How to Make Your Own Wood Floor Transition Strips

In this video, I show you how to make a wood floor transition strip. This style will work best for floors that are even with each other. For floors that are uneven or have a step up, I would recommend making or buying a "reducer" transition strip.

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Videos produced by The Fixer are provided for informational purposes only. All material provided within this video is for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only. Some of these projects, materials, and techniques may not be appropriate for all ages or skill levels. Please use all safety precautions while following any instructions or concepts provided by this video. Viewers must be aware that by doing projects on their homes they are doing it at their own risk and The Fixer cannot be held liable if they cause any damage to their homes. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to educate themselves on their local codes and regulations before undertaking any sort of project. Always have safety in mind and have fun!

[EastRiverHomestead]

Thank you, Matt. You won't believe me when I tell you how similar our lives are. It seems that whatever you are making a video about is what I am trying to do and you show me how to do it. Must be kindred.

[swayeven]

Just want you to know that I appreciate you and these videos. Everything from a small job to a bigger project they are ALL appreciated. Makes my job as a new homeowner that much easier and less daunting and gives me more confidence in tackling these projects around the house in order to save a few bucks during these hard economic times.

[lindaroyal]

I'm anxious to see your move into the house. Hope you show all of it, especially how you'll be setting up the wonderful work space you'll have and the storage to get super organized. The house looked in really great condition, but I'm sure you're wife will want to put her own touches and designs in each of the rooms and hoping you'll share all that content as well. TY

[jackhuynh]

Nice work, Matt. Just simple steps with simple tools. I too don’t have high end tools

[AuxiarMolkhun]

"...Always got to be a little afraid of your tools." really are words to live by when it comes to saws and such. It really is that easy to screw up and lose a digit or two just because you weren't careful enough.

[alastairdallas]

Thanks, as others have said on other videos, for showing us your occasional mess-ups--that's where the most learning is. I have had bad luck treating oak like fir. I'm used to working with fir and now I'm gun shy about working with hardwoods.

[Floortally]

I really appreciate you sharing this process! It’s great to see how you tackled the transition strip with such creativity. I like how you emphasized the need for a thin strip to avoid tripping hazards; that’s super important.

Could you share more about the poly you used? Did it hold up well over time? I'm curious if you’ve found any tricks for ensuring a perfect fit with vinyl flooring, too.

Also, I wonder if you have tips for cost estimation when working with different materials. Sometimes it’s tough to gauge how much to budget for these projects. Thanks for the insights, and I can't wait to see more of your work!

[ajdonally]

I have had this issue...what I did was I bought a hardwood reducer transition..and I bought a matching species of wood in 1x material. I then ripped the 1x material to cover the height difference between the reducer and the floor. I glued them and several short brad nails from the backside. Worked like a charm..does take some time though.

[dgardner]

There is a sizable void between the two floors that needs to be filled with something solid (such as ripping a strip of wood)., but not filled as a tight fit between the two floors to allow for expansion/contraction. The filler strip would probably have prevented the split. Also, the expansion you mentioned will be with the wood floor which will expand and contract with seasonal changes, so only securing your transition strip to one of the floors is a good idea (probably to the wood floor). Nice job!

[KEZZO]

I undercut door frame to hold ends of wood transition strip. Also if tile to non- wood try aluminum flat bar under cut into door frame holds end. And u can do silicone under flat bar
Sanding tip. B4 sand take pencil scribble a zig-zag on wood. Sand until you remove pencil mark
Would not nail. Pre drill holes and use brass wood screws

[scottsog]

Suggestion, make it so it’s T shaped, looking from end so you have the underside bearing on main floor so when stood on it won’t flex or break, still having room underneath for floor movement 👌🏻

[frankj]

Thanks for sharing the fails. Gives us mortals from despair 😂

[TK-setophaga]

Nice trick flipping the stock in the table saw. I will try that. A month ago I cut an 1/8th inch off the tip of my thumb. Scary.

[terencemerritt]

Looks great Matt. What’s the plans with your old house here? You going to keep it or sell it?

[mayraperez]

Greetings from Puerto Rico. your content. Hey, are you fixing the old house to sell it or rent it?

[nolongeramused]

Wouldn't a strip with a triangular side profile do the trick?

[ST-]

I think the 1st one would have been fine with some support under it. Backer rod would support it, and still allow the vinyl to expand.
LVP doesn't expand nearly as much as people think it does, especially in a climate controlled environment. If it did, the expansion would also occur across the width of the planks. That would lead to the flooring buckling, since they are butted tight to one another.

[EddieGoodluck]

Metal transition strips are a better idea if you want it sturdy and aesthetically pleasing

[brianstevens]

I think I would have cut it to the thickest floor side, and then feathered it down to the lower floor. Just a thought.

[GraeMatterz]

Leaving the transition strip bridging the gap will likely cause it to split out again. To avoid that, cut it leaving the transition strip thicker in the center so the wood meets and is supported by the subfloor while making sure to leave a little space for the flooring to expand then cut out each side to match the respective flooring thickness.