If the height is met, vinyl and laminate flooring can either come after the cabinets, and be installed right up to the base, or run underneath both the cabinets and the appliances, due to its thin structure.
When installing laminate flooring in kitchens and bathrooms, you cannot place cabinets or any hardware that is meant to be bolted permanently to the floor on the laminate. Installing these items on top of your new flooring will cause pressure and not let the flooring expand and contract to temperature changes.
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.
Putting down the floor before the cabinets makes for clearer sailing now and into the future. Treat the floors under your cabinets like a permanent installation. They should receive the same treatment as the rest of your floor. Just because they won't show doesn't mean you can cut corners.
Generally speaking, while you can do it, you should avoid putting a floating floor under cabinets. Floating floors are not designed to hold the extra weight of cabinets, and over time they can damage the floor and cause more issues in the long run.
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.
Because of this installation process, its recommended cabinets go in before floating floors. Cabinets, especially those with heavy stone countertops, could damage your floating floors. These types of floors also shift, expand, contract and settle after installation, causing the cabinets on top of them to move.
Traditionally hardwood flooring is more commonly installed prior to the cabinets and sanded and finished as one of the last steps, but with the increasing popularity of prefinished hardwood flooring the risks of damage during installation becomes greater.
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.
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.
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.
Kitchen Appliances can be put on laminate flooring as long as these appliances do not exert a weight of more than 500 pounds per square foot and the flooring is not in contact with walls and cabinets, allowing it still to be able to expand and contract.
Don't install your laminate on any floor with a drain. Don't install laminate on any uneven subfloor or outdoors. Don't install your laminate over residential carpet. Don't install a second layer of laminate underlayment.
Be Sure To Clean Regularly
If you spill something, you must wipe it up immediately. Chances are you would do that anyway. Then, all you need to do is sweep or dust it on a regular basis and it will stay clean and scratch free. Laminate flooring is a perfect choice for your kitchen because of its strength.
Since the kitchen is a high-traffic area, you need a durable flooring material that can withstand wear and tear. Consider materials like ceramic or porcelain tile, natural stone, or hardwood floors that are strong enough to handle foot traffic and heavy furniture.
Generally, you should install your flooring in front of your dishwasher and not under it. This is because your dishwasher will require replacement or repair sooner, and this may mean damage to your floor if it is under this unit.
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.
Installing your flooring before the door poses several advantages. First, you will have more room to work with as the doors are out of your way. This way, you can ensure correct installation by lining your tiles appropriately, as the doors will not dictate how you lay them.
Usually you are directed to NOT install the flooring under appliances or cabinets. There are many considerations that affect the performance of the flooring and the ability to move (shrink and expand) is usually at the top of the list.
Durable and Long-Lasting: Vinyl is considered to be a highly durable flooring material, which makes it a great choice for kitchen flooring. It can take almost anything a normal to a chaotic household life can deliver.
You should leave a 10mm gap between the laminate flooring and the walls on all sides. The same applies to other solid objects such as doorframes, heating pipes, stoves and radiators that are flush with the floor and furniture.
It's also important to avoid dropping heavy objects or dragging sharp or heavy items across the laminate flooring, as this can cause scratches or dents.