Heavy cabinets, vanities, islands, and such, should never be installed on top of LooseLay flooring with limited adhesive. Instead, we recommend you install vinyl flooring next to cabinets.
No you do not have to remove the cabinets to install new flooring. Most likely you will have to remove existing flooring and underlayment for hardwood and clearances but not cabinets.
As we mentioned before, kitchen floors need to be able to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity, so if they were glued or nailed down, it would impede this necessary movement and cause damage to the cabinets.
A quick search online brings up a lot of debate on the issue, but no clear answers, so let us simplify for you: In our opinion, you are much, much better off laying your floor up to the edges of the units and appliances, rather than trying to install underneath them.
Most contractors will recommend that you install floating floors after your cabinets are installed. Floating floors must be able to expand and contract, with changes in humidity, within the environment of your home. They are not able to do this with heavy cabinets on top of them.
And this is generally the case with most flooring, however, there are some floor types out there that don't give you so much of an option. For example, laminate. Laminate is a flooring type that works best if installed after the cabinets.
Besides having a clean start, another big reason to put down floors first is longevity. Think of the future. You'll run into more remodeling issues down the road if you put in the cabinets first.
Flooring Before Cabinet
If your floor will be more than two inches high, it is recommended that you install it before putting in the appliances and cabinets.
By installing flooring underneath your appliances, you'll avoid any gaps or transitions that can be visually unappealing. Protection: Another benefit of installing flooring under appliances is that it provides protection for your subfloor. Over time, appliances can leak or spill, causing damage to the subfloor.
If you want to install linoleum or wood laminate flooring (also known as a “floating floor”) this can typically be done without removing cabinets; just get as close as you can to the cabinets using whole panels and then cut the linoleum or laminate pieces as needed so that they abut neatly against the cabinet base.
Putting vinyl flooring under your dishwasher is possible but not advisable: this is because of the structure and function of the dishwasher. The dishwasher's function is such that it must use water, and while vinyl flooring is water-resistant, continuous exposure can result in potential leaks.
Vinyl plank flooring will not be damaged or cracked by home appliances' weight due to its strong durability. However, most manufacturers will specify a lower weight, than its true capacity to prevent any damage. Many homeowners have had no problems, even with heavy items.
If your floor is overloaded by heavy appliances or heavy furniture, you risk damaging the planks. It's important to know the specific weight rating of your flooring so that you can avoid damage. According to Home Inspection Insider, most manufacturers rate their vinyl to be able to withstand 500 pounds.
So, if you're wondering if you can put cabinets on top of vinyl plank flooring or if you can install vinyl flooring before or after cabinets, unfortunately, you should have the cabinets installed first or choose from the options described below. Recommended: Install cabinets BEFORE floating flooring.
In most cases, installing cabinets come first before the flooring. Know that floor covering is the surface you see and walk on, where it is usually cut to size and butt up against the cabinets.
In most cases, kitchen cabinets are attached to the floor. This helps to keep them level and stops them from tipping over. Sometimes, however, kitchen cabinets are not attached to the floor. This is usually when they are placed on top of a countertop or other surface.
In most cases, given standard flooring heights, you will install the cabinets or kitchen island before the floor covering. You will also install flooring before appliances.
However, a good rule of thumb is to have your kitchen wall cabinets be somewhere between 36 and 42 inches from the floor. Wall cabinets should be 18 inches from the floor to avoid obstructing counter space and range hood access.
Hence, it is advisable to stick to items below 500 pounds for your flooring. While some manufacturers will warn you against putting heavy objects on your floating flooring material, most home furniture and appliances do not exceed 500 pounds, which is unsafe for your floating floor.
As a rule, install permanent cabinets first, then install vinyl flooring. If you install the flooring first, use only specific types of flooring under certain conditions.
Yes, it can. However, you should consider a number of things. Sometimes, when you open a stove door, sparks can enter the room and leave little burning spots on your floor. But playing with fire won't always get you burnt: a protective layer can prevent burning spots and makes sure your laminate floor stays brand new.
Yes! Underneath the fridge, stove and dish washer. That way you can pull the stove and fridge out si you can clean behind them. Without a floor the same level under the appliances you cannot slide them out easily.