I’ve had vinyl floors in my kitchen for over 2 years now and none of the kitchen appliances have damaged the floor. 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. Less work to just put the flooring … If you have that annoying small gap between the cabinet toe kick and the floor, like mine. Cabinets Before Flooring Setting the cabinetry in place before installing the flooring means not having to worry about floor damage during cabinet installation. Wayfair-Wayfair believes that options for your home can come from just about anywhere, so we carry over 5,000 brands of products like vanities, furniture, lighting, cookware, and everything in between. The living room and family room will come together in the kitchen. Icicles may be pretty but they can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up into your house. I think it’s obviously better to rip up the tile IF YOU CAN. Their supposition is that this may avoid needing to rip up the cabinets if you have a flood. Proper heights. Coretec Plus can be installed either way – either on top of tile or remove the tile. I hope that made sense. The flooring will be able to expand and contract beneath the toekick without revealing a gap. This is easiest with linoleum or vinyl tiles. Flooring and cabinets which to install install laminate flooring on concrete can i put laminate flooring over hardwood can i install vinyl floors under cabinets. Cabinets are installed after the finished floor. Remove the cabinets and screw a plywood filler piece to the subfloor about ½ inch inside the line, where it will be under the cabinets. And, while they do claim that’s it’s waterproof, almost all knock-off products don’t seem to be fully waterproof and haven’t stood the test of time. My downstairs is L-shaped. Adam – You should do the cabinets before the floors, since they are floating. Safer on cabinets. If they want to change flooring at a later date, you don't have to remove the cabinets. While this is a common way to do it, there are some disadvantages that are inherent to this type of cabinet and tile installation. They make a nice accent, especially if you tie them in with the colors of the room. That way the flooring can be changed down the road without trying to get it out from under the cabinets. Tom Silva replies: It might be easier, but it wouldn’t be better. With a floating floor, you install after and cabinets should be raised by adding plywood underneath them before the cabinets are installed. Seems like it would be hard to make plywood look ‘right’ under a refrigerator, because you still see so much of the floor around the edges. Please also not that if cabinets are done before the floors, it may severely limit your flooring options due to height issues, especially with appliances. You don’t risk dragging a stove or heavy counter over the hardwoods and scratching or otherwise damaging them. If so, feel free to buy me a coffee and support my blog. Adding an in-floor heating system under hardwood flooring is simple with these instructions. This piece should be at least 2 inches wide and about ⅛ inch thicker than the total thickness of the flooring, including any vapor barrier or cushion. This, to me, is the ideal sequence and what I’ve seen work best while working with many contractors. When it comes to kitchen remodels, many homeowners wonder if it’s better to install the cabinets or the hardwood floors first. Tile Under Vanity If you remove the vanity, tile the floor underneath it just as you do the rest of the floor. Yes, the better way to do it is stain + 2 coats, then cabinets, then last coat. By the way, if you do have water damage in the kitchen and it’s caused by a mechanical issue, this is often covered by homeowner’s insurance and/or the warranty on the kitchen appliance. If installing a floating floor, the answer is simple. A thin bead of caulk can fill that small gap between cabinets and floors in less than 30 minutes. How to Install Laminate Flooring Around a Kitchen Dishwasher. Argued with my floor guy about this topic. Hardwood floors are installed by professionals for a reason. Finally, install the cabinets on both strips and attach the toekicks. Otherwise, you may be very sorry. This DIY works on gaps 1/4″ and smaller. The long exterior walls are the same length. Solid hardwood floors may last for 100+ years. I have seen several customers who did not adhere to this, and as a result they could neither do solid hardwood, nor tile and instead opted for vinyl flooring. Tim – If you are gluing it down, that is fine (and better to go under the cabinets. I had more trouble getting dishwashers out of their cubbies when I had to lift them up and over flooring stopped at the front of the machine. Sadly, many people install first, only to discover the flooring can’t be installed under the dishwasher, so they install it in front of the dishwasher. Wayfair.com provides a variety of furniture, vanities, fixtures, pillows and other items that will help you add the finishing touches to your room. With a floating floor, you install after and cabinets should be raised by adding plywood underneath them before the cabinets are installed. If the cabinets will outlive the flooring, which is usually the case with vinyl plank, then put the cabinets in first. If your dishwasher springs a leak, you don't want the water to find its way under the flooring. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Should the floor extend under the stove, dishwasher, and fridge? Was wonder how to arrange the planks. The hardwood just flows underneath the cabinets. If you do tile under the cabinets, be sure to get level specification from the cabinet/countertop contractors to provide to the tile contrator, because he is then going to have to be the one to level any uneven flooring, instead of the casbinet installer levelling with shims. New tiles can be added to tile flooring, but hardwood flooring that has been under cabinets will always have a different look than floors that have been walked on. Learn these fast fixes for ice dam removal, long term repair, and prevention tips. you would not want your dishwasher to be trapped underneath the floor and have to rip up portions of the floor to remove it. This is also important if you decide to change the style of your cabinets later, especially as some show the hardwood underneath. There’s a super easy fix for that. The reason for this is that floating floors move, and they expand and contract. You can read more about floating floors here. One way to combat a potential locked in appliance dilemma is by installing plywood (same thickness as flooring) in the area under the dishwasher. Installing unfinished hardwood floors around kitchen cabinets you should expect to cut hardwood floor boards more often because it is not just square room:). That’s not the only problem: You’d have a tough time cutting out the strips that extend under the cabinets if you ever wanted to replace the flooring; you’ll be spending money on a surface you’ll never see; and you run the risk of scratching your new floor if you install the cabinets after it’s in place. You can put plywood under the cabinets, but make sure it’s the same thickness of the floating floor (including the underlayment). The rest under the cabinets can be filled with plywood or other solid materials to have a surface for the cabinets to rest on. I am considering installing NuCore, similar to CoreTec. The flooring … If cabinets are already installed, however, you don’t need to install the hardwood floor under the cabinets. You enter the house in the living room continue to the kitchen then turn left into the family room. Would you still do the cabinets before the flooring? Should I remove the tile or lay the vinyl over the tile. Here’s How to Fix It, How to Install Kitchen Cabinet Crown Molding. If you lay the tiles up to the cabinets and in future want to replace the cabinets, all you have to do is cut along the grout lines of the partial tiles and smash them out. You really should have flooring under the dishwasher, then caulk or base around the cabinet sides and back wall. This site is owned by The Flooring Girl LLC, a subsidiary of Dynamo Marketers. This is especially important if you change the flooring in the future, or if there is some sort of water issue where leaking water from an appliance could get under then flooring. That would obviously be better so that everything is the same height. Most people will tell you to not put vinyl plank floors under appliances, which is bunch of garbage. For more info, check out my Ebook – Discover the 6 Secrets of Refinishing hardwood floors. Please note that these are products I know/use and recommend to my customers. Installing Flooring or Cabinets: Which Comes First? Sure, the color preferences may change, but the wood will often remain in there through many kitchen renovations. Rob – In general, the flooring should go under the cabinets – assuming it’s hardwood or tile and it’s nailed or glued. 4. I really don’t buy into this supposition. First time trying to install Vinyl Plank to redo the floors in my bathroom, but have a couple questions. This will help take care of minor scratches that may occur during the rest of the kitchen construction. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Floating floors are clicked together and not adhered to the floor. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page. DO FLOORING LAST. But NEVER hardwood! Regarding ripping up the tile, that is up to you. Should you install a kitchen floor before the cabinets? Your review convinced me to go with vinyl. felt pads, doggie socks, Ebook – What to look for when buying a home with hardwood, Ebook – Discover the 6 Secrets of Refinishing hardwood floors, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Policy. Did you find my tips helpful? Of course the cabinet contractors should be careful, and they should allow for enough drying time before walking on the floor (ideally 4 days) and cover the floors. Cabinets styles will come and go and they over time they need to be replaced from wear and tear. Wayfair-Wayfair believes that options for your home can come from just about anywhere, so we carry over 5,000 brands of products like vanities, furniture, lighting, cookware, and everything in between. Hold the saw at a 45-degree angle with respect to the cabinet and insert the blade under the toe kick. Also, they may be able to remove stain from cabinets with some chemicals. Many people install this floor type before filling the room with furniture or appliances or things such as […] This way, you don’t need to worry about adding quarter round to the cabinets and instead can just have clean toe kicks that match the cabinets. I would also recommend that you do Coretec Plus rather than NuCore as Nucore is inferior…it’s much thinner. Those are all good reasons to lay a kitchen floor after the cabinets are in. That stinks. Why in the world would you recommend wasting expensive hardwood flooring by hiding it under cabinets and appliances when cheap plywood would do the job as well as leave you backup flooring to make repairs someday when likely the hardwood you spent so much money on is no longer available? To begin the heated floor installation, make a layout of the kitchen in order to determine how many strips of thermoplastic polymer you need to Cover the entire floor except for the area under the cabinets. This way, you don't need to worry about adding quarter round to … But if the bathroom floor calls for waterproofing, the best choice would be to install tile under the cabinet . It’s much safer this way. Some people have mentioned that it’s “safer” to have have plywood underneath the cabinets in case you have a flood. Also, you would NEVER put laminate or any floating floors under cabinets as they would buckle. Thanks. If so, there may be more options for you. All rights reserved. My designer discount at the paint stores usually more than offsets the cost for the hour consultation. Due to many requests, I’m now doing phone consultations, too. If you have saved spare tiles, finish laying the floor up to the wall, and then install your new cabinets. If you are installing a hardwood floating floor (or any floating floor such as cork or laminate), you should install the floor AFTER the kitchen cabinets are installed. I've read warnings against installing tile under cabinets because it prevents the floating floor from expanding. And, it is, of course, the order that I had my mom do her kitchen, and I wouldn’t steer her wrong. So, floors that are nailed (or glued) should be installed BEFORE the cabinets and floors that are floated should be done AFTER the cabinets. Kitchen people wanted the floor stained with 2 coats of varnish, kitchen install and then final 3rd coat. I can’t quite tell if that works with your layout, but I think you can achieve both of those based on my understanding (And, I hope this made sense). If you do not put your hardwoods underneath them, that makes it possible to install the heavy appliances and cabinetry first. Read more here. Laminate flooring is a type of engineered flooring utilizing a snap-and-lock system during installation. There’s not much savings on cost or wood, but if it makes you feel better, that’s fine. Flexibility to change cabinet footprint later. Starting off on a new slate like this means you can choose both your flooring and your cabinet colors, giving you ultimate control of how your space looks. At NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I will earn a small commission, if you purchase them. First, if you get water under the cabinets, there is plywood there which would absorb the water anyway. Required fields are marked *. There is one exception to this rule (see below). I love a quick win, guys! And, maybe kick plates can be replaced. 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. I’m beyond explosive.. Mona – Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. Lacyt – Thanks for your opinion. This product is 5.5 mm thick vs. Coretec Plus is 8mm. felt pads, vent covers, Hardwood supplies e.g. It is best to think the whole process through and discuss with both cabinet and flooring contractors, even if you will do this in phases. There is another reason you may want to go with cheap subflooring beneath those cabinets and counters. Here’s the recommended sequence of events for kitchen remodeling when it comes to floors/cabinets. I keep hearing stories from many installers about problems with the cheaper knock-offs. Very importantly, you can avoid potential nicks or stains to your cabinets that could happen during the demo, install, and/or sanding process for the floors. I have vinyl floors in my kitchen, we installed it under a lot of different appliances and we’ve never had any issues. Your email address will not be published. I am worried about the height difference between rooms. It’s certainly less expensive…and there is a good reason for that. Screw a strip of the same thickness to the floor next to the wall. This will allow enough expansion for the flooring to expand and contract through the seasons with temperature changes. I hope that makes sense and I hope it helps. (By the way, often when I price out the costs for these 2 options they come out about the same). They ship directly to you and often have some good sales. And, even though Coretec would not normally expand/contract, you just don’t want to put heavy weight (with granite) on top of it. It depends if you can remove it or afford to pay someone who can and how important it is to have everything on same level. Hopefully, you can get the flooring guy to fix/pay for the issue they caused. Generally, it is much better to install the hardwood floors BEFORE the kitchen cabinets. 1. Read about home warranty providers to see if it might be a good option for your home. Tired of running out of hot water? How to Fill the Gap Under Cabinets. And yes, tiles look nice under a cabinet. Laminate flooring is now a commonly preferred flooring type for household surfaces, such as kitchen floors. Cover any vents and remove the moldings using a pry bar. If there is movement in the flooring, the nylon glides will allow it to do so quite freely. Q: Can I install new kitchen cabinets on top of a floating floor? 3. This can cause all sorts of issues including bulging, buckling and breaking. If you put in floors first, they're likely to get damaged in some way during the rest of you remodel. One trick I use is to install nylon chair glides on the underside of the base cabinets. So, if you install a floating floor after the cabinets, how do you ensure the countertops are the correct height? Obviously, it will look better on same level and you won’t need to have transition pieces. This assumes that the floating floor has a significant height. Bethany – Yes, the floating floor goes under the refrigerator and stove, but not under the cabinets. Thanks

Apologies if this has been asked before but I did not see it.

I am putting in some Allure vinyl tile flooring in a bathroom. Often without planning, these appliances can get locked in when the hardwood guy is done installing the floor. Increase your home's value with these 27 DIY projects! Regarding direction, you can do it whichever way your prefer – i.e whichever looks better. It will be glued to concrete floor. Generally the hardwood floors will outlast the cabinets. A good cabinet installer can shim up your cabinets to the same hight as your floors. But if you have to install the flooring first, here’s a method that will avoid some of the problems I just described. Please note that some of this site’s links are affiliate links, and TheFlooringGirl.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. And, if you leave tile in place, this may impact the direction(s) you want to lay the planks. All you have to do is pull the kick off, remove the old floor covering, install the new flooring, then put the kick back. Generally you would follow the longest length of room and you would also go from door inward (so the boards are “welcoming you in”, not running perpendicular. Description: Bathroom is approx. … Your email address will not be published. If you put in the floor afterward, you have to put something under the cabinets to match the height of the wood or the cabinets will be lower. So just be aware of it. Not sure how to solve the other issues. There are many reasons. Hardwood supplies – e.g. This is more common with solid 3/4 inch floors opposed to thinner hardwoods. However, when installing a wood flooring nail down or glue down, there are more factors to consider. It seems like it would be easier to lay the flooring first and not have to cut it to fit against the toekick or to cover up the gap with shoe moldings.—Thomas Bourquin, Spring Valley, Ohio. Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Installing the hardwood floors first will give you the cleanest look with the cabinets. No need to spend extra $ for something you will never see unless it's in our budget. I bought a Lifeproof Vinyl Plank Flooring that is supposed to be waterproof and has the underlayment already pre … If you’re doing a floating floor, what goes under the stove and fridge? And, it’s especially frustrating when you brought it up to the flooring contractor. When the time comes to reinstall the vanity, simply install the new piece of hardware through the tiles and into the floor. Put all the base cabinets in place, then mark a line on the subfloor corresponding to the front edge of the toekick. If these are done at separate times due to budget reasons, this may need to be done differently. If this does happen, you may need to either replace the cabinet or just live with the damage. Next, put masking tape on the edges … Refrigerator Leaking Water? 1) I have seen way too many people change the foot print of the cabinets (and then it’s more expensive and they waste more wood and it’s a different color if they redo later, 2) it avoids the need for shoe molding (which is more waste and looks worse), 3) It does in fact make sure that the whole area is even, especially as many plywoods, especially those in big box stores are thinner than what they say (usually by 1/16″), 4) it saves the homeowner a bit of money, 5) plywood is wood too and when you use 2 woods, you end up with a bit more waste for both woods and finally 5) it gives you more flexibility on types of cabinets you use now and in future. Unfortunately, that means either damage to the floor or moving forward with that new counter replacement. It’s less convenient for the ones doing flooring, but, it’s the right way to go (as you can now see). Installing the hardwood floors first will give you the cleanest look with the cabinets. Second, if anything, you are more susceptible to having issues with the plywood which is untreated vs. the hardwood which is protected with polyurethane. 5' x 5', has tub shower against one wall, 1 toilet, 24" cabinet, and current flooring looks like vinyl roll/linoleum. Cleanest look. This is fine, until the dishwasher needs repair or replacing. Finally, install the cabinets on both strips and attach the toekicks. Rob – In general, the flooring should go under the cabinets – assuming it’s hardwood or tile and it’s nailed or glued. A: Here again, this is a matter of personal preference. Of course, an alternative way to achieve height consistency is to insert plywood underneath the cabinets, but this can cause other issues, and really doesn’t save much money as you still need to pay for the plywood and you will need to pay more for the labor both in cutting the plywood and finer cuts on the hardwood around the cabinets. A lot of it comes down to personal preference. The floating floor, and just use the plywood for under the cabinets? Do you tile under the cabinet/vanity that is to be secured to the wall on the floor? Adjust the cutting depth of a toe-kick saw to the thickness of the flooring. Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. Copyright 2011-2021 | All Rights Reserved. Please note that this assumes that you are doing a full remodel in the kitchen both replacing the cabinets and the flooring at the same time. Pay attention to Cancork's advice. You will get a much cleaner look if the floors are done first. Pics of : Do You Put Laminate Flooring Under Kitchen Cabinets 3. If I am installing handscraped engineered hardwood that in the kitchen, will it be a problem to put the engineered wood under the cabinets. First, it’s important that the cabinets are the standard 36 inches above the floor and it’s important that the appliances are at this same height so that there aren’t issues later if/when you want to change the appliances (e.g. If engineered floors are floated, they should never go under the cabinets. Below, I have recommended a full sequence of events to also account for minor damage that the cabinet contractors may cause on the floors. A floating wood floor has to be free to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity, and it can’t do that with heavy cabinets resting on top of it. 36K worth of cabinets and island and veneer missing from Island leg, stain on cabinets, pooling stain around legs. But, I don’t know if you are doing this yourself and how challenging that is for you and whether you have plywood or a slab underneath. (It will be much harder to rip up over a slab). It’s important to have hardwood throughout the floor so that if you change the foot print of your cabinets, or decide to move the appliances, you have flexibility with the same wood flooring throughout the area. The flooring will be able to … To replace kitchen tiles on the floor or wall without removing the cabinets, begin by clearing out the unnecessary items in the kitchen. Now install the new flooring, but keep it about a ¼ inch from the first filler strip. Floor guy said no no no….we always go in last to finish. Is your home protected against unexpected repair needs?

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