Carpet to laminate transitions
#1
02-09-15, 01:17 PM
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Carpet to laminate transitions
I've installed laminate flooring in my home, and am at the point where I have a gap between the laminate and carpet where I was planning on installing end caps. However the carpet and laminate are at about the same height and kinda like it without the end cap. Question: is there any issues just installing the laminate right up to the carpet with no transition or end cap? why are transitions or end caps needed? Or are they? Are they decorative or are they really functional?
#2
02-09-15, 01:41 PM
Welcome to the forums! Your laminate will expand and contract. You should have left about 1/4" to 1/2" spacing around all the perimeter, and that includes at your carpet. A 3/4" gap is usually needed between the two so you can install the metal strip that comes with the transition strips. The flooring will need to move under the strip as it expands and contracts.
#3
02-09-15, 02:56 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
End cap? You mean transition strip?
Your trying to install the cheapest the cheapest fake wood looking flooring there is.
Without that transition strip the floorings going to buckle.
Your trying to install the cheapest the cheapest fake wood looking flooring there is.
Without that transition strip the floorings going to buckle.
#4
02-09-15, 03:47 PM
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The nature of laminate is that it needs to move for expansion and contraction reasons. You can't just butt one up to the other in your place. If the heights are the same then look into a "T" molding that closely resembles you laminate. Truth is that the carpet, while at the same height, will compress what the molding is installed, such that you really need a reducer instead of a "t" molding. Either way, you need to leave room for expansion and contraction.
#5
02-09-15, 04:08 PM
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Isn't carpet naturally a "giving" material? Why is a transition needed other than to cover a rough edge when there is a height mismatch. If it needs room for expansion shouldn't carpet be ok? Carpet is "shaggy" high pile carpet. Even though it's on a tack strip, the pile kinda protrudes about a 1/4" from the tack strip and the carpet itself covers the gap.
#7
02-10-15, 06:22 AM
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The edge of the laminate will also chip the first time you stub your toe on it or step on the edge. Laminate edges are extremely fragile. You can take a couple of pieces of scrap and see for yourself. Won't take much to flake off the top layer of the cut end.
