Laminate to carpet transition options

Recently had carpet and laminate installed. The laminate guy did not finish the floor because we didn't have the transition molding yet. The carpet guy came in and installed the carpet but now we are left with carpet right up to the laminate and it doesn't look right. Our plan was to have t-molding installed between the carpet and the laminate. As I look at it now, I don't think the laminate was installed far enough into the doorways. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on how we can correct this with out yanking all the flooring out. The carpet and laminate are the same height. I believe installing this 2" wide molding will go all the way under the door, but how to install it correctly is the question.

 

Ideally, with the height you have, I would not have installed a transition at all. I would have, however, communicated with the two trades to let them know what I wanted in relation to the door opening. One does not know what the other is thinking, and can't make up for it. Your flooring guy was through with the exception of the transition. Not his fault. Carpet guy didn't know about the transition piece, apparently, and did a jamb up job of finishing it. NOW, you will have to call them both back out as the carpet will need to be restretched to the transition strip piece prior to the wooden piece being installed. Are you sure that is laminate? It looks like engineered flooring.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes this is laminate. It's a 14mm laminate with pad attached. I guess if I had known for sure that we would be installing carpet and laminate at the same time I would have discussed my options with both people at the same time. My wife made the call after the laminate was installed.

When the carpet guy was doing the install, I asked if he needed to leave room for the t-molding. He said no that this should still work. Having not done any type of flooring of any kind, i took him at his word. After doing some more research, I can't see how this will work.

Would you suggest that I cut the carpet back, install another tack strip and stretch the carpet under the t molding? How much of a gap should I leave between the tack strip and the laminate? Looks like I may have to be installing the t molding myself so I am looking to this forum for help. Thanks again.

 

How experienced are you at carpet stretching? The laminate transition strip will need about 3/4" of clear space between the carpet and laminate so the metal strip can be fastened to the concrete/subflooring. The transition strip itself will be pressed into the metal strip. One shot. Miss and it is ruined.
I know it may be unsightly, but the installation is flawless, and I am afraid, unless you really do a jamb up job, it will look......well, transitioned.

 

I've never stretched carpet before, but I figured it's just the doorway that I would be doing.

I am not using a laminate strip, but a hardwood strip that I had to find to match my flooring. I was thinking about glueing it down to the concrete and leaving enough expansion room on the laminate side.

When you say the installation is flawless, do you mean the way it is right now? I'm afraid over time, the constant traffic thru the door will cause the edge of the laminate to come undone or chip. Plus I also don't like that when the door is closed you can see the carpet in the hallway. Guess I can see how it holds up with some time and then decide.

 

Flawless from a standpoint of transition. Not too high or low on either side. I think your idea of living with it for a little while will be the best bet. Although it is only a doorway, you will be releasing all the tension around the area when you pull it up. I don't lay carpet, so I can't speak in real terms, but simple physics tells me it will require a total restretch. Maybe one of the carpet guys will chime in with a better solution. Good luck with the remaining part of your project!