A homeowner in Charlotte pointed out my transition strip work last month

I was finishing up a hardwood job, feeling pretty good about it, when the client asked why I used a full T-molding between the hall and the bedroom. He said it felt like a speed bump underfoot and asked if a flush reducer was ever an option. I honestly hadn't considered it much for that small height difference, maybe a quarter inch. I always just grabbed the T-mold out of habit. It got me thinking about how often I default to what's fast versus what feels best for the person living there. Now I carry a few different transition profiles and actually discuss the feel with the customer before I install. It adds maybe five minutes to the consult, but the feedback has been great. Has anyone else shifted their approach on transitions after a simple comment from a client?

3 comments

3 Comments

scott.drew1mo ago

My buddy Steve in Tampa had a client complain about the metal T-mold catching her sock. It was this older lady's laundry room, maybe a 3/8" drop to the tile. He switched it out for a simple wooden reducer he sanded down real smooth. She called him back for two more jobs after that, just because she liked how he listened.

nora_walker571mo ago

Exactly. That's how you build trust.

the_stella23d ago

Read a flooring forum post where a guy spent an hour sanding down a T-mold to bevel the edge for a sock issue.