I will soon be floating engineerd hardwood throughout my house (Kahrs Ash Cambriage). I have had an ongoing problem with moisture appearing on the slab just inside a set of exterior triple french doors that I have whenever it rains. I've tried sealing the outer face of the slab in the area of the doors, caulked them, etc... but still have the problem. I really don't want to lay the floors just to have them get screwed up. Currently I think my best option is to install a ceremic tile "welcome mat" inside the doors that run the full width of the doors and about 3 feet deep into the room, and just laying the wood around it. Does anyone have another solution? Any tips on making this type of installation look good?

Thanks,

Ron

Ron,

I just did that. I used tile inside the door and installed wood around it. It's a 36" door in an entry foyer so I used a tile "mat" 48" wide and came in 36" deep. I left a small expansion area to be filled with sanded caulk to match the grout. It looks very nice.

Your biggest difficulty will probably be squaring the wood to the tile. I'd recommend a good modified thinset such as Hydroment PM, available at Florida Tile.

Don

Don,

I was thinking about using the Kahrs square nose transition strips where the wood meets the tile.

Ron

Transition strips are better if you are installing a floating floor, you need something to hold the floor down. T-mold, square nose... depends on the tile and whether you have any "cut" edges you want to cover up.

A patio door all the tile cuts should be against the door wall anyway, unless you come out an turn a 45 deg. corner.

I have done many jobs incorporating tile at entryways.

In Boise we have this problem " EVERY" time our contractors build outside doors facing the oncoming weather.

My solution may not work for a triple door but for single doors I recommend putting a storm door on that affixes to the outside brick molding and keeps water from ever splashing onto the door and seeping through the gaps at the jab and threashold..

I have had so many floors get water damage from winter storms.
I wish I could get my contractors to put on even temporary storm doors.

Good Luck

Steve