Compensate for height differences between floor coverings

Hello everyone,

first of all, thank you very much for your answers, which have really helped me a lot. After reading them, I still have the following questions:

1. We will have tiles in the size 45 x 90 cm laid in the living room and hallway. Is it likely that tiles of this size will be installed using the buttering-floating method? (I will only be able to speak with the tiler in a few weeks.)

2. Would the combination of a higher build-up due to the tile adhesive, possibly a slight slope in the area of the last tiles before the parquet begins, and the use of a Schlüter profile as a finish allow for a seamless transition between the different floor coverings?

3. Even though, according to the builder, the movement joints in the screed are set according to technical requirements, and understandably the builder does not want to commit: Is it relatively likely that such a movement joint would have to be located at the transition between the open kitchen and the living room, i.e., practically at the end of the partition wall between the hallway and the kitchen?

Thank you!

1. We will have tiles sized 45 x 90 cm installed in the living room and hallway. Is it likely that the tile installation will be done using the buttering-floating method with this tile size? (I will only be able to speak to the tiler in a few weeks.)

Not just likely...

2. Would the combination of a higher build-up due to the tile adhesive, possibly a slight slope in the area of the last tiles before the parquet begins, and the use of a Schlüter profile as a finish allow for a smooth transition between the different floor coverings?

Yes

3. Even though, according to the developer, the movement joints of the screed surface are set according to technical requirements, and understandably the developer does not want to commit: Is it relatively likely that such a movement joint would have to be located at the transition between the open kitchen and living room, essentially at the end of the partition wall between the hallway and kitchen?

That’s reading a crystal ball, but it certainly makes sense at least there.

Thank you for your assessment, nordanney.

You have really helped me a lot. Now I see much more clearly.

Thank you once again for your answers.

Since our screed is supposed to be laid this week, I'm bringing this up again.

We are getting 10mm tiles and 13mm parquet. I would have just continued with the screed = one height. Including adhesive, according to the tile installer, we would reach a height of 13-14mm.

Otherwise, it would only be a difference of about 2mm or so. That wears down, right?

I hardly believe that the screed guy will magically create a difference of 1.5mm for you, that probably still lies within the tolerance range. You don't need to worry about that in my opinion.

I have often read here that you should lower your mechanical engineering requirements on the construction site. So the covering has to compensate for that. I will discuss with the tiler that he puts a bit more adhesive in the transition areas.