Flooring Then Cabinets Or Cabinets Then Flooring

Since wood floors will contract and expand as the temperatures change and moisture increases or decreases it needs room to breathe.

Flooring then cabinets or cabinets then flooring.

I do agree with k co s answer. This piece should be at least 2 inches wide and about inch thicker than the total thickness of the flooring including any vapor barrier or cushion. Install plywood in remaining area to exact height of tile floor to finish cabinet install. Check with your manufacturer to see if your floors are within normal height range.

Before installing flooring know how you plan to use it and if you think you re going to change your layout often try putting the floors in first. The kitchen is beautiful but is aesthetically confusing. If the flooring contractor has to work around existing cabinetry the costs may be higher than expected since special cuts may be needed and extra care must be taken. Remove the cabinets and screw a plywood filler piece to the subfloor about inch inside the line where it will be under the cabinets.

Also there may be additional costs and scheduling issues if the flooring contractor has to come back to refinish the floors after the cabinets have been installed. A good example of not following this rule is a client of mine that insisted on using the same color on the floors cabinets and a butcher block top on her island. It s a popular reason for installing wood floors after putting in the cabinets. Install tile under cabinets and floor based appliances with a 2 inset this allows you to move the pattern and grout lines where needed.

Install the cabinets first because heavy cabinetry cannot sit on top of a floating floor or it will restrict movement and increase the chances of flooring separation. This will help take care of minor scratches that may occur during the rest of the kitchen construction. Mark the layout of the cabinets and all floor based appliances. However when installing a wood flooring nail down or glue down there are more factors to consider.

However this is far less common than leaks under the sink from the washer or dishwasher or spills on the floor. Thicker types of flooring such as solid hardwood present a problem because your cabinet counter may not be the standard height of 34 inches to 36 inches. If installing a floating floor the answer is simple. Having the floor installed tightly beneath the cabinets could result in buckling and subsequent damage.

Demo the cabinets demo the floor install the hardwood sand with stain 2 coats of poly install the cabinets install the countertops then add the 3rd and final coat of polyurethane. If this is the case install either floor panels or plywood risers beneath your cabinets to even the level.