How do I make a room half carpet and half laminate?
 

I have this huge room that I want to split into two areas by making half the room carpet and the other half, most likely, laminate. I've removed the carpet in the room and under that is a nice old wood floor that's been sanded a few too many times so I plan on tearing all that out and putting a new subfloor in. The house was built in the 1850's so I'm guessing I'll be removing everything down to the floor joists and building up from there.

Now the questions: What do I do to make the carpet and the laminate floor match together? Do I add an additional 1/2 inch of plywood to the laminate floor so as to compensate for the thickness of the carpet pad and carpet? Do I put down a piece of 1x1 or something like that? I've seen lots of info on installing carpet and flooring but nothing on how to tie them together. Any suggestions or links would be appreciated...

you can buy a thicker underlayment for the laminate or just use a piece of transition that steps down to the level of the laminate. The Home Depot book on flooring has ideas for transitions and things like that. It's awesome.

My dad did this in our old house (master bathroom floor), and he had a rather thin carpet, a thicker underlayment for the laminate, and (I don't know what this is called) a rounded metal carpet-edger thing running along the boundary to smoothed the look between the two surfaces. I hardly even noticed the transition.

It's called a carpet transition metal, and you can find them at Home Depot or any home supply store. Wood laminates also have a finishing piece between wood and carpet (looks like molding) that gives a finished edge between the two. Both are far easier and better looking than trying to build up your hard floor.

Hey...I just noticed that girls rock on home remodels. :)

So it's a fairly simple thing to do? Great! I've had this pictured in my mind for awhile and just couldn't see how it was done. I don't know if I've really ever seen it in a house. I think I'll pick up the "Home Depot" book and use that. Thanks for the idea.

Or just go to Home Depot or the like for free. Walk into any home and you will find a transition metal...usually kitchen to another room, bathroom to hall. :)

It all depends on what you want, if you dont mind the height difference, then use a transition. I dont care for the look of the metal ones, but they make laminate transitions of assorted styles, that look good. The best look is to get the laminate side even with the carpet by using 1/2 plywood, as you suggested. Just take into account the laminate pad, if needed, some have it already attached to the back. If the laminate is slightly lower than the very top of the carpet pile, it works best, say about a 1/4". Then you can run tackless carpet strips next to the laminate and tuck the carpet neatly down into the groove between the strips & the laminate, no transition or metal needed. I prefer this look, but its a matter of personal taste.

Indeed, we do rock. ;) My dad is a total DIY guy, built everything from the ground up... I wish I had learned more from him when I was a kid. But now I know that those carpet edger things are called "transitions," so thanks for that, everyone. :)

You could do the entire room in laminate, and use a large 'throw rug' for the carpeted area. We did our downstairs in ceramic tile. I have a couple of throw rugs with matching runners that I rearrange when I rearrange the furniture. It gives a bit more freedom when rearranging or redecorating. Just a thought.