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Re: Does the floor go in before the kitchen cabinets?

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Flooring
Date: 19 Dec 1999
Time: 11:08:08
Remote Name: 152.163.207.184

Comments

Generally the flooring is installed after the kitchen cabinets are in. There are several reasons for this:

1) The cabinets must be shimmed to compensate for variations in the subfloor surface. It's not uncommon to have 1/8" to 1/4" or more of variation from one end of the cabinets to the other - particularly in older homes that have settled over the years. By putting the floor in after the cabinets are level, you won't see any gap between the finish floor surface and the toekick of the cabinets. However, when ordering your cabinets, be sure to account for the floor thickness. This is particularly important for allowing ample clearance for the dishwasher and toekick. I've seen many situations where unwitting homeowners have installed 3/4" quarry tile or hardwood over their existing floor surface, only to rip it out later to repair or replace a broken dishwasher.

2) By putting the floor in after the cabinets are installed, you have the flexibility to jazz up your floor with wood or tile borders. This adds an attractive element to any kitchen.

3) You always want the cabinets anchored to a solid, non-moving surface. If you're considering a "floating" wood floor, you would only be asking for trouble if you mounted your cabinets on top.

4) Finally, since most floor installers charge by the square foot, you generally will save money to install the floor only where it's visible. For example, a kitchen with 25' lineal feet of 24" deep base cabinetry will save about 50 square feet of flooring. At $10-12/square foot for hardwood or tile installation, this could save you $500-$600 on your installation.

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