carpet to tile transition
#1
08-03-01, 10:54 AM
I just posted this question in the "Tile" forum, but it may be more a carpet issue so with apolgies for the duplication here it is:
I want to install ceramic tile on a kitchen floor. The exisiting floor is linoleum (which will be removed, etc) on concrete. From the kitchen linoleum the floor currently transitions to a carpeted room. The carpet has one of those metal strips at this transition. What I would like to do is remove the metal strip and put down a nice, stained wood piece and then tile up to this wooden piece. A couple of questions - 1) can the metal strip be removed without disturbing the carpet? 2) how should the wooden piece be attached to the concrete floor - can it be glued down somehow to prevent holes from nails, screws in the finish?
thanks for any input
I want to install ceramic tile on a kitchen floor. The exisiting floor is linoleum (which will be removed, etc) on concrete. From the kitchen linoleum the floor currently transitions to a carpeted room. The carpet has one of those metal strips at this transition. What I would like to do is remove the metal strip and put down a nice, stained wood piece and then tile up to this wooden piece. A couple of questions - 1) can the metal strip be removed without disturbing the carpet? 2) how should the wooden piece be attached to the concrete floor - can it be glued down somehow to prevent holes from nails, screws in the finish?
thanks for any input
#2
08-07-01, 07:55 PM
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1) Yes, it will disturb the carpet if it is a crimp metal.
1,A) No, it won't disturb the carpet if it is a flat metal.
2) Attach the wood transition with urethane wood floor adhesive, or liquid nails.
You will need tackstrip to hold the stretch on the carpet.
A better solution might be to leave the crimp metal down, if it indeed is a crimp metal. Use the metal track used for transitions in wood floors. Then use a wood transition that will span over the tile and carpet, that is shaped like a "T", and using a rubber mallet to attaching in the metal tracks groove.
Another alternative is to use no transition at all. Where the carpet tucks right up to the tile.
1,A) No, it won't disturb the carpet if it is a flat metal.
2) Attach the wood transition with urethane wood floor adhesive, or liquid nails.
You will need tackstrip to hold the stretch on the carpet.
A better solution might be to leave the crimp metal down, if it indeed is a crimp metal. Use the metal track used for transitions in wood floors. Then use a wood transition that will span over the tile and carpet, that is shaped like a "T", and using a rubber mallet to attaching in the metal tracks groove.
Another alternative is to use no transition at all. Where the carpet tucks right up to the tile.
#4
08-14-01, 07:06 PM
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Flat metal is placed on top of the carpet edge, after the installation. Usually to cover the tackstrip under the carpet. So the tacks don't stick you in the foot as you walk across the transition. Especially with real thin carpets!
A crimp style metal has teeth kind of like tackstrip. It looks like a "L" laid down on the long side of the --->L and is put down during the first step in a carpet installation. The pad is cut up to the metal, the same as the tackstrip around the walls. Then the carpet is stretched onto the teeth of the metal. The carpet is trimmed even with the outside edge of the metal and tucked behind the lip. Then with a rubber mallet the lip is beat down, crimping the carpet. The lip stays exposed. The metals come in 2 colors, gold & silver.
A crimp style metal has teeth kind of like tackstrip. It looks like a "L" laid down on the long side of the --->L and is put down during the first step in a carpet installation. The pad is cut up to the metal, the same as the tackstrip around the walls. Then the carpet is stretched onto the teeth of the metal. The carpet is trimmed even with the outside edge of the metal and tucked behind the lip. Then with a rubber mallet the lip is beat down, crimping the carpet. The lip stays exposed. The metals come in 2 colors, gold & silver.
#5
08-15-01, 02:40 PM
Perry, thanks. Now I am finally getting all the pieces clear in my mind. With the crimp "method", removing the crimp will disturb the carpet as you indicated. This is because the metal crimp piece is serving as the tack strip. So to remove the metal crimp, I will have to put down a tack strip and pull the carpet over this new strip. It looks like the problem here is that if I try to only use the flat piece of stained wood between the carpet and tile, there is the potential of sticking my foot with the tacks(this is pretty yhin carpet). Therefore the "T" shaped piece you describe earlier sounds like the best alternative. I like the idea of the smooth transition that a flat piece of wood gives, but stepping on the sharp points when barefoot doesn't sound like fun. Am I on the right track here?
#6
08-16-01, 05:36 AM
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Yep, your getting the idea. A wood transition would look custom too. You can also tap down the pins on the tackstrip ever so slightly, not all the way, before the carpet is stretched. This will keep the pins from poking your feet through the carpet. You need the pins to hold a stretch on the carpet.
#7
08-22-01, 12:24 PM
Perry, I need your input again on my ongoing transition question. I'm finally about to have time to do the tiling work. Yesterday I went to my local Home Depot. To help me understand the crimped metal piece better, I looked at them in the store. I definitely have it clear in my mind, now. thanks
Now I'm a little confused about the transition again. A guy in the store (not an employee) told me that he thought it would be difficult to get a nice straight, clean edge on the carpet if I had tile, followed by a flat wood piece glued to the concrete, and then followed by a wooden tack strip. He said the "T" shaped piece would allow any imperfections to be covered up. This makes some sense, but I'm leaning to the flat wood transition because it seems like it would look a little better rather than having the "bump" in the floor from the "T". Also if I do pull up the crimp piece and put down the wood tack strip, do I need to rent, borrow, etc a stretcher (one of those knee stretchers or similar?) I've got a four foot wide opening between the kitchen and dining room carpet where this will go. I will also tile a small 3'x5' entryway that has carpet on two sides with the exact same setup.
Now I'm a little confused about the transition again. A guy in the store (not an employee) told me that he thought it would be difficult to get a nice straight, clean edge on the carpet if I had tile, followed by a flat wood piece glued to the concrete, and then followed by a wooden tack strip. He said the "T" shaped piece would allow any imperfections to be covered up. This makes some sense, but I'm leaning to the flat wood transition because it seems like it would look a little better rather than having the "bump" in the floor from the "T". Also if I do pull up the crimp piece and put down the wood tack strip, do I need to rent, borrow, etc a stretcher (one of those knee stretchers or similar?) I've got a four foot wide opening between the kitchen and dining room carpet where this will go. I will also tile a small 3'x5' entryway that has carpet on two sides with the exact same setup.
#8
08-22-01, 05:34 PM
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The transition choice is up to you and your taste. Any way you do it, the carpet will need to be stretched tight or wrinkles WILL occur later. My preference is to have the carpet right up against the C-tile without any transition piece, but that is just me. It is a cleaner look IMHO.
