When setting up your nice shiny waterproof laminate flooring, you should think about transition moulding. It's an important aspect that frequently goes unnoticed. We will examine what transition molding is, what it does, and the several types in this article, including T-molding, which is occasionally used to refer to transition molding but is a different form.
What is transition molding?
Imagine the bordering frame around a picture. A correctly constructed picture frame not only defines the image but also safeguards it. It covers the gaps between the image, the mat, the glass, and the frame, gives the picture structure, assures the picture's longevity, and protects the picture's borders from damage. It also prevents dust from falling on the picture.
Transition moldings resemble that a lot. They add the finishing touch to a lovely laminate floor and protect the floor's structural integrity by forming an “island” where a very heavy object can rest. They also make expansion gaps functionally effective.
What function does transition molding serve?
As the name suggests, transition moulding facilitates the transition from one surface to another so that there are no sharp, unfinished edges that are ugly or exposed. Since they reduce the risk of tripping between two floor-surface thicknesses, such as from laminate flooring to carpet, proper transition molding installation is also a safety factor.
By concealing the required expansion gap around the room's perimeter, transition moldings create a smooth transition from the horizontal, flat surface of the floor to the 90-degree vertical surface of a wall. When installing a floating floor, such as a laminate floor, it is required to leave a minimum 3/8-inch expansion gap to accommodate the floor's regular expansion and contraction in response to temperature and humidity variations.
What kinds of transition moldings are there?
T-molding, reducer, quarter-round, corner-round, stair nosing, and wall-base or baseboard are the fundamental types of transitional molding. End caps are also present (or end molding).
The T-characteristic molding's “T” profile design makes it the simplest transition piece to identify. Between two floors of identical thicknesses, a transition is made using T-moldings. For instance, we advise using transition molding to split the floor and add an expansion gap within a tolerable distance for structural stability in a space longer than 40 feet. T-moldings are also helpful at doorways where two levels are the same thickness. Others are designed to be glued or fastened to the subfloor, while some are installed with tracks and screws. The T-molding is secured to the flooring in each instance and does not float.
When two floors with slightly differing thicknesses meet, such as a laminate floor and a wood, vinyl, ceramic, or low-pile carpet floor, reducer moldings are utilized.
You must use end molding for floor transitions with more noticeable, unequal height variances. For instance, an end molding will probably be needed to transition from laminate flooring in one area to a high, thick-pile carpet in another room or in front of a sliding glass door.
The finishing touch around the room's perimeter is typically created by combining baseboard and quarter-round moldings.
- Baseboard molding is put in at the bottom of the wall, right above the top of the floor.
- The expansion gap is covered by installing quarter-round molding over the baseboard molding's bottom. Quarter-round moldings with a 100% mildew-resistant silicone sealer can occasionally assist protect the exposed edges of the flooring, depending on the location where moisture is a concern.
To give stair risers the final polish, you should utilize stair-nose moldings, which must be glued or bolted. Countersunk screws should have putty filler placed inside of them.
Key pointers for utilizing molding systems
Treat the track that most transition-molding systems have attached to the subfloor as you would any vertical impediment (wall, cabinet, etc.) and leave the required expansion gap.
Conclusion –
Moldings should be secured to subfloors with 100% mildew-resistant silicon. Extra moisture resistance is provided in areas exposed to moist surroundings, such as outdoor entrances. When the molding breaks or needs to be changed, it can be removed from its mounting. Silicon is still malleable enough to fill the expansion gap while allowing wood floors to expand. If the molding needs to be replaced, other adhesives might be removed because they might harden and prevent floor expansion.
