My understanding is that that type of transition requires both types of flooring to be nailed or glued down since floating floors have some movement in them that would cause a space in between so IMO you need a transition strip. BTW baseboard is installed after flooring unless you now want to add shoe mold every where

he was planning to nail the transition piece. He did that in our current home 10 years ago...everything floats except for transition where tile meets wood.

He did grout against the wood...I'm wondering if that's necessary. There are only a few areas with transition [upstairs from hall wood to carpet 2 bedrooms and tile 1 bathroom; guest bathroom tile; and laundry room].

He also thinks he will only have to remove baseboard where it's too tight. He's hoping to be able to get most under the baseboard [guy installed them knowing our floor sizing etc.]. We'll see.

If you want clean base skirt, no shoe? You have to pull the base, install flooring, and THEN scribe the base skirt to the newly installed floors. Otherwise the base will visually "shrink" and you need a shoe mold as well.

i like to use the same wood as the floor, heres a solid Birch transition to a silicone movement joint and a porcelain tile w progress profile detail, a bit of work, but worth it

Cement look tile guest bathroom · More Info

Cement look tile guest bathroom · More Info

TECH EDIT:

Id suggest finding an installer that understands TCNA detail ej171 (movement joints)

A. Yes you need movememt joint at all transitions as well as meet wood floor mfg specs on perimiter as well as tcna w tile. on and on. hire wisely, hire once.

Our baseboard went in first I believe. I think that’s common.

We have the transition you showed but our floor is glued down

Just because its done in a pic doesn't mean it works.

Base goes in AFTER floor no matter what and has nothing to do with shoe molding.

The above is set up like a breadboard end on a table. The saddle most likely is rabbited and the floor mortised and floats inside the saddle or breadboard end. This takes care of movement. The floor to tile is an issue and the only way it could work is to use a flexible caulking.

Most floors have a saddle or transition strip. You could use a traditional wood saddle and float it above both the tile and wood floor allowing movement underneath. You simply attach strip of wood thickness of floor under saddle and attach to floor. This would be cleanest way. If your on the West coast you probably have no idea what a saddle is.

It works. I have no idea how it was done ( i just told the contractor what I wanted) but this is the transition in my bathroom wet area, to the dry area. Same level with no transition piece or saddle. A very very small amount of grout where marble meets wood. So, it can be done, but probably depends on materials used. This is marble meeting up with real red oak that has radiant heat underneath.

@Mint tile Minneapolis I am the OP and my job is not done already so not sure what you're asking.

oops!