[oRIDDLERo]

Hello everyone.

I'm currently doing a marble floor installation job and would like to get some ideas on how to handle the transition from a marble dining room floor into a sunken living room. I have never done a step like this so I'm looking for some feedback.

I have ripped down the pre-existing floor down to the tongue and groove sub-floor planking, Re-secured it and eliminated all of the squeaks with screws. I then added a 1/2 inch layer of plywood Now I am in the process of adding a 1/2 inch layer of wonder board prior to using self-leveling underlayment to embed the electrical heated floor element, than the final layer of marble will go in.

Once all of the layers of flooring are in there will be a ~5 inch step down into the living room area from the dining room. I have rebuilt the step with new lumber and will be laying the layers flush to the new step. What would be the best way to transition? I was thinking of creating my own bullnose marble on the edge of the step using a bullnose wheel on the my wet saw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTgHq8C__zI The problem is if the bullnosed marble tiles are flush with the step there will be no room for molding beneath step. I am also concerned with the durability of the bullnose finish as this will be a high traffic area and marble is a soft stone so the edge may chip or become damaged over time. I am also trying to avoid a raised edge on the step corner for cosmetic reasons. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advanced for any advise.

I have attached a pic for reference:

 

[Dave in Pa]

I am NOT a flooring guy, but in my opinion I would set a oak threshold at the correct height even with the top of the finished marble. Much more durable in that type of traffic area! Set it with a kick plate, some scotia, good to go!! And it will look great!

 

[oRIDDLERo]

The living room floor will be refinished white oak from 1930 so that might be a nice idea, I will suggest it. I actually have about 100 sq ft of extra white oak flooring I tore out of the dining room (where the marble is going) and ran through a planer and it looks like new. Maybe I could use some of it to fabricate a kick plate and threshold. Any other thoughts?

Do you have any pictures to illustrate what you have in mind?

 

[ccoffer]

I would use a Schluter profile. They have some nice looking ones, and they can take the traffic. You could just bullnose the tile and face the riser with tile for support, but it's going to get dinged up.

 

[tenon0774]

I would use a Schluter profile. They have some nice looking ones, and they can take the traffic. You could just bullnose the tile and face the riser with tile for support, but it's going to get dinged up.

What he said!

 

[Hiber]

I agree with Dave. I do it that way and it looks great and softens the edge visually. I also think makes the step more noticeable to people.

 

[oRIDDLERo]

I thought I would report back with some pictures

So many people post for information and never report back with their final results so I thought I would come back and post a few pictures of the completed job.

This was my first ever stone and wood installation, about 200 ft.² of marble, and some oak patching utilizing original oak hardwood plank from the dining room that under three layers of linoleum. I ran the flooring through a planar to remove the glue and staining and utilized it in an expansion in the master bedroom and other expansion patch areas before sanding. As you can see, after the sanding and refinishing the patch wood is a perfect match with the existing original wood in that room.

The transition and to step up into the dining room was fabricated from Oak And will be sealed and finish to match the existing flooring.