For the transition from hardwood flooring to tile, I've seen several posts recommending: 1) an expansion gap of 1/2 the width of a tile joint; 2) that's then filled to within 1/4" of the top of the gap with foam caulk backing; 3) that's then filled to the top of the gap with sanded caulk color-matched to the hardwood;...
Full Answer
Can you put tile next to hardwood flooring?
Most of today’s floor tile is ⅜ inch to ¾ inch thick. Most hardwood flooring is ¾ inch thick. This means that when you put tile next to hardwood flooring, your tile choice will be critical for a flush transition. Simply tiling on top of a plywood subfloor is not an option — this practice is frowned upon and is not permitted by the TCNA or TTMAC.
How thick should a wood transition be between tile and wood?
Notice where the wood transition meets the tile here — the wood is not cut to a feathered edge but kept to about ⅛ inch thick. This makes the edge stronger. The reducing transition also overlaps the tile, which helps with movement, since wood and tile expand at different rates.
How do you link floor tiles to hardwood floors?
The simplest way to link floor tile and hardwood of different heights is with a transition strip. These strips can be finished to look like the floor or painted to stand out. Tip:Leave ⅝ inch to ¾ inch of space centered underneath the door for the bottom of the transition strip.
Can you transition a bathroom tile floor to hardwood?
Transitioning a bathroom’s tile floor to the hardwood of another room is often given little forethought. However, not planning the transition can result in a final product that doesn’t meet your expectations, or a floor assembly that’s destined to fail.
How much space do you need between wood floor and tile?
Normally a space of between 10 and 15mm, it's not a huge amount of space, but it's enough to help prevent problems with wood flooring when it expands and contracts. Wood is a completely natural product and as such, when it heats up and cools down and when it takes in and lets out moisture, it expands and contracts.
Can you put tile next to hardwood?
When you install a tile floor next to a wood floor, there is usually a difference in height. Instead of expensively raising or lowering one of the floors, the solution is to use a transition strip between the wood and the tile.
How do I transition between hardwood floors and tiles?
0:372:36How to Transition From Tile to Wood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe dieter to the wood. That will be just perfect to come up to where we're snugging this right downMoreThe dieter to the wood. That will be just perfect to come up to where we're snugging this right down to the heart so can we set that down there sure can I see how it's going to look.
Should I grout between tile and wood?
Anytime a hardwood edge meets a tile edge, this small crack will not only be natural, but necessary to achieve a smooth transition. Whether the tile is in a bathroom, kitchen, or around a fireplace where the wood butts up to the tile, there will be a grout line that needs to be filled.
What type of flooring looks good next to hardwood?
Hardwood is a classic and high-end option for flooring, but ceramic tile offers durability and affordability. Combining the two materials in a single room creates a customized look that attracts buyers and impresses your friends with your design skills. ...
How far should hardwood floor be from wall?
For hardwood or bamboo, leave a gap between 10 to 15 mm (3/8 to 5/8 in).
How high can a floor transition be?
The Maximum Height Difference Between Floors Still, at most it shouldn't get worse than ½-¾” because it starts to get unmanageable at that point. Some private residences can have a 2-3″ difference and still be reasonable, especially if they're in a manufactured house.
How do you transition from different floor heights?
When transitioning flooring of different heights, you can use caulking or padding to make the lower floor the same as the taller floor. In that case, you'll want to place the side of the T-strip on the part with the lower finish height.
Do you need transition strips between rooms?
Why Do I Need to Use Transition Strips? Transition strips serve two main purposes in a residential or commercial space. First, they're put in place to make navigating from room to room easier. They also provide a visual break between rooms and flooring materials that might otherwise be jarring and less than attractive.
What is the thinnest grout line for tile?
1/16″Smallest size grout lines should not be less than 1/16″. This is an acceptable space that can be properly grouted. When the space between tiles is so little like 1/32″ which is often referred to as “credit card lines” or “penny lines”, it's not possible to fill that space all the way through the bottom of the tile.
Can you put grout next to wood?
The main thing you want to avoid is staining the wood with either the grout or the water used to wash the grout off. If the wood is stained or sealed, it will be much easier. You also need to recognize that grout will not bond well to wood and will eventually crack free.
Can you caulk between tile and wood?
Caulk seals seams between tile and fixtures or walls. A carefully run line of caulk (known as a bead) in these areas adds a finished touch. Caulk is stickier than grout and adheres to the surfaces of many different materials, including drywall, wood, glass, and porcelain fixtures.
What kind of tile looks good with wood floors?
Ceramic tile goes well with wood floors. You won't go wrong in choosing the right ceramic tile because of these features: Durability.
Can you put vinyl plank next to hardwood?
Matching your existing hardwood with vinyl flooring is possible. You can do this by applying transition strips. A transition strip is an attenuated molding piece that bridges 2 types of flooring that are different in elevation or tones.
Can you grout against wood?
The main thing you want to avoid is staining the wood with either the grout or the water used to wash the grout off. If the wood is stained or sealed, it will be much easier. You also need to recognize that grout will not bond well to wood and will eventually crack free.
Can you caulk between tile and wood?
Caulk seals seams between tile and fixtures or walls. A carefully run line of caulk (known as a bead) in these areas adds a finished touch. Caulk is stickier than grout and adheres to the surfaces of many different materials, including drywall, wood, glass, and porcelain fixtures.
How thick is tile floor?
Most of today’s floor tile is ⅜ inch to ¾ inch thick. Most hardwood flooring is ¾ inch thick. This means that when you put tile next to hardwood flooring, your tile choice will be critical for a flush transition.
How to link tile and hardwood?
The simplest way to link floor tile and hardwood of different heights is with a transition strip. These strips can be finished to look like the floor or painted to stand out.
What is the deflection rating for tile?
Tip: If you’re working with large-format tile or natural stone, specify that your rooms meet a stronger deflection rating: L/720, instead of the base-standard L/360. This number indicates how much flex a floor has before tile is installed — both the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC) require L/720 for heavy installations.
What is a reducing wood transition?
This is often called a reducing wood transition, because it works with two surfaces, reducing their height differences.
Can you transition a bathroom floor to hardwood?
Transitioning a bathroom’s tile floor to the hardwood of another room is often given little forethought. However, not planning the transition can result in a final product that doesn’t meet your expectations, or a floor assembly that’s destined to fail.
Can you mill a transition?
A custom transition can be milled by your flooring contractor for installation after the tile is complete. Notice where the wood transition meets the tile here — the wood is not cut to a feathered edge but kept to about ⅛ inch thick. This makes the edge stronger. The reducing transition also overlaps the tile, which helps with movement, since wood and tile expand at different rates.
Can tile be transitioned from one room to another?
Many also want the tile to transition seamlessly from one room to the other. This can be done, but most homeowners don’t know that their home has to be designed with extra strength and rigidity to carry this weight.
How long does tile last?
Tiles are also one of the longest-lasting options that will usually last around 20 years . This makes it a great option for those with lots of people in the home or with lots of animals since it can be cleaned easily and will last a long time. Another great benefit of tile is that they can be replaced easily.
Why is it important to have hardwood floors in your house?
Having hardwood floors can also be a great upgrade to do to your house if you are planning on selling it soon because it raises the value of the home. Houses with hardwood floors tend to sell faster than others, and they also have higher selling prices.
Why is wood flooring so popular?
This type of flooring is definitely an option that has become a popular choice in the last decade or so. This is likely because it is strikingly beautiful on the floors of a home. Also, it is a top choice for homes that have an open floor plan because the wood is on full display.
Do you have to have tile or hardwood floors in every house?
Each person and homeowner will likely be looking for something different, so using tiles vs hardwood floors for every house will depend on what kind of lifestyle you live, and if you have lots of pets and children or others in the home with you.
Is tile flooring tough?
Negatives. One of the issues that come with tile is the fact that it is still one of the toughest floors to install. With so many tools and materials required, it is not easy to do yourself, so you will likely spend more on professional installation. The weight of the tiles can also be a problem.
Is hardwood flooring good for the future?
Hardwood floors are not only a beautiful option, but it also has a classic look that never goes out of style. The value of hardwood floors is maintained over time better than other options, which means that you will have a good investment for the future no matter what style you change the house to .
Can tile be used in different rooms?
This also means that you can choose several different options for each room of the house that you want to be a different style.
Why do we put hardwood floors in the living room?
Hardwood might be installed in the living room because wood is beautiful and warm underfoot. In the bathroom and kitchen, ceramic or porcelain tile might be installed, since tile is supremely moisture-resistant. Outside of function, different types of floors might be installed simply for aesthetic reasons. With a patchwork of different floor ...
How long does it take to install transition strips?
Installation takes less than half an hour for most strips, and a few installations can be accomplished in about fifteen minutes. Cons: No matter how well-installed, the lip on surface transition strips may eventually catch on something such as a shoe or toy, causing it to gradually loosen.
Can you put tile next to wood?
When you install a tile floor next to a wood floor, there is usually a difference in height. Instead of expensively raising or lowering one of the floors, the solution is to use a transition strip between the wood and the tile.
Is wood flooring predictable?
Wood flooring (including laminat e flooring) is more predictable. Subflooring, underlayment, and the wood flooring itself all contribute to make a single-height surface. The answer to height differences is to use a floor transition strip that ramps up or down from tile flooring to wood flooring. Transition strips, typically made ...
Can you use flush transitions on tile?
Flush transitions can only be installed when both flooring surfaces have straight, parallel edges. By contrast, surface tile transitions are more forgiving, because they can cover up irregular, ragged edges.
Is porcelain tile good for a bathroom?
In the bathroom and kitchen, ceramic or porcelain tile might be installed since tile is durable and moisture-resistant .
Can you install flush tile transition strips?
Flush transitions can only be installed when both flooring surfaces have straight, parallel edges.
What is the grout spacing for tile?
Let’s use the example of 3/8 inch which is a common grout joint spacing for ceramic tile.
Is it better to install a net fitting or a tight fitting?
Net fitting or installing tight with engineered products will provide higher success rates due to the construction of the material. Take a look at many hardwoods installed in commercial settings. One in particular would be shopping malls. Nearly all are engineered or constructed in cross ply fashion, almost eliminating any expansion and contraction. Yes, there may be some, but the amount is negligible.
Can hardwood floors be butted?
When taking into account how hardwoods expand and contract, specifically solid flooring, it’s not uncommon to see many floors butted where the flooring runs perpendicular to the butted area. This could include front door thresholds, built in cabinetry, or other fixed and stationary elements. For any successful application, keeping an eye on what the interior relative humidity is likely to average should be considered.
Do you cut tile straight or straight?
Having a straight surface to work against will provide the cleanest appearance. In other words, the tile or stone flooring should be cut or installed straight.
Can you use solid hardwood in a kitchen?
You could still use a solid hardwood but many are turning to engineered hardwoods; eliminating the expansion and contraction concerns. Unfortunately nearly all engineered hardwoods are too thin to meet vertically flush. Sadly the only solutions become using an ugly transition molding or adding an additional layer of plywood throughout the layout to offset the difference.
Can you put tile over cement?
Those with basement or crawlspace type home construction, ceramic tile or stone today is installed over cement backer board. Gone are the days of using wire mesh and a mud bed that was designed to prevent premature cracking.
Can you use engineered hardwood for ceramic tile?
Considering most ceramic tile and it’s adhesive base measures about 3/8 of an inch vertically (concrete slab) on completion, many are limited to using 3/8” or 1/2" engineered hardwoods.
