How to Install Metal Rails for Transition Strips

Measure the length of the floor you intend to install the strip across with a measuring tape.

Cut the strip to the measured length with a hacksaw if you were unable to purchase a strip of the appropriate length.

Position the strip onto the floor, then drive nails through the strip and into the underlying floor with a hammer to secure the strip in place. If you intend to install the strip in a doorway, position the strip so that the strip’s upturned flange is located just below the center of the door when the door is closed.

Lay the carpet over the strip and trim away the excess carpet with a utility knife. Trim the carpet so that the edge of the carpet falls short of the interior edge of the transition strip by approximately 1/4 inch. This small gap between the carpet and the interior edge of the strip is necessary because you must push the carpet toward the strip to eliminate any carpet wrinkles.

Adjust a carpet knee kicker tool to match the thickness of the carpet. Note that the kicker tool features a large knob. Turn the knob to adjust how far the teeth extend from the bottom of the tool. The goal here is to extend the teeth far enough out of the tool to penetrate the carpet but not the carpet padding.

Press the teeth of the kicker tool into the carpet with the teeth pointing towards the transition strip, then bump the knee pad on the tool with your knee to push the carpet towards the strip and to eliminate any wrinkles in the carpet. Press the edge of the carpet into the hooks in the strip to secure the carpet in place.

Position a two-by-four block of wood across the strip’s upturned flange, then tap on the block with a hammer to fold the flange over the edge of the carpet. Although you could strike the strip with the hammer, striking a wood block will avoid damaging the strip.