I am renovating a small guest bathroom and I am preparing to lay the ceramic tile on the floor. I will lay the Hardibacker tomorrow but I have a question about the doorway. Upon completion, there will be ceramic tile in the bathroom and the existing vinyl sheet flooring in the hall. Do I take the ceramic and vinyl to the center of the doorway and cover with a threshold? If so, what do I look for when I purchase the threshold? Any advice would be great.
Thanks.
Replies
Most home centers sell marble thresholds of various sizes, or you can make your own or buy one made of wood.
Ideally the tile would butt up to the threshold but sometimes it's easier to do the tile first and cap the edge with the threshold. It's harder to get a good looking job that way though.
look for a "saddle" type threshold.....it is tapered on each side with a flat in the center, approximately 3/4" thick at the center section.......usually made out of Oak.......What is the difference in height between bath and hall?...and how much clearance do you have now between the door bottom and future final finish height?....if it's less than 3/8" you could probably get away with shimming the saddle on the hall side, but do it so you get adequate support under the saddle.....Your probably going to have to trim the door bottom....so plan for it now....then remove door before underlayment install...it'll be much easier for installation.
Ideally the transition from bath to hall is done so the meeting of the different floor coverings is under the door itself....so you only see vinyl (not the tile) from the hall side when the door is closed to the bath. Depending on the height differential you couls rip the bath side of the saddle and set it right on the vinyl floor and butt to the tile (the ripped edge toward the tile) either way the saddle should be centered in the door jamb.
Geoff
The marble and wood mentioned are both good alternatives; I have marble in my current house and put oak in at my last house. I prefer to line up the edge of the threshold with the edge of the frame.
George Patterson, Patterson Handyman Service
Having the junction directly under the door is traditional. You could get creative and put in a wide thransition stip, as wide as the door jamb, and a contrasting material. Maybe black granite or a scrap of corian.
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