Hello,

Attached are two pictures of a baseboard transition b/w carpet and hardwood that was installed by the builder of our house. We had no say as to what was done, since we bought the house as a spec house. First pic is standing in doorway between kitchen and dining room to the right, 2nd pic is from in dining room looking towards kitchen. The hardwood has shoe molding with the baseboard, while the carpet does not have shoe molding. The top of molding is slightly different in height between the carpet and hardwood, so that block breaks it up, so you don't really see the height difference because they are not butted up against each other. Does anyone know if the block that transitions between the two floors is a specialty piece of baseboard, does it have a name? Its not just a solid piece of wood, the top edges of the block all have small chamfers on them. Was not sure if you can buy this somewhere, or if it was just extra carpentry work.

I am asking this, because I want to do something similar in our basement that I am finishing. The upstairs flooring does not have a transition strip between though 2 flooring types, the carpet is just shimmed to match the hardwood. In our basement I have carpet going to 1/8" vinyl and have a transition strip connecting the two. (http://www.covebase-n-transitions.co...ion-Strip.html (http://www.covebase-n-transitions.com/Johnsonite-CTA-XX-D-Vinyl-Carpet-to-Resilient-Floor-Transition-Strip.html)) The link is to the transition strip we are using for the carpet to vinyl. It has 5/16" gap for carpet to be tucked into, and then a 1/8" notch for the vinyl to slide under. What I want to do is where the transition strip comes up to the wall, I want to place a similar block as seen in the photos up against the wall, and have the transition strip run right up to it. That way I can have molding at different heights to the left and right of that block (carpet approx 3/8" off subfloor) and vinyl (1/8" off subfloor), but then the block breaks up that height difference, and I do not need to rip down the molding in the carpet areas to match.

Few questions
1. Does anyone know what that block is called, is it a specialty molding, can I buy it somewhere, or just need to do some extra wood work?
2. Does the basement install of moldings with that block sound good?

Let me know if you need clarification on anything, I tried to include all pertinent info.

Thanks,
Steve

Called a plinth block. Just a rectangular block of wood. Top edge usually has some design to it. Usually a single piece of wood. Often made of popular. Popular is a close grain wood, paints up nicely and is not expensive but can be made of any wood. Can easily be made on table saw. Plinth blocks most often have more intricate designs on the top edge, such as an ogee cut, which is made with a router.

You may be should be able find plinth blocks in the molding section of Home Depot or Lowe's.

Yours looks to be 1 1/2" thick. If I were making it I would use a piece of 2x6, cut to length, (grain is vertical), chamfer the top edge on 3 sides. To hide the end grain, seal the end grain with shellac, then sand and apply another coat of shellac. Then paint.

Frankly, I would simply rip 1/4" the baseboard in the carpet area.

I'd remove the block, continue the base to match at a corner 45 degree cut and then end the shoe at the corner with another 45 degree cut.

Brian,
Steve is asking about how to do his basement, no changing his kitchen/dinning room.

Correct, this is how my kitchen/dinning/family room are where hardwood meets carpet. I am not looking to change this area. What I want to do is use the same concept idea in basement, at the location where I will have a transition/reducer to go from carpet to vinyl. Since carpet is thicker than the 1/8" vinyl, I took my options as ripping the molding down 1/4" so they would be same height, or do something as shown in attached picture. Do not really want to rip it down, don't have a table saw, and have not had the best cuts in ripping with circular saw. I know I could make a jig and all that to help. The picture shown is on a flat wall, where these two floors meet.

In the picture is what my thoughts were for doing the basement, to the left is carpet with molding, to the right is vinyl with molding and shoe (plan to use shoe, not 1/4 round). The transition/reducer connects the two, and my whole question is how to transition the molding between the two floors, so I was thinking of using the plinth at the location where the transition is to transition between the molding on the two floors, along with them being different heights. Drawing is not quite to scale, you can click on the link to see a better picture of the transition from my original post.

Thanks,
Steve

Hkstroud, you said you would just rip the baseboard 1/4" in carpet area. So then the baseboard would just run straight through along the wall, and then I butt up the transition to the molding, but then what about the shoe, do I just end that at the face of the reducer?

That's what happens at 3AM!!

Hi Steve,
Sorry forgot to check back on your post.

While you can't do much bending baseboard to floor levels but the shoe should have some flex to it. If you rip the base over the carpet so that the top of the base runs level you should be able to push down on the shoe over the carpet and have it flex down to the vinyl. Cut the transition strip short such that it fits between the shoe on each wall. That should hide any small gap between the vinyl and the shoe on the vinyl side.

As a test, lay a strip of shoe molding across the place where the carpet and vinyl meet, see how tight you can make it fit to the vinyl.

To rip with circular saw set your saw horses up with an 8 or 10" 2x4, depending on the length of the base. Nail or screw 2x4 to saw horses. Tack you base face down to the 2x4 with 3 or 4d finish nails letting the bottom edge of the base over hang the 2x4 by 1/2". Let the ends of the base over hang the 2x4 as much as 2' if necessary. Measure the distance between the edge of the saw shoe and the blade. Add 1/4" and mark the base that distance from the bottom of the base. Place another piece of base on the first with the bottom aligned to the marks. Tack the top base to the bottom base with 3 or 4d nails and rip. Nail hole easily patch with putty.

Show a picture of area where you will be working. I am assuming that this is not a doorway and the transition block would look out of place.

I know post is 3 weeks old but maybe work not done yet.

If you are doing new work, install the trim and work to it.What you want to do is do by carpet and tile installers in existing areas all the time.

The carpet and tile should not be installed under the baseboard trim, but too it.If,in the future, you want to change the flooring it will not eguire removing the baseboard molding.

The tile can be finished at baseboard with the shoe molding. The carpet cut tight to the baseboard.

Chuck