How to Transition From Carpet to Tile
The edge of a floor surface is the most vulnerable to damage. Where one surface changes to another also can pose a tripping hazard as well. Transitioning from carper to tile requires that you place an intermediate surface between the two floor types, one that protects the edges while allowing for a gradual change between surfaces. Installing a transition strip between your carpet and the adjoining tile can successfully provide this intermediate step. Any DIYer can install one; it requires little skill at carpentry and no special tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Tack strip
- Nails
- Circular saw
- Transition track
- Hammer
- Transition strip
- Sandpaper
- Rubber-headed mallet
Instructions
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Measure the length of the room where the carpet and tile meet. Use the circular saw to cut a transition track to the measured length. A transition track is a strip of metal or plastic with a groove down its center. It lies on the floor between the two floor surfaces and holds a strip of material that provides the actual transition between the carpet and the tile. Purchase the transition track and strip from a hardware store to match the room where you’re completing the installation.
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2
Secure the carpet edge to the subfloor by gluing or nailing a tack strip into place along the edge of the carpet. Angle the tacks on the strip toward the tile surface so that the carpet will be gripped tightly into place and not pull away from the tile. Nail the carpet down onto the small tacks atop the strip. A tack strip is a long wooden strip containing a series of angled tack points nails that grip the carpet and prevent it from moving once placed.
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3
Place the cut transition strip between the carpet and the tile. Secure the track by nailing it into place for wood subfloors, or by gluing it in place if using a concrete subfloor.
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4
Cut the transition strip to the same length as the track, using the saw. The strip is T-shaped to fit into the groove with overlapping ledges over both the carpet and the tile.
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5
Test the fit of the strip. Place the strip into the track and check how it lies on the two floor surfaces. The top of the strip should lie level with both surfaces. If one surface is higher than the other, sand the strip on that side of the transition down so that it lies level.
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Place the strip into the transition track and hammer it into place with a rubber-headed mallet. Place the strip so that it lies securely between the two surfaces, creating a smooth, gradual edge between the two surfaces.
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