What is a wood transition strip and why are they so out of style?
Above: Typical installation with transition strip.
Above: Marble to hardwood installation without wood transition strip.
Above: Carpet to porcelain tile installation without transition strip.
When hardwood flooring meets tile, stone or another type of material a transition from the wood flooring to the dissimilar material is required. This is typically accomplished with a wood transition strip. This is the way it's always been done. It covers the nasty crack and adjusts for height variations between materials.
The only problem with this approach, a transition strip normally sits on top of the hardwood flooring and other material so it becomes a tripping hazard. Since the Universal Design trend is all about eliminating barriers, a tripping hazard is no longer acceptable. The issue is about the thickness of materials.
In Central Florida, homes with few exceptions, have a concrete slab on the first floor. This requires a different hardwood flooring application. The normal product choice is glued down engineered (3/8”-3/4” thick) wood flooring. The best installation is without a wood transition strip between dissimilar materials as it eliminates the tripping hazard associated with a transition strip. It’s a clean look!
Unfortunately, it costs more to make materials of different thicknesses butt together smoothly. This application requires the thinner material to be raised up to the level of the thicker material. This normally is accomplished by applying a leveling compound to the slab in multiple layers until the combination of the leveling compound and the wood flooring matches the height of the dissimilar material. Sometimes, this can take days to accomplish as the leveling compound is applied in layers and dries before the next layer is applied. With large variations (think ½”+) between material thicknesses this can take days to accomplish and require many trips back to the construction site, adding to delays and increased cost. Owners have to decide if eliminating transition strips are worth the added cost.
Have an awesome day!
Mike
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