Installation Guide

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Artistic Finishes, Inc. / 2224 Terminal Road / Roseville, MN 55113 / 888-816-5606 / www.artisticfinishes.com
Installing Reducer Moldings with a Floating Floor
Application – Used to join hardwood floors with floors of different
heights such as vinyl, ceramic tile or low pile carpeting.
Installation – Artistic Finishes manufactures two types of Reducers.
The standard flush Reducer is for nail down or glue down floors. The
Overlap Reducer is designed for floating floor installations. Because of
variances in thickness with some manufacturers’ hardwood floors,
there are different molding sizes available. Artistic Finishes matches
the molding up to a piece of the manufacturer’s flooring to verify the
best molding is assigned to each specific flooring line.
Flush Reducers – The Flush Reducer is typically used for glue
down/nail down applications. See the glue down/nail down section of
this installation guide for instructions on how to install the Flush
Reducer.
Overlap Reducers – The Overlap Reducer is typically used for
floating floor applications. When installing Overlap Reducer
moldings on a floating floor, it is important not to attach the Overlap
Reducer directly to the hardwood floor as the hardwood floor must
be able to expand or contract under the lip of the molding per the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Start the installation by installing wood shims wherever you plan to
install an overlap reducer. The shim should be placed approximately 1-
½ inches from the edge of the floor to which you are transitioning.
Secure the shim in place by either nailing or gluing it down. Install the
pad with the edge of the pad placed directly against the shim. Next,
install the floating floor over the shim so that only ¼ to 3/8 inch of the
shim is showing under the floor. The shim serves to stabilize the floor
from compressing under weight. Lay the Reducer molding in place.
Note: The shim should not extend under the base of the Overlap
Reducer. Lay the Overlap Reducer in place. The Overlap Reducer
should overlap the flooring by ½ to ¾ inch, leaving the balance for
required expansion or contraction. To attach the molding, apply one or
two ¼ inch beads of construction adhesive to the subfloor and set the
molding in place. If nailing, pre-drill the molding to prevent splitting
and nail to the subfloor behind the lip of the molding. Be sure when
nailing, not to obstruct the floor’s expansion space under the molding.