Transition & Trim Installation Flashcards
7 cards from real CFI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Transition & Trim Installation flashcards as text
What is the correct sequence of steps when installing a glue-down transition strip on a wood subfloor?
Answer: Apply adhesive → press track down → allow cure → snap in cap
Adhesive is applied first, the track is pressed into position with the correct gap spacing, allowed to cure, and then the decorative cap is snapped in last.
When a transition reducer is used on a floating LVP floor, the installer should NOT:
Answer: Glue or nail the flooring planks to the subfloor beneath the reducer
Gluing or nailing floating LVP planks near or under a transition restricts the floor's ability to expand and contract, which can cause buckling or gapping.
A customer reports that their newly installed stair nosings squeak underfoot. What is the most probable installation error?
Answer: The nosings were not face-nailed and/or glued adequately to the stair tread
Stair nosings must be both glued and face-nailed to fully bond to the tread; inadequate fastening allows movement that causes squeaking.
When trimming a length of T-molding cap to fit a doorway, the installer should cut it using:
Answer: A miter saw or fine-tooth hacksaw, depending on the cap material
Wood or laminate caps are best cut on a miter saw, while aluminum or vinyl caps cut cleanly with a fine-tooth hacksaw or aviation snips.
In a large open-plan installation where floating floor runs exceed the manufacturer's maximum continuous run length, transition strips are used to:
Answer: Create a control joint that allows each section to expand and contract independently
When floating floors exceed maximum run lengths (often 40 feet), a transition strip divides the floor into independent expansion zones, preventing buckling.
Which type of transition strip is the correct choice when hardwood flooring terminates at the top of a single step down to a sunken living room?
Answer: Square-nose stair nosing
A square-nose stair nosing caps the exposed edge of the hardwood at the top of a step, providing a finished edge and slip-resistant overhang at the step down.
When installing carpet gripper (tack strip) adjacent to a hard-surface floor transition, the tack strip should be placed:
Answer: Approximately 3/8 inch away from the hard-floor edge to allow the carpet to tuck into the gap
Tack strip is set approximately 3/8 inch from the hard-floor edge so the carpet can be stretched over the tacks and its edge tucked cleanly into the gap.