I haven't ever set foot in a home with only one type of flooring throughout. Have you? More than one type of flooring in a house is common, though bridging the gap between them isn't something we often think about. That is until you complete a home renovation. Transitions between floors are essential for safety, functionality, and appearance. Here's how these commonly overlooked elements work. 

What Is a Floor Transition?

You almost certainly have them in your house. Take a look where your bathroom tile meets your hallway carpeting. Or where the wood floor in your dining room transitions to your carpeted den. Do you see that strip of material? That is a flooring transition. Imagine what your floors would look like without this. Frayed carpeting, rough tile edges or grout, and raw wood plank surfaces would abound. 

Transitions, usually in thresholds, hide unsightly edges, keep you from tripping, and protect floors from damage. 

Choosing the Best Floor Transition For Your Space 

Choosing a strip of material that functionally and aesthetically suits both flooring types is not as easy as you think. Here are a few tips. 

If Your Floors Are Different Heights 

Depending on your materials, the transition between your floors may be uneven. Usually, this occurs when going from plush carpet to tile. Aluminum strips are most expected with these transitions, though you can also find hardwood or vinyl. The nails in the gripper part of the strip help grip the carpet and offer a smooth crossing from one surface to another. Gentle slopes or a rounded shape account for the height difference. 

If Your Floors Are Similar Heights 

If your floors are nearly the same height, you have quite a few options; from planks that blend to bold accent strips. 

• T-Strip. A T-Strip looks like the capital letter T. It's perfect for hard surfaces of the same height. A sealant is often placed in the strip; then, each flooring edge is pressed against the vertical portion of the T. The top, perpendicular area hugs the surfaces of the floors. T-Stips are almost always aluminum and available in a variety of colors. 
• A Plank or Seam Binder. This type is usually reserved for wood-to-wood transitions. It appears to be another wood plank but has beveled edges for a soft transition. Binders can be screwed on top of the threshold seam and into the subfloor, allowing each wood flooring surface to expand and contract without warping or cracking. 
• Channeled Moulding. Going from tile to laminate or tile to vinyl, each uses a similar piece of channeled hardwood moulding. The different heights of the grooves account for the height discrepancy in the floors. A metal channel must be attached to the subfloor for the hardwood strip to "click" into. As these strips are unfinished, homeowners can use stain or paint to achieve their look. 
• Decorative Accents. If your goal is to differentiate between spaces instead of covering a gap or rough transition, you have two options. You can cut tile and wood to form an interlocking pattern, often used with square, hexagon, diagonal, or scalloped tile. Or, you can make a decorative border by using the same material or a different material, such as mosaic tiles, to create an accent. 

Regardless of the types of flooring in your home, PT Flooring can help you create seamless functional, and beautiful spaces.