Overlap Reducer Molding Wood Floor Transitions

        While installing a floating floor, it's especially important to leave expansion gaps where the new flooring meets up with walls or with a second floor. Overlap Reducers were created for the purpose of transitioning smoothly from this floating floor to a second floor like vinyl, tile or low pile carpet. Much like a Flush Reducer, an Overlap Reducer gradually slopes down to meet the second floor, but instead of locking in flush with the hardwood, an Overlap Reducer has a small protruding piece which will overlap the floating hardwood or laminate flooring. The purpose of this overlap portion of the transition piece is to hide the expansion gap left, allowing the floating floor to move without restriction.

        To install an Overlap Reducer, simply glue down to the subfloor using construction adhesive and/or you can face nail into the subfloor using 8 penny finish nails. Do not adhere the Overlap Reducer to the actual hardwood or laminate flooring at all. The overlap part of this transition piece is meant to simply rest on the floating floor.

        Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for the best results.

Threshold Molding Wood Floor Transitions

        Threshold Molding is used in situations where a hardwood or laminate floor is meeting up with a second floor of a different height. Instead of a gradual slope, like a Reducer, a Threshold has a rounded off square edge appearance. Thresholds are perfect when butting a hard surface floor up to a high pile carpet and are also often used when hardwood or laminate floors are meeting up with a sliding glass door track. A Threshold will overlap the hardwood or laminate floor and create a defined transition to this second surface. Threshold molding is sometimes referred to as Baby Threshold.

        To install a Threshold, simply glue down to the subfloor using construction adhesive and/or you can face nail to the subfloor using 8 penny finish nails. It's important to note that if you're using a Threshold with a 3/4 inch. thick solid hardwood floor, the bottom of the molding may rest at approximately 1/4 inch. above the subfloor. The Threshold can still be used. You would just need to use a heavier bead of construction adhesive or use a filler piece on the subfloor under the bottom of the molding to offer more support to the Threshold.

        Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for the best results.

End Cap Molding Wood Floor Transitions

        Square Nose Reducers are very similar to Thresholds but have a more squared off edge. Typically used with floating floor, a Square Nose is perfect for butting hard surface floors up against vertical obstacles, where a Quarter Round or Wall Base would be difficult to use to cover an expansion gap like a brick wall, fireplace, sliding glass door, entryway doors. The Square Nose Reducer overlaps the hardwood or laminate floor, hiding the expansion gap with the overlapped portion of the molding.

        Installation of a Square Nose Reducer would involve using construction adhesive to glue the transition piece to the subfloor and/or face nailing the piece to the subfloor using 8 penny finish nails.

        Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for the best results.

Flush Reducer Molding for Laminate Floor Transitions

         Floating floors that need a surface terminator that function as a fixed anchor too can used a Flush Reducer molding (if available). These are less common in the marketplace. The tongue and grove would fit into the reducer and the reducer would be fasten to the floor. Any expansion in the floor would be away from the molding since there is no "gap" in the molding transition. It has the benefit of a smooth floor transition, versus an overlap reducer which protrudes above the floating floor.

        This molding will reduce the height of the floor from the height of the floating floor to the subfloor level. If you have just half covered room with a floating floor or the floor stops in a doorway for example you can use Flush Reducer molding to finish the job. Flush reducers reducers do not accommodate expansion of the floating floor and are therefore not widely used for installations. Availability is subject to manufacturer.

        To install a Flush Reducer molding, an anchor track is required. This molding design relies on a metal track that is nailed or screwed to the floor between. The molding is then snapped into place. This method is glueless and makes installing a floating floor quicker since there is no glue drying time. The floating floor can then be click locked into the molding. Check the installation guidelines of the manufacture for full details.

        Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions for the best results.