Sep 17, 2009 I purchased some Schluter edging for a countertop, and it comes with a flange with some large triangular holes in it. How do I hold this in place until I start the tile work.
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Whether you are working with an expanded room or just transitioning from one room to another, there are times when two different flooring materials will butt up against each other. There are numerous ways to make the transition, but with carpet and tile meeting together, you have different options than you would have with a transition of wood to tile. Knowing the right options can help you choose the proper materials and installation.
Standard Transition
![Install Install](/uploads/1/2/5/2/125289852/293773133.jpg)
The traditional way of making the tile-to-carpet transition is with the tuck method. This is best done after the tile floor has been installed, but you can also remodel an existing carpeted floor to accommodate. The tack strip for the carpet is installed 1/4 to 3/8 inch from the edge of the tile, then the edge of the carpet is cut off at the direct tile edge, or it can span the slight gap between the tack strip and the tile edge. The carpet is then stretched over the top with a knee kicker and the slight overhanging carpet edge is tucked into the gap, with the hooks of the tack strip holding it in place. For existing carpet, simply ensure that your carpet is cut a few inches longer than where you want to end the tile, roll it back, then unroll it and cut it to fit when you finish the tile.
Z-Bar Installation
If you are looking for more insurance for the edge of the carpet where it meets the tile, a Z-bar is an optional security measure. In essence, it is a bar of metal that spans the transition length and is formed like a 'Z' so that the edge of the carpet is tucked under one edge. This is screwed or nailed to the floor and the tack strip is installed on top of the Z-bar with flooring glue. Z-bars are best used when the carpet is installed before the tile is installed. That way, the carpet is already tucked and you then tile up to the edge of it.
Concrete
If you are working with a transition point where a concrete floor is in place, you cannot nail down the tack strips, nor should you use general construction adhesive to mount a tack strip in place. Instead, there are specialty glues sold at home improvement stores which are specifically designed to mount tack strips to concrete. They are fast-drying and some come in a hot-glue style of application; others are troweled on or applied via a caulking gun. The same rule applies: the tack strip needs to be placed at least 1/4 inch from the edge of the tile to allow room for the tuck. Existing carpet installations merely require that the tile meet up to the edge.
Reducer Strips
Reducer strips come in a variety of formats, but the general rule is that they span a transition between two materials, such as tile and carpet, and interlock with the edges of both installations. They come in an array of formats, styles and materials, but their general installation requires a combination of glue and screws to mount the strip over the edge where the two materials meet. Some reducer strips install under the edge of the tile, over the tops of the two materials as they meet. Others are T-shaped and slide into the gap between the materials.
Resources (3)
About the Author
Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. His has been published online through GTV Magazine, Home Anatomy, TravBuddy, MMO Hub, Killer Guides and the Delegate2 group. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing.
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Anderson, Tim. 'How to Go From Carpet to Tile.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/carpet-tile-49222.html. Accessed 28 October 2019.
Anderson, Tim. (n.d.). How to Go From Carpet to Tile. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/carpet-tile-49222.html
Anderson, Tim. 'How to Go From Carpet to Tile' accessed October 28, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/carpet-tile-49222.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.
Tile edge trims are the pieces that finish the exposed edges of a tile installation. They may be installed on the front of a counter, the edge of the shower or where a tile floor meets another flooring material. There are numerous types of tile edge options available, and many have different installation concerns. Installed properly, they will help finish your tile installation.
Counter Edge Trim
There are several different tile profiles that can be installed on the edge of a counter. Bullnose, V-cap, sink rail, Prescott and Martel are just a few of the options available. They all install the same way, however. They are laid before the rest of the counter is tiled. First the tile adhesive is applied to the counter's edge with a caulking gun. Tiles that have a flat back, such as bullnose tiles, are pressed directly into the adhesive on the edge. Tiles that have an 'open' back, such as V-caps and sink rails, are covered on the back with an additional layer of mortar in a process known as back buttering. The tiles are then pressed onto the counter's edge.
Bullnose Installation
If you're installing bullnose tiles around the perimeter of a shower or at the top of a wall of tiles, the bullnose can be set using the same method used to install the rest of the tiles. The mortar is combed with the notched side of the trowel out to the edge of where the tiles, or edge pieces, will be installed. The bullnose tiles are set into the mortar at a slight angle, then twisted straight into place. If the bullnose are being set into a tight area, they can be back buttered or have the mortar applied to their backs prior to installation.
Specialty Trim Installation
Bullnose tiles are not the only trim options available for walls. Sometimes chair rail tiles, cove tiles, quarter-rounds, pencil tiles or listellos are used. Some of these tiles have flat backs, like the bullnose, and are installed just like the field tile that are being used. If the tiles have a rounded, or concave back, however, they must be back buttered by spreading the adhesive onto their backs with a trowel before installing them on the wall. Doing so ensures good mortar coverage, which will prolong the life of the installation.
Metal Edge Trims
Metal edge profiles are used on both floor and wall installations. They help protect the edges of the tile, while providing a clean, modern look. These metal strips are shaped like an 'L,' with the long arm going beneath the tile and the short arm covering the tile's edge. Metal edge profiles are installed by combing the mortar out to the edge of the installation. The long arm of the 'L' is pressed into the mortar. Additional mortar is combed on top of the metal strip, then the tile is laid over it so its edge comes up against the short arm, which covers it.
References (4)
About the Author
Sarabeth Asaff has worked in and has written about the home improvement industry since 1995. She has written numerous articles on art, interior design and home improvements, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design. A member in good standing with the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Asaff has working knowledge of all areas of home design.
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![Schluter tile edge strips Schluter tile edge strips](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AJexEfUlxPE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Asaff, Sarabeth. 'How to Install Tile Edge Trims.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-tile-edge-trims-68072.html. Accessed 28 October 2019.
Asaff, Sarabeth. (n.d.). How to Install Tile Edge Trims. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-tile-edge-trims-68072.html
Asaff, Sarabeth. 'How to Install Tile Edge Trims' accessed October 28, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-tile-edge-trims-68072.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.