However, experts agree that new flooring should always be installed before you have any interior painting done.
Uniform floor installation: When you install flooring first, your flooring will cover the entire room since cabinets and other appliances are not in the way. This makes it easier to rearrange your space in the future because your flooring will continue throughout the entire room.
Apply “The Rule of Three” to Home Flooring
This rule says you should use three flooring types at maximum throughout the whole home. For example, you might use hardwood in public areas of the house, except the kitchen and bathroom, where you use vinyl linoleum.
It's generally recommended to install your new flooring before your new cabinets. Here are a few reasons why: Seamless Appearance: Installing the flooring first allows for a more seamless look, as the cabinets will sit on top of the flooring. This can help avoid gaps or uneven transitions.
Baseboards are typically installed prior to the flooring. For instance, baseboards should be installed first before laying carpeting. It allows for the edges to be tucked under and out of view. However, it's much easier and convenient for hardwood and laminate flooring to be laid first before installing the trim.
Don't want to deal with removing baseboards? You can leave them in place, but you will need to leave a ¼” gap between the baseboard and flooring, to account for expansion over time. You may want to purchase some quarter-round pieces in a matching color to cover up this gap.
Why Experts Recommend Baseboard Installation First. While both baseboard and carpet installation can technically occur in any order, professionals often recommend installing baseboards first, followed by carpet.
The Verdict – Which to Install First? Ultimately, unless you're using floating floors, it is probably better to put the floors in before the cabinets. This will ultimately make it easier for all the appliances to sit at the appropriate height and give you an overall picture of your future kitchen space.
The standard practice for kitchen renovations is to install the cabinets before the flooring. This is because it allows the cabinets to be properly leveled and secured to the subfloor, which ensures a stable and level base for the cabinets.
Put a mark on the board at the 3 feet point. Now, measure the adjacent board from the same corner to 4 feet and put a mark there. Then, measure the distance between the two marks. If it is 5 feet, then you have a perfectly square corner.
The best pattern to lay vinyl plank flooring is a staggered or offset pattern. This method involves positioning each plank so that the seams do not align, creating a natural, visually appealing look.
Here are the main advantages of laying flooring first: Installation is easier: When you start with your flooring, you usually fit it to the entire kitchen area. This means it doesn't need to be cut around your cabinetry and should be quicker and easier to install. This, in turn, could save you on installation costs.
While the flooring that is laid down after the drywall is installed will correct imperfections in the floor, any small hill in the concrete will cause a full sheet of drywall to be out of level if the drywall is placed directly on the floor.
In the end, whether you tile your walls or floor first is down to you and your preferences. If you're working on it yourself and have more time to spare, then tile the floor first as this makes tiling the walls easier. Just bear in mind that you must wait for the adhesive to dry before you begin working on the walls.
Installing flooring first is also considered the smarter process, because having them run right under your cabinets and appliances means that the next time you decide to update your kitchen, you'll have the flexibility to change the footprint instead of being stuck with the current configuration.
Does a Toe Kick go on Before or After Flooring? Typically, a toe kick is installed after the flooring in a kitchen. This approach ensures that the flooring can be laid down seamlessly throughout the kitchen area, providing a consistent and finished look.
Similar to an ordinary kitchen, the weight of a cooking island can cause the floor to crack if placed incorrectly. To avoid this, place the kitchen island before laying the floor and carefully consider the placement of the sides.
In the ongoing debate of ceiling versus flooring, the answer is clear: prioritize ceiling work before tackling flooring installations. Not only does this approach minimize potential damage, but it also ensures a seamless and efficient design process.
Install Flooring. Once you have prepped your walls, you are ready to install the flooring in your home. You should do this before painting any of the walls. That way if you do cause any damage while installing the floors you don't have to repaint areas.
Lay down hardwood flooring first to avoid gaps and water damage, then fit those baseboards with precision—think snug fits and even staining.
Tile first, then carpet. Tiling is a messy process. Much easier not to have the carpet there to get messy and/or need to be kept clean while you are tiling. That, and it is also easier to butt carpet up to tile than tile to carpet.
Do you paint walls or trim first? From a professional point of view, with interior painting, it makes the most sense to paint your trim first, then ceilings, and then your walls. It's much easier and faster to tape off trim than to tape off your walls.