Transition options tile to laminate

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Contractor said laminate transition looked worse, I never saw it installed so he put gold metal which I don’t like. He suggested an oak transition that can be stained but might not match well. However I think the gold sticks out like a sore thumb. Any suggestions? Not sure on difference in height between the two floors but it definitely isn’t level, tile is higher.

Featured Answer

mindshift

8 years ago

I understand why your installer used bronze. (It does not look gold to me.) He was trying to pick up tones in both the laminate and the tile. How about using a darker color, one that matches the grout/floor joints? Here is how the transition piece might look.

Talk to your installer to see if a dark brown/black is available. If not, you could remove the piece, take it outside, and spray paint it. After the paint has dried, coat it with a clear polyurethane sealer to protect the paint. I know that Minwax has an aerosol polyurethane.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Bspoke Homes
8 years ago
Not wanting to assume anything, have you verified the laminate supplier doesn't have a transition strip? In many cases they do.
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batmik
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for your replies. I was out of town and the contractor said he put in the one that came with the laminate flooring and it looked worse. I never got a chance to see that transition installed. Not sure if it was the difference in floor heights that made it look worse or what. I will have to ask him about that again. I may go by the place I got the floor from and see what they have.

I didn't realize the transition was bronze. We thought it looked gold. The idea of spray painting brown may work too.
PRO
Bspoke Homes
8 years ago
Sometimes the transition strips don't completely match as they are often manufactured in different facilities. Could certainly be worth examining however if you didn't see it for yourself.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
8 years ago
The problem with laminates is that their moldings never match the products. You need a T molding of some sort for this transition. Your tile is bonded to the subfloor with thinset while the laminate is most likely a floating product. The Schluter metal strip used is very common and no, they do not have other colors. Gold and silver are the only colors I'm aware of. Your best bet would be to have a T molding made from raw wood and have it stained the same coloring of the laminate. Product should then be glued down between the 2 products. I usually send my installers out with a tube of liquid nails for molding repairs. You do not glue the molding to the laminate or tile. You glue it down in the empty space between the 2 products. It's best to put a heavy object on the molding while the glue dries.
batmik
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think there was a laminate strip but my contractor didn’t like how it looks. I will. Check my flooring place so I can decide if I like it but may ultimately by the raw wood t strip as my contractor and pp recommend it and stain it to match. Thanks for all the info.
slk230red
8 years ago
batmik, I think the darker metal strip would look better. I used the same color for the new threshold at the front door. I don't like the high profile of the t-moldings.

I have one transition t-molding where our Pergo meets the tile in the laundry room. Even though the t-molding matches perfectly, I hate transitions, but it's a must with floating laminate. Our wood flooring didn't have a transition, it butted up against the tile at the same level.

Good luck if you decide to go with the raw wood stained to match.