How to Make a Threshold With Two Different Heights of Hardwood Flooring

Floor transitions commonly occur in doorways, and when the floorboards on either side of the transition are the same height, it is usually possible to omit the threshold. You need a threshold when the boards are different heights, however, and there are two ways to make one. One is to cut a beveled board that makes up the height difference and install it on the lower floor so its edge is flush with the transition line. The other is to cut a wider board that covers the edges of both floors. The latter alternative covers better and looks more symmetrical.

1/2- by 2-inch lumber
Table saw
Ruler
Chisel
Hammer
Drill
1/8-inch drill bit
8d finish nails
Nail punch
Wood filler
100-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a piece of 1/2-by-2-inch lumber to the width of the doorway on a table saw. It is possible to substitute a spare, straight piece of flooring for a pre-milled board, but it requires some extra preparation with the saw.
- 2
  Turn a spare flooring board into threshold material by first removing the tongue. Set the fence exactly the same distance from the saw blade as the width of the surface of the board and push the board through to rip the tongue off. Move the fence to a distance of 2 inches from the blade, turn the board around and push it through again to rip off the groove and make a board that is 2 inches wide.
- 3
  Raise the saw blade to a height of 2.5 inches, then move the fence until it is 1/2 inch from the side of the blade nearest to it. Turn the board on its edge and run it through the blade to reduce its thickness to 1/2 inch. If the board is pre-finished, cut off the finished surface.
- 4
  Adjust the fence so that the distance to the blade is 1/8 inch. Set the blade angle to 10 to 15 degrees and run the board through to create a bevel on one edge. When you are finished, turn the board over and run it through again to create a bevel on the other edge. There should be a flat area on the surface of the threshold between the bevels.
- 5
  Measure the height difference between the floors with an accurate ruler. Set the table saw fence to a distance of 1/2 inch from the blade, then move it closer to the blade by the amount of the height difference you just measured. Set the blade angle to 0 degrees and its height to half the width of the threshold.
- 6
  Turn the threshold on its edge and run it through the saw blade. If the blade doesn't remove all the material, chisel off the excess with a sharp chisel and a hammer.
- 7
  Set the threshold in place in the doorway and drill pairs of holes at 10- to 12-inch intervals with a 1/8-inch drill bit. The holes should be about 1/2-inch from either edge of the threshold so you can nail it into both floors.
- 8
  Nail the threshold by hand with 8d finish nails, driving one nail into each hole. Set each nail head with a nail punch. Fill the holes with wood filler and sand the threshold with 100-grit sandpaper before you finish it.

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