How to Anchor Laminate Transitions to Cement

Snap-In Channel

• 1

  Place the metal or plastic channel 1/4 inch away from the laminate floor planks along the edge where the transition will fit. Transfer the location of each screw hole in the channel to the concrete floor with a pencil. Remove the channel.

• 2

  Position the masonry drill bit against the marks and hold the drill vertical and perpendicular to the concrete floor. Drill into the concrete to a depth equal to one and one-half times the length of the supplied plastic anchors at each mark. Sweep the concrete dust away from the holes.

• 3

  Insert the supplied plastic anchors into the holes in the concrete floor. Tap them down with a hammer until they are even with the surface of the floor. Use gentle taps.

• 4

  Lay the channel in place and align the holes with the plastic anchors in the floor. Put one of the supplied screws into each hole and drive each one into the plastic anchors with a screwdriver until the screws are tight and the channel is held to the floor.

• 5

  Place the transition over the channel and press it into place, beginning at one end and working toward the other. The transition will snap into the channel when it is pressed in far enough.

Screw-Down Transition

• 6

  Mark the transition strip every 8 inches along the center and 1 inch from each end. Drill through the transition strip at each mark with a 1/16-inch bit.

• 7

  Place the transition strip in place, leaving a 1/4-inch gap between the foot of the strip — the part that contacts the concrete — and the laminate floor. Put the 1/16-inch masonry bit through each hole and start the drill to mark the hole position on the floor. Remove the strip after all the holes are marked.

• 8

  Drill each marked position on the floor with a 3/16-inch masonry bit. Each hole should be one and one-half times as deep as the plastic anchors are long. Sweep away the dust.

• 9

  Insert a No. 6 to No. 8 plastic anchor into each hole in the concrete. Tap the anchors in place with the hammer until the head is level with the surface of the concrete.

• 10

  Align the holes in the transition strip with the plastic anchors. Insert a trim head screw into each hole and drive it down into the anchor — using a screwdriver — until the screw's head is just below the surface of the transition strip.

• 11

  Fill the small hole above each screw with color matched putty or caulk to hide the screw.