HOW TO TRANSITION BETWEEN FLOOR SURFACES
If you are undertaking a renovation, transitioning between floor surfaces can turn out to be a mess if you don’t plan ahead of time. Whether you are renovating a fresh or installing floor heating, understand the entire process in advance. You need to think through the transitioning process to ensure that the resulting product meets your needs and expectations. A proper floor assembly can be done by an expert with experience in floor transitions.
DOES IT MEET THE STANDARDS?
There are certain industry standards that must be met when using different types of flooring. For instance, for your home to have heavy floor tiles, it must be designed with adequate strength and rigidity to carry the weight. Most small materials like vinyl and carpets can suit most types of floors. However, if you want a seamless transition from wood to tiles, you must ensure that your home is designed to sustain it.
CHOOSING THE TYPE OF TILES
When transitioning from hardwood to tiles in a different room like the bathroom, you must ensure that the design and space is built for the new flooring material. For instance, marble requires a stiffer floor surface which some homes simply don’t have. If you have hardwood floors and you want to have marble tiles in your bathroom, make sure the rooms meet a deflection rating that is stronger than the base standard. Deflection rating is a simple measure of how much flex a floor surface can withstand. This value is considered by contractors before installing tile floors. For heavy floor installations, a deflection rating of L/720 is usually recommended.
HOW THICK IS THE FLOOR TILE?
Floor tiles can be as thick as 3/8 inch or ¾ inches. This means that when you want to install tiles next to hardwood floors, you must carefully consider your choice of tile. In fact, industry standards do not allow contractors to simply tile on top of a wood subfloor. Better floor preparation must be done to ensure the tile lasts long. You may be required to add a second layer of plywood on top of your sub floor in order for the tiles to be installed. Doing this will provide a stronger and more stable base for the new flooring material.
TRANSITION STRIPS
One of the easiest ways to ensure a seamless transition between hardwood and tile floors that have different heights is using transition strips. Transition strips are designed to mimic the floor. They can even be painted to stand out.
You may need to consider other factors such as floor heating systems. If you have hardwood floors but you would like to transition with tiles in a different room and also install warm floors, it’s important to ensure the process is done safely and effectively. Not all flooring systems are ideal for heated floors. You need to consider the type of flooring material in the room as well as how it resists certain elements.
Discuss with your contractor how they intend to maintain a seamless transition throughout the renovation process. Poor transitions can cause costly damages that will compromise your property’s value.
