Two questions:

1.What transition suggestion do you have for hardwood to carpet?
We will be tackling our first hardwood flooring install in a couple of weeks (master bedroom) and the flooring place suggested using just a plank of the hardwood (maple), cut the tongue off and have it meet the carpet. But I don't want to have squared finish and rather have it rounded. We used to have a reducer transition downstairs when we had hardwood to carpet but I was told we didn't need that really.

2.Also, if we use a full size plank, the longest piece is just shy over 59 inches and the doorway (double doors) is 60 inches. Do we use two pieces (cut in the middle) to cover the full distance?

Thanks.

--Jo

This link will explain finishing carpet edges to wood.

http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwo ... floors.htm

Thanks for the link.
Since the main floor is going in the opposite direction, I will add a full plank at the double doorway. But again, the doorway is 60 inches and full plank is 59 inches.
How do I break up the plank at the doorway that will be adjacent to the carpet?
Hope this makes sense.
Thanks.

It sounds like your referring to installing a header board at the carpet, As opposed to finishing the carpet to plank ends ? If this is the case then yes, I would just join up a couple planks at a point where the end seam would look best to you.

If it natural maple you could buy a piece of unfinished that is long enough and put some poly on it.

It is a big challenge to get the finish to look the same as a prefinished board.

Keep that in mind, when tackling a custom transition piece, while doing prefinished.

Don't know exactly what you mean by "header board at the carpet, As opposed to finishing the carpet to plank ends." Though I think I do....
Basically the boards will run opposite of the end plank (where it meets the carpet). The entry door is also at an angle. Was probably going to buy an angle finder (protractor) to help us with the angle cuts.
I hope will be successful at the project as it's our first hardwood. I'm sure lots of frustration will ensue.
Thanks for your help!

I follow what you area saying and making that a seamless transition with a header board will require you to cut the field piece end joints at a angle to line up with the header board. Making cuts in prefinisshed floors like that will take some time, patience a sharp fine toothed blade. Often the edge will splinter because the finish is so hard it fractures instead of cuts leaving a nice ugly little edge. You will also either need to glue the ends down where have cut the tounges off or route it out to accept a slip tounge the later being preferred.

I found a router bit online to attach to our RotoZip, so I'm hoping we can round out the outside edge, where it meets the carpet, with this new bit, then find a stain to match.