How To Transition Between Two Different Wood Floors-Ideas And Options

Getting two different kinds of floorings or at least different styles (colors, patterns, textures) of the same flooring is quite a common experience that comes hand in hand with any and every wood floor treatment project. Besides, the struggle for matching a new flooring of a room with the rest of the house is also a legit concern.

And of course, having the same kind of flooring all across the house isn’t certainly an acceptable or aesthetically presentable factor either. Therefore, there does arise the dire need for something that serves as a style/ structure sustaining bridge between the newly installed flooring and pre-existing one.

And eventually, this all comes down to the addition of a flooring essential known as Transition. While this might be a new concept for the novices, it’s an absolute necessity when it comes to syncing two different floorings together or achieving maximum outcomes from a flooring treatment, to be more specific.

You’re more than welcome to learn about each and every aspect of “How To Transition between two different wood floors” at the Pro Flooring Guide. 

Basic And Common Concerns Regarding Hardwood Floor Transitions 

Now before we proceed to the very procedure of transitioning two different wood floors, it’d be really favorable to first have a thorough comprehension of it, followed by the situation-based reasons and various factors involved within it.

What’s The Point Of Hardwood Floor Transitions? 

Floor Transitions are a must-have when two different floorings come in contact with each other.

• The difference could also be in the structure of the same kind of floorings installed within different places, the most common example of which is the difference in thickness that asks for a connecting medium in between.

• The most common and obvious reason for creating transitions between floors is the need to make two otherwise versatile floorings appear well-synced, seamless, and visually pleasing together.

• Floor Transition is an ultimate cruciality when there is a need for changing the look of the floor, i.e. for turning one floor into another in the same space, within some sort of design.

• Transition strips or simply the floor transition provides flawless coverage for the seam between two floors and makes it appear entirely seamless as well as attractive.

• Transition is particularly important for wood floors since it keeps the edges of the wood floors safe from the damage likely to be caused by heavy footfall and wear and tear. Besides, it also allows the natural movement (expansion and contraction) of the wood floor to take place, without any chance of damage or any effect on the gap coverage.

Can You Have Two Different Types Of Hardwood Floors? 

Two different wood floors can absolutely be put together, however, as long as the placement and alignment are done in an accurate manner. For sure, you wouldn’t want to see even a bit of mismatching amongst two different colors and sized Hardwood floorings.

And since it’s almost not feasible every time to have an entire flooring replacement, it all takes a little bit of creativity to get the job done and get the best results:

• Going for some particular yet suitable design choices, as well as pattern syncing, is the first step to making any and every transition look real, attractive, and intentionally created, rather than some nasty-looking element that seems to be done accidentally.

• Having the transitions at doors or entrances and never in the middle is another factor that needs to be ensured the right way.

• In certain cases, it’s not very easy or simply possible to have transitions in the middle of the room/ area, that’s exactly the point when you’d want to consider several additional elements such as borders, so as to minimize the drastic difference amongst the two floors.

Do Wood Floors Need To Match?

In the first place, it isn’t, under any circumstances, something mandatory or a thumb rule to have the same flooring all across your place. Apart from being super boring, this is not possible either, most of the time, due to the distinctive requirements of each and every room.

And in the end, why mess or experiment with those rooms that already look adorable with different styles of floors, and compel them to be a twin of the new flooring that you’re going to install?

Let’s just stick to the dazzling distinction created by the difference in floors in the whole house. Or

• You can make things spicy with the addition of various appealing elements such as cute rugs, classy carpets, and different floor materials.

• If you don’t wanna go out of the way at all, you can just be smart and can easily get the job done with the help of the transition trick and your floors will be revamped like never before.

Essential Aspects Of Wood Floor Transitioning

Floor Transition, as a matter of fact, can be done in different ways in accordance with the condition of the floors, your personal choice, the kind of styling you look forward to, and most importantly with the functionality factor of your flooring.

Let’s take a look at those ways in which you can carry out a phenomenal transition of your floors.

Ways For Transitioning Wood Floors

Transitioning, for a reminder, is simply one or more ways in which two different styled or material floors are made to appear naturally synced, seamless, and well-adjusted with each other. The idea is to be as creative as possible, as the situation is the most likely to require you to come up with a combined approach of more than one technique, as well.

And the very need for doing so can be either aesthetic purposes, structural requirements, or most of the time a balance between the new and old (two different) floors.

Let’s take a look at the methods used for this purpose and the set of equipment and/or techniques involved in each:

1. T-Moldings

• As suggested by the name, T Moldings feature a T-shaped profile and are used mostly with wood floors.

• The thin and round top piece gets to cover the transition between the two floors and the thick stem piece gets attached to the subfloor.

• For using this technique, the floors need to be installed with a gap of an inch, followed by the cutting of T Molding accordingly and its attachment to the floor.

• T Moldings are also the easiest to obtain and style since you can purchase them in a matching profile, right along with your wood flooring.

• T Moldings go ideal with the same-length floors, creating an entirely natural transition of the two, which not only feels attractive to look at but also feels super gentle and pleasing underfoot.

• An incredible application of the T Moldings is their usage as a natural transition, the one resembling a doorway, to be specific.

2. Seam Binder

• A seam Binder is used to create a smooth and seamless transition between floors.

• It comes in a pre-finished profile and the materials used most commonly are either Vinyl or Aluminum.

• It can also be sealed as well as stained in order to match the floors perfectly.

• The thin rounded piece of wood gets nailed down across the wood floors, giving rise to a natural and well-blended look.

• In addition to Aluminum seam binders, wood seam binders are also an excellent option and these pre-finished binders come in multiple choices of widths, as well.

• The simple yet attractive addition of Seam Binders gives off a “tacked-on” look and the significance lies in the fact that it blends the two floors in contact a lot more seamlessly as compared to a natural joint.

3. Transition Strips

• Transition strips are mostly used for floors having different heights, so they work for covering the gap present in between.

• These strips have the tendency to effectively provide coverage for up to ⅜ part of an inch.

• Vinyl, Aluminum, and Wood are the three common construction materials for Transition Strips.

• They come in both pre-finished and unfinished styles and can be customized in various ways such as staining and additional finishing within any desired colors.

• Prefinished transition strips usually have Vinyl, Wood, or Aluminum construction and can be easily customized in multiple ways according to the requirements.

• Unfinished transition strips have a wooden construction most of the time and are highly customizable with staining and finishing in accordance with the existing style of the surrounding floor.

4. Irregular/Non-Uniform Pattern Creation

• Creating irregular patterns for the transition strip is one of the most common practices of making two entirely different floors (in terms of texture and color)appear attractive together.

• Irregularly patterned transition makes the entire space look a lot more cohesive by blending each and every aspect together.

• Diagonal lines or curved-shaped pattern creation is the most common, effective, and practical example in this regard.

• Another scenario of doing so is the classy combination of a dark-colored floor and carpet that are connected with a transition strip emitting the herringbone pattern of the flooring.

5. Buffer Zone Addition

• The addition of a buffer zone is an incredible idea for syncing two different types of Hardwood Floors and essentially those within different shades, as well.

• A Buffer zone works like an accent tile in between the floors, making the overall appearance entirely seamless and of course, very eye-catching, too.

• The buffer zone, or a buffer tile to be more specific, works for easing the transition between two contradicting floors.

• A Buffer zone can even work wonders for two extremely cleaning floors, making them look entirely complementary to each other. Therefore, it offers huge freedom of experimenting with floor styles and designs.

6. Line Splitting

• Splitting the floor line, or to be more specific, it’s inducing somewhat of an interruption at the adjoining point of two floors, which, in most cases, are way too different from each other.

• Line splitting is an excellent way of dynamically switching the floor decor from one pattern or style to another, without making the drastic change look unusual or unpleasant.

• The most common way of doing so is to add any secondary furniture at the meeting point of two floors.
• The same job can be done with the addition of carpets or rugs, so as to create a transition between two floors.

7. Border Addition

• This technique refers to boosting the style of a floor by playing with borders, essentially adding a thin profile of it.

• Border addition usually goes to the floors that are to be end next to either a wall or some island kinda space, such as breakfast table or bar styled tables.

• Border addition also requires some sort of anchor piece(s) or secondary furniture placement around, so as to induce an overall style harmony to the place.

• This kind of floor transition makes it extremely feasible and favorable to design a single space with more than one kind of floor, without having to deal with anything going wrong at any point.

8. Covering Extension

• This is the technique in which floor boundaries are intentionally pushed, so as to give off the idea of a professionally done transition.

• The most comprehensive way to do so is to extend the very border of one flooring from the point where it was supposed to end otherwise, essentially exceeding the meeting point and nearly overlapping the other flooring.

• This technique works wonders when you want to be creative a little beyond the boundaries and to give a suave look to the two floors.

• Covering extension, besides providing the style freedom of more than one floor in a single space, is also an excellent idea to sync the floors of two different rooms or areas.

9. Thin Metal Transitions

• Using metal transition is a smart and contemporary alternative to using traditional wood transitions.

• The smooth, suave, and sleek profile of metal transitions is a perfect choice for modern decors since it offers an excellent and versatile complement to whole area decor.

• Metal transition strips, despite having really narrow profiles (usually the ⅛ part of an inch) look super attractive as a joint between floors. Besides, it’s also a wonderful way to add a presentable shine to your floors.

• Installation of a metal transition strip is also really easy since it only needs to be mounted in between the floor gap with the help of an adhesive.

10. Threshold Piece

• The wide, flat, and rectangular profile of the threshold is also available in the materials of stone and marble, apart from Hardwood.
• A threshold goes at the point of the doorway present between two distinctive floorings.

• Thresholds usually have a large and several inches wide structure, so they’re meant to appear really entrancing. Wood and stone thresholds are some particularly appealing options to consider.

• The installation of a threshold is super convenient, as well, since all you need to do is get a pre-cut threshold with a suitable length, particularly the one that resembles the transition area and install it between the two adjacent floorings.

11. Transition For Height Difference

• This kind of transition addition method is used to make Floors that feature different building levels (heights), as well as thickness levels, appear similar and seamless together.

• Using T Moldings is the solution for addressing a floor gap (difference) that is less than one inch. An angled nose or square nose molding can also be used in the same way.

• As for the floor difference more than a few inches, the situation calls for the addition of staircase solutions, for achieving the effect of smoothness and seamlessness.

• Stair nose pieces will do the job for you in this regard. They work by creating a circular edge on the flooring that’s higher, followed by going atop the vertically aligned floor to the face of the step.

Materials Used As Transition Strips

The transition can be done using various distinctive materials, pretty much similar to the different types of flooring choices around us. This is more of a functionality-related aspect, rather than simply a styling factor, as the purposefulness you are (or aren’t!) going to get does depend on the choice of the transition material, as well.

Here is a list of the most commonly used transition strip materials. You can choose the one according to your structural and aesthetic requirements or simply settle for the choice that has been recommended by your floor manufacturer.

1. Wood 

Wood is, by all means, a really classy choice and the best part is that you can get it within both pre-finished and unfinished options. The foremost significance of choosing wood as your transition strip material is the fact that it gets seamlessly blended with literally any and every type and style of flooring. Therefore you can easily play with your aesthetics regarding your home decor, thanks to the versatility of wood transition strips.

Another perk of using wood transition strips is that they look entirely natural, an ultimate relief for those of you who don’t appreciate any made-up additions.

In addition to the beauty factor, wood transition strips are widely available within multiple widths,sizes and thicknesses, so you won’t be having a hard time, at all, in getting the right one for your place.

2. Vinyl

Vinyl, all thanks to its ever-increasing popularity within a number of home improvement aspects these days, works wonders when used as a transition strip, as well. The benefits begin from the flawlessly waterproof functionality and go all the way to the super promising durability.

You can absolutely have Vinyl Transition strips within any and every part of your house, since the pairing gets along with all of the floor types.

Besides, it’s a particularly favorable choice due to the resilience and durability factor, not to mention the easiest maintenance. Also, it isn’t any less efficient when it comes to aesthetics and design versatility.

3. Aluminum

Aluminum is the highest sustainable and fool-proof choice of floor transition, due to multiple reasons. In the first place, it’s an absolutely best choice to go for, if your residence features a relatively higher extent of moisture or humidity.

The aluminum transition will not just remain entirely unaffected, but will also serve as a protective barrier for your floorings. Over and above, it’s got the highest resistance against literally all extents of foot traffic, making it a long-term favorable investment.

Coming to the aesthetic side, you can expect a number of versatile finishes within Aluminum transitions and they are super easy to customize according to the requirements, as well.

How To Transition Between Two Different Wood Floors

Tools And Supplies You’ll Need

• T-Molding
• Wood Floors

Easy Wood Floor Transitioning Guide 

• Beforehand Preparation

When transitioning two wood floors, you need to be careful about a number of aspects. These include choosing the contrasting colors and taking the room’s size into account, in the first place. In addition to that, you can also consider versatile pattern creations as well as the choice of different floor materials.

• Installing T Molding

The simplest way to install T Moldings is to have it at the threshold of the door. It can be installed by either adhering it or nailing it to the ground.

• Wooden Alternative

A wooden border is a perfect alternative to T moldings, in case you don’t find the above-mentioned solution really working or suitable for you. Besides, the wooden border goes perfectly with the surrounding wood floors. All you need to do is have its placement at the adjoining points or wherever you prefer to see a transition.

Expert Tips For Successful Floor Transitions 

Keep these helpful tips and tricks in mind, every time you find yourself dealing with a new flooring installation or simply want to induce some creativity to the former one.

• Have The Structural Survey

Before you do anything with the floor transition installation, make sure to determine and remember the difference between the heights of the two floors that you’ll be working with.

• Determine The Damage 

If your flooring gets excessively subjected to serious wear and tear, let’s say the pressure of heavy foot traffic, then you should particularly opt for a really sturdy and resilient floor transition strip material, which must be able to endure all that comes its way, rather than only making a choice based on aesthetic preference.

• Look For The Color Coherence 

When choosing the color for a transition strip material, opt for the one that can easily go well with the color of the main flooring of your place, or essentially the one that’s most abundant. And even if you don’t manage to find the exact color, choose similar undertones or matching patterns, since the idea is to get something that complements the existing floor, and certainly not something which appears as a complete mismatch.

• Take Atmosphere Into Account 

Aluminum transition strips work best if the humidity extent of your place is relatively higher. The reason is the obvious resilient nature of aluminum, which will remain serviceable for you for an extended period of time. After all, you’d want your investment to pay you back really well, right!

• Make A Family-Safe Choice

If you’ve got pets or similar natured unruly (no offense!) children, consider investing in a sturdy, resilient and durable floor transition material, so as to not end up getting the treatment again and again and simply wasting your time and money.

• Look For The Four-Legged Culprits 

If possible, try keeping your pets away from the transitions, in order to keep any possible scratching damage at bay.

• Consider The Footfall

Invest in a scratch-resistant transition material if you are (and you should be) well aware of the extent of foot traffic within your residence. This implies the need for an even sturdy choice if you’re looking forward to a transition treatment within any of your office or commercial places.

• Honor The Manufacturer 

That is, to look for all the given guidelines regarding the right choice of transition for your floors and this includes both the new and the old ones. Do check for the perfect compatibility, so the floor and transition companionship can last long and at best get the one that’s been advised by the creator since that will be the safest approach of all.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

How To Blend New And Old Hardwood Floors?

For achieving a smooth transition between contrasting flooring, all you need to do is benefit from the Hardwood borders. The idea is to give off the impression of an intentional contrast between the floorings by highlighting the differentiating character of the two. And the borders of the hardwood flooring are the best factors to play with your aesthetic creativity. That;’s because after all the contrasting floors seem to be a lot more engaging and entrancing than those containing matching patterns.

What’s The Point Of Using Transition? 

The first and foremost advantage of using transition is that it prevents the formation of any gaps, which otherwise could provide room for debris and dirt buildup. In addition to that, using transitions ensures that your floors don’t appear janky because of an immediate transition to a completely different type of flooring. Therefore, you’d want to make use of transitions in order to make your floors look entirely uniform, seamless, and significantly more eye-catching.

What Are The Best Materials To Use For Transition Strips Between Two Different Flooring Types?

Aluminum, Wood, and Vinyl are some of the most effective choices for transition pieces. That’s because these materials provide well for various purposes and thus prove fundamentally serviceable under almost all circumstances. Some major examples are the versatility of wood transition strips within pre-finished and unfinished options, not to mention the wide availability of width, color and size choices. As for aluminum strips, they are the best idea to consider if you look forward to resistance against heavy foot traffic. Vinyl transition strips have their significance in being completely waterproof and therefore a highly resilient option.

Is It Necessary For All The Wood Floors In A House To Match Each Other?

In the first place, it isn’t something mandatory or a thumb rule to have similar wood floors all across your place, besides, it’s often not that easy or practical either. That’s because treating your entire house with the same flooring is the most likely to become a really expensive project. And even if cost isn’t a concern for you, still not all floors look presentable when treated with the same flooring, rather certain rooms appear better when there is a contrast in the flooring. Besides, you can easily manage to make different floors look well-synced together and attractive by using transitions, carpeting or different floor materials.

What Tools Are Required For Installing Transition Strips?

The requirement of tools for installing transitions depends on what type of transition strip is being used. For instance, if you’re using wood transition strips, you’ll need a hammer, nail set, chisel, jigsaw, and power drill. As for aluminum transition strips, the job will be done by a hammer and a reciprocating saw having metal blades. Talking about the tools needed for Vinyl transition strips installation, you’ll need to have a staple gun and an electric screwdriver or drill.

When Should I Transition Floors? 

Flooring Transitions could be done at any point, whenever there is a contradiction between two different floor colors. Apart from that, the flooring transition also serves as a bridge for any gapping, when two different floors with different thicknesses come across each other. In addition to that, the flooring transition works for creating a smooth boundary at the adjoining point of two different material floorings. This way, the floors can be made to appear entirely seamless and much more eye-catching.