Best Transition?

mike959

Does anyone have suggestions on a floor hieight transition of about 2 1/2". The flooring surfaces are hardwood (lower) & slate tile (upper). The change occurs in a door way from a kitchen to an addition. I can't really taper either surface other than in the 6" door jamb. That seems like too steep an angle to me though. Any thoughts?? Thanks, Mike

jmic

Mike,
Your options seem limited, either make up the difference in the width of the jamb, which like you said would be substantial but IMO better than just a step at that height. If the doorway were between two walls you could ramp the floor out maybe 30"-36" and make a gradual incline. Best of luck!
Joe

Zero Punch

It's a step down and not anything you can do to eliminate it. The last one I ran into was a slab patio that was later enclosed VCT on slab, someone had boxed it and had metal stair nosing on the vinyl in the kitchen. I ripped it out framed it square with the jamb and filled it level with thinset went over that with hardi board drilled and nailed with galvanized nails into the plate then tiled. Finnished the front with tile. No nosing. The home owner was used to the step and tickeled that it looked clean and was now square with the jamb.

Tom R

Jeez, Mike 959, - - thats about the worst 'height differential' I can think of, - - I try to avoid ending up with anything over 1 1/2" or under 4 1/2", but then I'm sure you do too - - anyway, let's see, - - it's not usually as much of a problem for the homeowners as it is for the 'un-knowing' guests for whom it becomes a 'tripper', - - crazy as it may sound I think I would actually 'raise' it about maybe 3/4" or even 1" (to make it more visible to the unsuspecting 'level' eye)within that 6" jamb area with a custom wooden saddle that matches the hardwood floor, - - then maybe match that 'lower' (vertical) facing with the slate. Kinda' gives an 'alternating-transition' look, - - allows the eye to 'flow' from one room to the other. I would 'contour-bevel' the side that meets the slate, - - and 'nose' the side that overlaps the hardwood (and the face-slate).

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go dart

that sounds like an old porch enclosure. isn't the old porch small enough to raise the entire floor to match the kitchen? then you might have to raise the ceiling also. lots of those enclosures were poorly done so this may allow you to do it right.

go dart

i reread your post and understand they have hardwood and slate. i still believe the lower has to change to match the upper height. be careful with this one. its not your problem

Mike Finley

Mike the only thing I can see is trying to reduce the difference by 1) using ditra under the slate and 2) if economically possible, to put a layer of ply under the hardwood. If you could do both that might bring the difference down to 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" ??? Might make it just acceptable enough to get a smaller transition in there. As a last resort you could step the door way transition up using those slanted Schluter strips as nosing doing maybe 3 levels of about 1 1/2 inches wide each?? It would end up looking like 3 little terraced steps with gold slanted edges. Ugggglllllllllllllllyyyy... but combining everything above might be acceptable. At least with the slanted Schluters you would be sure to see them and they would at least be slanted and be less of a trip hazard.

go dart

i think his finish flooring is already set isn't it?

mike959

Oh yea, this is a bad sitituation. Not something I created but something I have to try to find the best solution for. The addition is not an enclosed porch. Unfortunatly it is the higher plane of the two. Not too sure about the schluter strip thing though Mike. Like you said "Uggggllllllllyyyyy". I'm in the framing stage right now so I have some time to figure this out. Maybe the saddle, like you mentioned Tom, would be the best. It would catch the eye and have a little style?? Thanks guys, Mike

Floorwizard

www.schluter.com

you might be suprised at what is available.

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bob the builder

Mike I think I must have just been at your house tonight because it has exactly what your describing. If it is you just sell it to me for a low price and I'll take care of it.

Teetorbilt

An alternative is called a 'splay'. It is simply a 'flow' from one level to the next. You see it everyday in concrete. You can create the same in wood.

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