Flooring transitions and thresholds

01 / Trace the locations

Find each finish change and opening in the tender set

• Transitions between finish types

  Can every relevant junction between different floor finishes be located on the plans and traced to its transition or detail drawing, finish codes, finish schedule and specification references?

  Record: Record the room or area, both adjoining finish types or codes, the drawing number and revision, and the relevant detail, schedule or specification reference.

• Door thresholds and saddles

  For each door opening where a threshold or saddle is shown, scheduled or relevant to the floor interface, can you trace it to the opening location and the applicable plan, door or threshold detail, finish schedule and specification?

  Record: Record the room, opening or door reference and document revisions. If the tender set does not say whether a threshold is intended, mark that point as unclear instead of assuming one is required or excluded.

• Cross-check the document trail

  Do transition symbols, locations and finish codes agree across the relevant drawings, details, finish schedules, specifications and trade scope documents supplied for this tender?

  Record: Note any untagged symbols, missing schedule entries, different codes or conflicting details against their location and document revision.

02 / Coordinate floor build-ups

Compare adjoining assemblies and finished levels

• Adjacent floor build-ups

  At each relevant interface, have you compared the layers and thicknesses stated for both adjoining floor build-ups, such as the finish, adhesive, underlay, levelling layer, screed or substrate where these are identified in the tender?

  Record: Keep each figure tied to its source drawing, detail, schedule or specification. Mark missing or inconsistent build-up information for clarification.

• Finished floor levels and height differences

  Can the finished levels on both sides of the transition or threshold be compared against the same stated datum or level information in the tender documents?

  Record: Record any unresolved height difference, absent datum or conflicting level. Check whether the relevant detail explains the interface; do not choose a remedy that the tender has not specified.

• Opening and interface coordination

  Where the tender documents address the opening, does the threshold detail coordinate with the adjoining floor build-ups and any stated door or frame interface requirements?

  Record: Keep the check within the requirements actually shown or written for this project. Route absent or contradictory interface information to a project-specific clarification.

03 / Specify and assign

Check the applicable trim information and trade scopes

• Type, profile and location

  For each applicable transition, threshold or trim item, do the tender documents identify its type or profile and the location where it is used?

  Record: Check any stated dimensions, profile code or trim-schedule reference against the associated detail and finish codes.

• Finish or material

  For each applicable item, is its finish or material specified or clearly cross-referenced in the tender drawings, schedule or specification?

  Record: Note an unspecified or conflicting finish or material for clarification; do not select one on the project team’s behalf.

• Fixing method

  For each applicable item, does the tender identify or reference the fixing method and any relevant installation detail or note?

  Record: Record the referenced detail, specification clause or supplier information where supplied, and flag a missing or unclear method.

• Supplier information

  Is supplier, manufacturer or product information identified or referenced where needed to check the specified profile, material, dimensions and installation information?

  Record: List the tender reference or information still needed. Do not treat a generic product assumption as a specified product.

• Supply and installation responsibility

  Where a transition, threshold or trim item involves more than one relevant trade, do the tender scope documents assign who supplies it and who installs it?

  Record: Check the flooring and other relevant trade scopes separately, and record any stated responsibility for setting out, fixing or coordinating adjoining build-ups. Do not infer an allocation from a drawing symbol alone.

04 / Close the review loop

Turn gaps into project-specific questions

• Record what is confirmed and unresolved

  For each checked location, have you recorded the tender references that support the review and marked missing, unclear or conflicting information as unresolved?

  Record: Keep the location, finish or opening reference, document title and revision together so the question can be answered against this project’s package.

• Request clarification against the tender documents

  Have you sent a project-specific clarification for any applicable item whose type, profile, finish or material, fixing, supplier information, level coordination or supply and installation responsibility cannot be confirmed?

  Record: Use the tender’s clarification process and deadline. If a point remains unanswered, record its effect using the contractor’s own bid process rather than presenting an assumption as a tender requirement.

A project-specific clarification

Give the design team a location and document trail

Adapt this prompt to the tender question process and the information actually shown:

At [room, location or door reference], drawing [number, revision] shows [adjoining finishes or threshold reference]. Please confirm [the applicable transition or threshold type/profile, finish/material, fixing method, supplier information, required finished-level/build-up coordination, and which relevant trade supplies and installs the item].