After installing a new hardwood floor, you will typically need a transition moulding to complete the job. Transition mouldings are used to create a smooth transition between different rooms or different surfaces. Transition mouldings come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and determining which moulding you need can be confusing. I’ve broken down the five most common flooring transitions and their uses.
T-Moulding is used to in doorways between adjoining wood floors. Hallway to bedrooms is a common example of where you would want to use a T-Mould. This type of moulding can also be used to transition between different types of hard surfaces that are the same height.
Reducer is used to provide a smooth transition between a hardwood floor down to a floor or low pile carpet of a different height. You will want to avoid using a Reducer in a floating application, as a floating floor needs room to move and a Reducer would not allow for the necessary expansion gap.
Threshold Mouldings are used in situations where a hardwood floor is meeting up with a second floor of a different height. Instead of a gradual slope, like a Reducer, a Threshold has a rounded off square edge appearance. Thresholds are perfect when butting a hard surface floor up to a high pile carpet and are also often used when hardwood floors are meeting up with a sliding glass door track. A Threshold will overlap the hardwood floor and create a defined transition to this second surface.
A Stair Nose is used to trim the front edge of a step when you are using flooring pieces (vs a tread) to cover stairs. The Stair Nose butts tight with the flooring to create a seamless transition to the edge of the step.
Quarter Round is used to trim the expansion gap between the wood flooring and the wall. Typical Quarter Round measures 3/4 x 3/4. Some homeowners prefer a lower profile moulding called a Base Shoe, which measures 1/2 x 3/4. Base Shoe is also commonly used to trim the small gaps created by the baseboard and hard surface flooring.
Selecting the right type of transition moulding, will not only give your floor that polished look, it will also provide a safe way to traverse different types of flooring and height changes. Make sure all mouldings are secured properly.