We are starting to install hardwood upstairs in the bedrooms and hallway. I would like a piece of the hardwood flooring itself to act as a transition strip across each doorway. It would also have to be levelled with the tile going into the bathroom. The issue is that two of our bedroom doorways are on a 45' angle (see pictures). We can't figure out how to best approach installing the hardwood considering the change of direction happening at the doorways, and the fact that we are working against a cut edge and not with the manufactured tongue and groove. My husband is worried about having to get the 45' cut boards sitting flush and level with the pieces that will sit across the doorway as the transition/reducer. I am also attaching a (rough!) sketch of the directions of the flooring, so you can see how it will be coming together.
I hope this makes some sense and that someone might be able to offer some guidance! Please ask if you would like me to clarify anything.
We are talking about installing the bedroom flooring ourselves and hiring an experienced contractor to install the hallway flooring (it's only 70sqft, but has transitions into 4bedrooms, a bathroom, and a closet.
Many thanks!
I don't having a problem with your transitions just make your own tongue and grooves and take the time to set up the saw or router accurately. However if you need a pro to do the hallway you need a pro for the rest of the job. I don't know many that would want to just do your transitions and 20 feet of hallway.
Hi Teri,
Yes, do your research on who you'll hire for this job. You've only got one shot.
Look at references, previous jobs call previous customers. You can try this yourself. If you create a half lap joint on both edges of your transition piece. (So if you looked at the end of the board it would look like a " T ") and then do the opposite affect on all the ends on a 45 degree on all the pieces in the hall and bedrooms that are meeting up with that transition. Once you have a satisfactory tight fit you can simply just glue it down with " PL Premium " Adhesive. Jam a couple of 2 x 4's in the door way overnight to set the glue.
Good Luck!
Alternatively, you can do it just as you're thinking. The cut 45 meeting the transition. Just create back the micro bevel with a sander and use a touch up colour to re stain the edge. Then glue with PL Premium and if possible 18gauge finishing nails that might need to be countersunk. But the best way is the time consuming way of re-installing a tongue and/or groove to the corresponding edge. Still might have to create the micro bevel and colour if your planks have that design.
Remember to run across your floor joist and door way check. That means what is behind the door you don't see it at the bottom.
But yes, the cuts will be on a 45 so if you do the bedrooms after, make sure the installer does not nail in the 45 cut pcs so you can feather in the
rooms after.
Thank you all for your help. It is much appreciated!
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