Types of Transition Molding for Laminate Flooring
Putting laminate flooring in your home is a great way to revamp your decor and add some substance and style, but if you just want to redo one room, you may not know how to transition from laminate to another flooring type. Where one ends and another begins, the floor can look rough, but if you use transition molding, it will greatly improve the appearance of your floor. Here, you will learn more about the different types of transition molding for laminate flooring.
T-molding: its name is derived from its shape. The top of t-molding is flat, like the top of its namesake letter, and there is also a piece that extends down. This part allows for the expansion and contraction of the laminate floor, and the molding is typically glued to the subfloor with an industrial adhesive. If your subfloor is wooden, use 6-penny nails to install the t-molding, but be sure that you are nailing the subfloor and not your laminate flooring. T-molding is usually used with baseboards, and is only found at the edge of the room or across a doorway.
Square nose transitions, or end caps, are used for laminate that covers a staircase, or against a fireplace or wall. They provide for an abrupt end for the laminate; some laminate makers refuse to provide this type of transition molding because it scarcely allows for expansion. If you use this type of molding, glue it to the adjoining wall or subfloor.
Reducer molding is used to transition from a higher surface to a lower one. Reducer designs can sit level with laminate, or they can dip on either side. This type of molding is snapped to the edge of a laminate piece and glued into place, and overlap reducers are used where an expansion gap is required.
Threshold molding offers a slight slope from the laminate to an adjacent area. The molding will overlap the laminate, but provides an expansion gap that usually exceeds the recommendation set forth by the manufacturer. If the transition area is above or level with the laminate, you can cut off part of the base to make the gap fit your needs.