Installing threshold for carpet and vinyl?

Question

I want to lay carpet down in the living room and new vinyl in the dinning room. The carpet and vinyl will meet. After I use the knee kicker and carpet stretcher to adjust the carpet, do I just nail the threshold down where the two meet? Will this cause bunching in the carpet later on? I was planning on using a regular metal type threshold. Is there a better type of threshold to use?

Answer 1

Threshold metal is the easiest for an amateur to use, and if it is nailed over the carpet/vinyl after they are secured in place, it will not hurt the stretch.

However, this is not the current style.  The trend now is to use a metal called Z-Bar, which is installed under the carpet, and the carpet is tucked over it.  This gives you the rigidity that is required, but simply looks nicer, with a finished edge of carpet against the vinyl.

This technique may be difficult for a do-it-yourselfer.

Answer 2

For a good stretch, double up the tack strip, 2 rows instead of one.

To hold your stretch in some areas, put nails in carpet, only half way for easy removal, instead of metal, you can use a wood threshhold purchased at Home Depot in the flooring Dept.

Answer 3

As you kick the carpet nail the flat metal down, about half of the metal should be over top of the carpet & just work your way down.