In most cases, the cabinets are installed before the floor covering but after the subfloor and underlayment. The floor covering or finish is usually cut to fit and butted against the cabinets, with a small gap between the two that is covered by nailing a shoe molding or baseboard to the bottom of the base cabinets.
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.
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.
Yes and no. It really depends on your preference, the type of cabinet, and more importantly, on the type of kitchen flooring you have and how it is installed. It isn't necessary to have your kitchen cabinets sit on the subfloor, and it certainly isn't the desired option among contractors.
Cabinets first.
Installing your cabinets first will secure them onto the subfloor and ensure you won't have any issues that might pop up if you were to install the floating floor first.
You should avoid installing cabinets or any other hardware that should be bolted to the floor on the laminate. Installing hardware on top of your flooring will cause pressure, preventing it from expanding or contracting as the temperature changes.
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.
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.
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.
Avoiding Damage: The floor is often prone to moisture, spills, and cleaning activities. By leaving a small gap between the cabinet doors and the floor, it helps to prevent the doors from coming into direct contact with these potentially damaging elements.
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.
Over time, appliances can leak or spill, causing damage to the subfloor. Having flooring installed under appliances can help to prevent this damage, and make it easier to clean up any spills that do occur. Stability: Large appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers are heavy, and they can move around over time.
Generally, it is much better to install the hardwood floors BEFORE the kitchen cabinets. There is one exception to this rule (see below). 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.
Glue-Down Installation. If you are installing glue-down vinyl plank flooring, it is okay to install under cabinets. Since the planks will be glued down to the floor, they will not contract and expand with temperature changes.
Always install the tile to the wall, under appliances, and cabinets. Good flooring could be in place for 20 years or more. In that time there could be water leaks, appliance failures cabinet damage that requires replacement, electrical problems that require cabinets to be moved, etc...
Durability. Vinyl flooring is known for being durable, which means that most LVT is water-resistant and low maintenance. With its wear layer, a vinyl floor will typically not stain and can endure lots of wear and tear. It's a good option for any highly trafficked areas like kitchens.
kitchen appliances?" Refrigerators and stoves should be moved out so the flooring will be installed under them. Dishwashers on the other hand require a plumber and electrician to disconnect and reset.
Protect against floor scratches, cracks, stains and damage
If the flooring is placed before the bathtub, it can lead to scratching or damaging the floor with trying to position a heavy object like a bathtub, so you can simply place it first and add the flooring and walling to make it more convenient.
So ideally if you are having flooring fitted in front of an appliance you should move the appliance out, and install the flooring all the way back underneath the appliance.
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.
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.
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.
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.