[fredgcook]

We are getting ready to sell our home and are planning to replace carpet in three bedrooms with laminate wood flooring. We have hardwood in the rest of the hallways, kitchen, dining, etc. In each of the hallways by the bedrooms there is an existing transition molding (not a t-molding). The new laminate flooring can't go under the existing transition molding. How do I install the laminate so there is not a gap between the transition molding but still leave the required expansion gap? I don't think I can remove the existing transition molding without damaging it. Thank you.

 

[chandler48]

Laminate would be my very last choice in flooring. I understand what you are doing by putting in an inexpensive floor covering to sell the house. The threshold piece will need to be removed, even if you destroy it, because you need a "T" molding where you can end your laminate under it as well. What you have is a carpet transition piece and it won't work.

 

[sixeightten]

If you can remove that without damage, and have a table saw, you could cut a rabbet into the edge and reuse it.

 

[3onthetree]

Looks like glue-down on slab? If you use a stiff putty knife to cut under, rather than a flat bar to pry up, you should be able to remove the butt edge transition intact. You'll have to remove the doorstops first. Then follow either good advice already given above.

If your laminate ends up lower than the engineered hardwood, then the rabbet cut might work well to leave a little front lip down. If you choose a matching laminate 'T' transition (meaning paper product with the metal channel rather than real wood) they do not perform well at an angle.