how s the best way to transition from ceramic tile to carpet for a slab on grade?

Question

I am helping my son put ceramic tile down on a house he just bought and there is new carpet from the original owner. this carpet is with a metal strip with a lip turned towards the carpet and the depth is about 1/4 inch. can I just transition with grout?

Answer 1

You could, but a top, clamp down metal is not necessary.
And the grout may not stay permanently.

There are a two other options.

You can remove the metal which is nailed directly to the floor, and nail a piece of Z-bar with tack strip on top, about 1/4" from the tile.
Then stretch the carpet onto the strip and tuck the carpet under the Z-bar, then tap the z-bar, (under carpet), down to finish and hold the edge in place.
The carpet cannot be too long, in order to make the tuck. Trim if needed.
This is the standard that is most common by mechanics. A knee kick is needed, can be rented. Be careful in removing the carpet from the metal teeth. The lip you mentioned can be pried up, gradually, with a bar or screw driver. It has been hammered down. Then carefully pull the carpet from the teeth. If you have the knee kick, use it to loosen the tension.
Do not use all your strength to kick the carpet. Easy. And be certain the teeth of knee kick is firmly planted into the back of carpet. If it slips, it can tear the carpet.
Look along your walls and you can see how the carpet is tucked against the wall. No Z-bar there, just the strip, which is beveled at wall edge.

The other, is a T-insert. This is an L shaped metal which fits flush to the tile and nailed to the floor. It has teeth on the horizontal of the L to which the carpet can be attached, and an open slot in the perpendicular of the L.
The T, which is vinyl, inserts into the slot, allowing the top of the T to overlap the edge of the tile and carpet. This is an added protection for the tile edge that can prevent chipping.
These are available in Black, Brown, Beige, and White.

In either case concrete nails, a knife, and the knee kick are needed. The correct nails, (short expanding), and metals are available at floorcovering stores or Home DePot. They will cut the length you need. The price will be a premium, but you don't need 12'.

Z-bar and tack strip come standard 4' lengths.
A trip by a mechanic will be a minum charge plus metals. Could be $50-75. No idea at present.
Good luck. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Tile To Carpet Transition Strip

Answer 3

Carpet To Tile Transition Strip

Answer 4

I am not entirely sure of what you mean.. I have done this many times and I did not ever use a metal strip, etc. I tiled UP to the carpet area. Then I nailed down a piece of wood(that you get at Home Depot for laying carpet) between the tile(where I left off) and the carpet where it left off... Then I nailed the pieceof wood for laying carpet to the floor and then pushed the carpet with one of those knee pushers up to the wood and tapped it onto the wood strip which had nails protruding to catch the carpet.. I never used grout and there is no need to do that.

Answer 5

A track and e- cap system will usually fit to my installation needs... sometimes a y extender is needed if your height is more than 3/8 of an inch thick. perhaps an oak or wood moding to make a transition between 2 different heights..check out Schleuter metal transitions ... not available at home cheapo or lumberyards, but any good quality flooring store will supply you with what you need !!