We had a deep pile carpet replaced with a short pile version. The carpet abuts a linoleum area. The deep pile hid the joint. The short pile does not. The installer wanted to put down a metal transition strip. We would like Oak. Went to Lowes. They had the right strip, but not in Oak. Also, need it longer than the standard 6 feet. Anybody know where to find what I’m looking for?
Thank You.
Replies
ought to be a snap to manufacture in a modest shop -
Most of the engineered floor manufacturers offer transition profiles - some can be ordered in longer lengths.
Or just troll the profiles until you find one you like / will work - then manufacture it in whatever length / species / finish you like.
Too bad the installers didn't know how to do a proper transition without the strip.
The Linoleum area was 12 x 31. It was 1 large piece and 1 small piece. He made a paper template and probably was just a tad off in a few spots, one of them being the area abutting the carpet. Too late to do anything about it other than to put in the transition strip. He said that the old carpet did a better job of hiding the transition because it had a deeper pile....but there is still a slight gap. Too late...gotta live with it and put in the strip. He wanted to use metal which looked really tacky. Caught him just as he was about to nail it down.
"...there is still a slight gap."you are being gracious - see the 'who's fault is it' thread - the oak (or metal) introduces a third (and dissimilar) visual element to the floor - as long as you're good with that, godspeed - a less than professional install, IMO - "there's enough for everyone"
Where is the thread?
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=107250.1"there's enough for everyone"
Unfortunately I believed him when he told me the short pile would need the transition strip. And to add insult to injury he told me I would have to pay him to install an Oak transition strip. After seeing all the responses and shedding new light and raisining good points about how it could have transitioned properly to the short pile if the linoleum had been cut properly I have the company owner (the installer's father) coming over for a look see. Stayed tuned.
Oh, it's definitely my fault for going with that company....just ask my wife. I thought a local small family owned and operated business would do an A+ job. Live and learn.
Should be interesting. Personally, if that is the only problem and I could shop make a transition easily and inexpensively, I might do it and pick a battle for a more important day. BUT ... you know the situation and your resources better than we. I would generally have the same attitude as many of these guys ... make them make it right; it's part of the job ... the detail should have been ID'd before the job started and an initial game plan formulated for dealing w/ it. The carpet guy should have known that in the beginning.
There are other problems too. The same persons installed the linoleum and carpet. The linoleum was cut too short and did not extend to the end of its underlayment which is higher than the carpet's underlayment. The linoleum area is quite large. They made a template and precut almost the entire thing in their shop. Guess they goofed and cut short in a few spots.
What they didn't leave a few inches measure for site fine tuning?? Go figure. You could cut the underlayment and lineoleum back a bit to allow your trim piece to butt up against it ... assuming that is what you want/need. How short of the underlayment is the linoleum? ... I'm assuming 1/4"+/-?? Don't tell us a few inches ... I'd have them redo the linoleum if it was.
There were a few other areas that should have had a little extra for fine tuning. Yes, it's only 1/4 inch or so. He was supposed to be the expert. I didn't see the way he made his cutting pattern. Cutting back the underlayment to make it even with the tile is a good idea but then the carpet would have to be extended to meet it. The company owner is coming over to check things out. I'll see what he has to say about the installation and the dings.
The transition piece could fill the gap between linoleum and carpet, couldn't it? It can be any dimension. A 1/4" wider might not be a big deal? Only you know, as you are there.
The gap is not uniform over the whole length of the 'joint'. Probably the best thing to do would be to use the linoleum as the guideline and remove any underlayment that is exposed. Router with a top mounted bearing flush trim bit. Or cut the linoleum back and piece in a wider strip? I'm not too happy about a transition strip. Kind of used to the carpet butting the linoleum.
so, to be clear, the previously installed linoleum has a ragged/crooked/poor quality edge where it abuts a carpeted area - the old/original carpet's deep pile hid this edge, now the newly installed, short pile carpet has exposed the poor quality linoleum install?I could see where the current carpet man could be up against a difficult issue - dunno - can you post a picture?"there's enough for everyone"
The underlayment beneath the linoleum is a bit higher than the underlayment beneath the carpeted area. The old linoleum extended right to the edge of its underlayment and butted right to the carpet. The new linoleum does not extend to the edge of the underlayment so between the edge of the linoleum and the carpet there is space, 1/4 inch or so. That's the problem. I'm guessing that he used the shorter carpet as his excuse for needing the transition strip. The 'linoleum' room also adjoins 2 other rooms at doorways. At one doorway the linoleum abuts a carpeted room and the abutting is perfect. At the other doorway the linoleum abuts a room with slate tile and its abutting is also perfect, but they did chip the slate removing the old linoleum...but that's another issue. There is a punch list for the owner when he comes to see and talk. By the way the same persons installed the new linoleum and the new carpet.