Have you decided on your flooring but are still unsure about how to handle your trims?
Don’t worry! We're here to guide you through the various types of trims and their applications, so you can move forward with confidence.
Firstly, why do I need trims?
Trims play an essential role in covering the expansion gaps left between rooms, walls, and internal features within your home. These gaps allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the floors. Without appropriate expansion gaps, your floors could be prone to cupping, warping, and long-term damage. Floating floors require an 8-10mm expansion gap, while glue-down flooring requires a smaller 3-5mm expansion gap.
Types of Trims and Their Application
End Trims (C-Channel Trim)
End trims are used to conceal expansion gaps for both floating and glue-down flooring. They are particularly useful for transitions between rooms and covering gaps where flooring meets sliding doors, floor-length windows, or transitions to other surfaces such as carpet or tiles. These trims come in different sizes to suit floorboards of varying thicknesses, ranging from 6mm to 14mm.
When installing, the base of the trim is secured to the subfloor using Liquid Nails adhesive. For external doorways, it's recommended to match the trim colour to the door, and for internal transitions, match it to the floor colour.
Tile Angle Floor Trim
Tile angle trims offer a refined, aesthetic finish and are designed specifically for 14mm glue-down timber flooring. These trims provide a sleek solution for floorboard transitions to tiles or carpet and are available in silver metal. Installation is simple, with the base glued to the subfloor using Liquid Nails. No expansion gap is required for this type of trim.
Multi Angle Floor Trim (L Trim or 90-Degree Angle Trim)
Multi Angle Trims, also known as L trims or 90-degree angle trims, are ideal for floating and glue-down floors. These trims are particularly useful when space or access is limited, such as near door frames. They effectively conceal expansion gaps near windows, doors, and tile edges. Unlike other trims, Multi Angle Trims are glued to door frames or tiles but not directly to floorboards. It's important to leave the required expansion gap for your floor underneath the trim during installation.
Z Floor Trims
Z trims are specifically designed for 14mm engineered timber floors, ensuring a smooth transition to tiles or carpet of equal height. They provide a sleek and seamless finish for such transitions.
Universal Transition Floor Trim
Universal Transition Trims are the perfect solution for floors with different heights. These trims are available for floor thicknesses ranging from 6mm to 14mm and can ramp down to varying levels, making them suitable for both floating and glue-down floors. The 3-part system is installed with the base plate either glued down or mechanically fixed to the subfloor and the rubber insert and cover top clicked into place.
Cover Top Floor Trims
Cover Top Trims are used as a transition between floorboards and tiles of the same height. These trims are available in both metal and vinyl-wrapped finishes. They can be glued to tiles but should not be applied directly to timber or other types of flooring.
Scotia (Moulding)
Scotia, or moulding, is used to cover the 8-10mm expansion gap required for floating floors around the perimeter of a room. It is also useful for concealing gaps around joinery, such as island benches, cabinetry, and columns.
Stair Nose
Finally, stair nosing is used to cover steps in internal staircases. Custom stair nosing is available for both hybrid and engineered timber flooring, with two finishes to choose from; Pencil Round and Mitred Edge. For closed staircases, the stair nose is installed between walls, while for open staircases, a mitred return is required for visible edges. This type of installation is recommended for professional installers. It's also important to leave a 3mm expansion gap on either side of the stair nose for caulking.
Tip! It’s important to measure each individual step and provide the length of each when ordering custom stair nosing.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you have a clearer understanding of which trims you need, you’re one step closer to completing your flooring project. To browse all trims and get a custom quote, visit our quote builder. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to our customer service tea, we're here to help!
By James Embelton