty floor, Ashlie. You will lay a runner down which will cover it up, and you'll forget it's there.
Ashlie Greising
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi guys! I inquired with the manufacturer and I'm happy to say they could run the floor further without the transition piece being needed. So they fixed it and I am quite happy. Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it more than you know.