These transitions from Seneca Millwork include a stylish wood stain look.
Trims and moldings are absolutely essential to completing an installation. And while the category can enhance the overall appearance of a space, its primary purpose is to ensure a safe installation.
“Trims and moldings are not optional if you want a finished room — they are a requirement,” said Mark Pacacha, national sales manager for Seneca Millwork. “Besides completing a room’s look, they are very functional, such as offering a transition between rooms. They are vital for covering up necessary floor gaps and adding safety to adjoining flooring surfaces.”
While trims and moldings work well together, they can actually both serve different purposes. “Trims finish off the expansion gaps and are a necessity,” explained Thilo Hessler, president of Versatrim. “The trim’s job is to cover any gaps. You want moldings to blend in — not a perfect match but rather a coordination.”
Mike Jurkovich, owner and manager of Eureka Floor Carpet One in Eureka, Calif., echoed that trims and moldings offer the end user look and function. “Floors need expansion too because so many floors float. They can expand and contract,” he told FCW. “Trims can allow for that. They make a smoother transition and cover cosmetically.”
Jurkovich also noted that trims and moldings offer a chance for independent retailers to show their expertise to consumers. While transitions can be often overlooked by big box stores, Jurkovich said a retailer’s knowledge of the category can make a good impression on the end user. “The flooring professional has an opportunity to separate themselves from big boxes,” which often provide limited offerings at a bargain price, he shared. “Those details separate the independent retailers.”
For example, Metroflor has its own molding coordination program. It includes waterproof accessories that coordinate with the company’s Engage Genesis WPC collection and Engage Inception SPC collection. According to Metroflor, the program’s trim options use the same film as the chosen floor for the best match possible. Offerings include stair noses, quarter rounds, end caps, t-moldings and reducers.