Laminate Flooring Edge Help

[Mgmny]

Hello team!

I am thinking of replacing this old scuffed floating wood floor with a laminate plank that I already have in my kitchen and dining room. However, I can't figure out how to successfully mimic this wood edge/transition without having an open-ended laminate transition piece that I would think would cause toe stubs/trips and would not look super great. I've watched a ton of YouTube videos on this and how-tos and basically the best response i could see was to under-cut the bannister, but even then due to the angle, i'd still have exposed transition pieces.

The carpet was laid 1.5 years ago, so I'm not super thrilled by the idea of changing the edge profile of the carpeting. Any thoughts?

[Mgmny]

For more clarification, the arrow is pointing at the potential open-edge of the transition piece. How can I avoid this?

[narrative]

I'm certainly not an expert, but when we put in laminate in our last house (Select Surfaces from Sam's Club, which was really awesome) they sold a pack of transition strips to finish the exposed edge.

These were the 4 options:
https://www.selectsurfaces.ca/select-molding

You could use the reducer or the end cap.

[Mgmny]

I'm certainly not an expert, but when we put in laminate in our last house (Select Surfaces from Sam's Club, which was really awesome) they sold a pack of transition strips to finish the exposed edge.

These were the 4 options:
https://www.selectsurfaces.ca/select-molding

You could use the reducer or the end cap.

Thanks for the response! I've seen those, but i don't know how i don't have an unfinished edge on the reducer or end cap that isn't exposed.

[couponvan]

We used these transition strips for our floor from Costco.

https://harmonics-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Harmonics_4in1_Instructions2012-1.pdf

I like that the select surfaces version has a nice stair nose. That's the one part we still have "unfinished".

I would probably make the laminate go a bit further so the transition strip ends in the wall vs having the end cap exposed.

 

[Mgmny]

I would probably make the laminate go a bit further so the transition strip ends in the wall vs having the end cap exposed.

Yeah, that's the problem. We can't do that with our setup/carpeting. So, i think the answer is: I can't do what I want to do otherwise i will have a ridge/exposed end cap. Shoot!

[lthenderson]

Why are you opposed to have an "unfinished" edge exposed? It is just color variation? Once you cut the edge that will be exposed, can you dye it to a color similar to the rest of the plank so it doesn't stand out as much?

The other thought that crosses my mind is to cut a small piece of transition with a 45 degree angle on both sides so that it essentially forms a triangle so it butts up against the cap piece and the end of your flooring run. Then you have no exposed edges and it fits the area you already have. Because it won't lock together, it would have to be glued to the end of your transition piece so that it stays put when fastened down.

[Mgmny]

Why are you opposed to have an "unfinished" edge exposed? It is just color variation? Once you cut the edge that will be exposed, can you dye it to a color similar to the rest of the plank so it doesn't stand out as much?

The other thought that crosses my mind is to cut a small piece of transition with a 45 degree angle on both sides so that it essentially forms a triangle so it butts up against the cap piece and the end of your flooring run. Then you have no exposed edges and it fits the area you already have. Because it won't lock together, it would have to be glued to the end of your transition piece so that it stays put when fastened down.

An unfinished/exposed transition piece end will stand out (like you mentioned due to color) but i would also think it would be a tripping/toe stubbing hazard. Sure, it's really close to the bannister, so i'm not sure how many feet will be traveling there, but i would still be worried about hitting it with a vacuum, etc.

I've scratched my head a bit on your 2 45 angles, and i'm not sure i understand properly. The only way i see that working is if the triangle has it's pointy edge extending towards the laminate flooring, and that seems dangerous too. Is that what you meant, or something different?

[Adam Zapple]

Just cut the last piece of new laminate so that it extends a bit around that corner of the banister molding.  Then your new transition can be two pieces instead of three like in your drawing.  That third piece that your arrow is pointing to will not be necessary.  The cut end of the transition will "die" into that quarter round molding that runs along the carpet.

[Adam Zapple]

                                                                             This is crude but maybe you get the idea.  Your end cut looks like this.                                                _________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                                                  \
                                                                                                                                         ______\
                                                                                                                                         l
                                                                                                                                         l  (Banister)           
                                                                                                                                         l           

[lthenderson]

Why are you opposed to have an "unfinished" edge exposed? It is just color variation? Once you cut the edge that will be exposed, can you dye it to a color similar to the rest of the plank so it doesn't stand out as much?

The other thought that crosses my mind is to cut a small piece of transition with a 45 degree angle on both sides so that it essentially forms a triangle so it butts up against the cap piece and the end of your flooring run. Then you have no exposed edges and it fits the area you already have. Because it won't lock together, it would have to be glued to the end of your transition piece so that it stays put when fastened down.

An unfinished/exposed transition piece end will stand out (like you mentioned due to color) but i would also think it would be a tripping/toe stubbing hazard. Sure, it's really close to the bannister, so i'm not sure how many feet will be traveling there, but i would still be worried about hitting it with a vacuum, etc.

I've scratched my head a bit on your 2 45 angles, and i'm not sure i understand properly. The only way i see that working is if the triangle has it's pointy edge extending towards the laminate flooring, and that seems dangerous too. Is that what you meant, or something different?

Not sure you are understanding what I meant as the end result would be exactly what you have now with no exposed ends or pointy ends. Here is a crude drawing to better explain what I meant.

[couponvan]

I also don't see why you can't just cut the carpet a bit and have the transition piece to into the edge of the banister.  However, if I had a beautiful wood banister like you do, I'd probably go with replacing in sold wood instead of laminate despite the cost differential.  Over time, IMO wood beats the laminate in overall value because the wood can be refinished and the laminate must be replaced.

[Mgmny]

                                                                             This is crude but maybe you get the idea.  Your end cut looks like this.                                                _________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                                                  \
                                                                                                                                         ______\
                                                                                                                                         l
                                                                                                                                         l  (Banister)           
                                                                                                                                         l         

So i think this might be the best option, BUT it will require me to cut the carpet like couponvan is suggesting as well. I have no idea how to restretch to carpet, but maybe that's all part of the fun!

[Adam Zapple]

^ That or make your own custom transition out of wood.

[lthenderson]

So i think this might be the best option, BUT it will require me to cut the carpet like couponvan is suggesting as well. I have no idea how to restretch to carpet, but maybe that's all part of the fun!

Not sure why you would have to restretch the carpet after cutting a piece from it. I would just leave a little extra after you cut it, fold the extra under and tack it to the subfloor with a nail.

[Mgmny]

So i think this might be the best option, BUT it will require me to cut the carpet like couponvan is suggesting as well. I have no idea how to restretch to carpet, but maybe that's all part of the fun!

Not sure why you would have to restretch the carpet after cutting a piece from it. I would just leave a little extra after you cut it, fold the extra under and tack it to the subfloor with a nail.

I have 0 to little understanding of how carpet is installed. All I know is that there are little boards with nails/spikes going around the edge of the room

 I'll consider doing what you've said for the corner!

[Adam Zapple]

There is a tool that carpet guys use that grabs the carpet.  You knee the tool while pressing down on it and that makes the carpet stretch and stick on the spiked piece of wood.  If you play with the transition piece before cutting the carpet you may find you don't need to cut the carpet at all.