What you decide to do when it comes to meeting carpet up to new or old flooring fully depends on height, whether the carpet has damage along the edge, and visually, the colour or flooring type and what will look best.
When Flooring Is Slightly Higher
The most common and straightforward type of transition is when the new flooring is slightly higher than the carpet. This allows us to install smooth edge right along the edge of the transition. Smooth edge is the same material that goes around the whole room. This is one of the cleanest, cheapest, and most straightforward transitions you can do. When an area follows this same layout of being slightly higher, you can pretty much install whatever transition you’d like.
When There’s a Significant Height Difference
If the height difference is too much, the most straightforward option is installing smooth edge along the transition. Any other alternatives can end up looking quite out of place. We commonly see this in bathroom doorways, where most have a transition bar or strip built into the bathroom edge. So if you’re trying to bring in new transitions along the carpet, you’re effectively butting two transition strips up against each other. Add the height difference on top of that, and it can create a very weird-looking doorway.
When Flooring Is Level With the Carpet Subfloor
If the flooring is completely level with the subfloor of the carpet, smooth edge no longer works because it requires somewhere to tuck up to. This is when you need a transition strip of some sort. There are metal trims, which come in silver, gold, bronze, and other variations depending on the specific trim. Our most common option is a plastic cover strip, mostly due to its usage with damaged areas and its simplicity to install.
The plastic cover strip is essentially a bar that goes under the carpet with a groove in it. A plastic cover is then put into that groove, which covers a small part of the carpet and a small part of the new flooring.
Why Plastic Cover Strips Work Best
The reason plastic cover strips are the most straightforward to install is because they can easily be nailed into concrete. Metal trims only allow wooden-specific nails, meaning they only work with a wooden floor underneath. With concrete, you’d have to drill and plug the concrete, then nail into those sections — which requires quite a bit of work.
How Transitions Solve Multiple Problems
Whichever transition is used, all are able to prevent fraying or address existing damage to the edge. If there’s already been damage, a transition strip can effectively bring the carpet further into the room, allowing you to cut out the damage up to the new strip.
Get the Right Transition
Choosing the right transition depends on your specific situation — the height difference, existing damage, and the look you want. Don’t guess. Give Express Carpet Repairs a call and we’ll assess your flooring layout and recommend the best transition option. We work all throughout Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast.