So, I'm about to set of on a massive flooring project (for me anyway). Approximately 1200 SF of hardwood & 300 SF of tile. Hardwoods are 3/4" thick while the tile is 1/4" thick + thinset and the subfloors are at the same elevation throughout so the tile floor will be lower than the hardwoods by probably 5/16". I don't really want to build up the subfloor under the tile and I don't want the raised profile hardwood transition with a reducer on the tile side where both sides (hardwood and tile) wind up with a bump. So how do I manage the transition down from the hardwoods to the tile? All the tile centric solutions are for where the tile is higher than the adjacent floor or level with it. All the hardwood solutions go up on both sides...What am I missing?
Are the subfloors wood?
If so, Install Schluter Ditra membrane under the tile... both floors will be even.
I use the Ditra even on concrete floors.
You can plane down a piece of hardwood, bevel the edge down to align with your tile.
If you dont want to raise the tile (3/4 hardwood & cement board + 1/4" tile stackups are about the same), then routering the edge of a board to bring it down to meet the tile seems like the best option.
I don't know what you do about the gap though. You want to allow for some room for the hardwood to expand and contract.
In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :
Yep. Those are your 2 options.
Honestly, the cleanest option is to put 1/4" HardiPlank under the tile.
SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:
Honestly, the cleanest option is to put 1/4" HardiPlank under the tile.
Came here to say this. Putting tile directly wood subfloors isn't the wisest thing. The wood is far less stable than a substrate of backer.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
I missed that.
To be more blunt, putting tile directly on a wood subfloor is a recipe for failure. It's not an acceptable installation. Backer board is pretty much mandatory for a good installation.
OK, looks, like hardiboard to the rescue! Thanks everyone. 
