Replies

1. 
   calvin | Apr 04, 2012 09:00pm | #1

   If I had a need for something not supplied..............

   I'd contact who I got it from, their distributor or the manufacturer.  I none of them could help me, I'd take back the flooring..............

   or wouldn't have bought it from them in the first place.

   In extenuating circumstances, I'd buy something that matched and came with all the parts.

   Best of luck.

1. 
   jonnyjonjon | Apr 09, 2012 12:44pm | #2

   Thanks Calvin. I appreciate your reply & common sense on purchasing. I am still, however looking for a supplier of track for a couple of reasons. More than I'd like I find myself in the position of having material chosen or even purchased ahead of time by the owner from a place that has a limited selection of trim or the owner didn't get it in the first place. Also, one place around here only carries plastic channel and I've had to replace it within a year. I've also milled, stained & poly'd a 12' t-molding because the customer didn't want a seam and most suppliers don't carry t-molding that long.

   As much as I would like to have the luxury of retaining control of  all the details I just haven't taken the position of digging my heels in & trying to make the customer buy what I want them to. When faced with these challenges I try to make it work. They may spend more on my labor as a result but I feel this is better than losing a job to get my way. If I can find loose channel then I'll have more options to work with. 

   Thanks again. 

1. 
   calvin | Apr 09, 2012 05:57pm | #3

   My experience with laminate or floating floors............

   is limited. 

   Iin the past 15 or 20 years I've probably only done a couple / three dozen.............maybe a few more.   I've run into more plastic than metal and I might tend to think that while some may be interchangable, I'd stick with the proprietary moldings and parts.

   Best of luck in your hunt.

   As far as letting the customer buy the material...........I've long ago given up dealing with what they bring me.  I for one find it hard to guarantee my work with their parts.  Further, my schedule and their ability to get what I need b/4 I start.   And the ability to get more-fast, when something's not kosher.

   The real pisser is when they come up with the "could you pick it up" part.

   And as far as spending more time with their material-they really don't like, nor often understand-that it might cost a dollar to save a penny.

   I really can't see how you providing the material will lose you the job, but if that's the situation you're in-best of luck in that too.

2. 
   [email protected] | Apr 09, 2012 06:44pm | #4

   Do a google search for, "aluminum extrusion profiles".

   There are a bunch of them and many will sell and ship small quantities. 

   If you don't see exactly what you want, most will make custom porfiles, but that gets expensive. 

   When I did the trim at my mom's house, I bought some channel at Home Desperate, and had a buddy run it through a machine to crimp the legs in just a bit to develop a tension hold.  You could do the same bu making a set of dies out of plywood and pulling the extrusion through it. 

1. 
   jonnyjonjon | Apr 10, 2012 02:59pm | #5

   Thanks jigs! I'll give it a try.

   I too bought channel that was sold as shelving standard for one job I did but it sat a bit higher than some of the floors I put in, so it's not a fix. I tensioned it by hand. It worked. But I like your idea of aluminum. I'll get on it today. Thanks!