Floating Floor Never install cabinets on top of floating flooring. Based on seasonal changes in humidity, the flooring material needs to expand and contract. If that can't happen, the weight of the cabinets can cause the flooring to buckle and damage the flooring's locking systems.
Expansion and Contraction: Floating floors are designed to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. Installing cabinets on top of the floor can restrict this movement, potentially causing warping or buckling.
You install a floating floor after the cabinets are in. If you install any finish flooring before installing the cabinets you have to protect it properly or it will inevitably get dinged during the cabinet install. But floating floors always go in after the cabs.
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.
Freestanding bathroom vanity units can be fit to a floating floor. This type of bathroom vanity unit will need to be fixed to the flooring first, however a laminate will be unable to float beneath a bathroom cabinet or vanity model.
Without proper expansion gaps around the perimeter of your installation area (including under cabinets), your beautiful new floor may buckle or warp over time - yikes. To avoid such disasters, never place heavy cabinetry directly on top of laminate or vinyl plank flooring.
Floating floors are also more sensitive to humidity and moisture. If they are exposed in excess to moisture a floating floor can warp, Pitt, or even start growing mold. Floating floors should NOT be installed in commercial projects.
While some types of flooring, such as vinyl and tile, can be installed under cabinets without issue, other types of flooring, such as hardwood or engineered wood, may not be recommended for this installation method.
Installing your tiles before your kitchen cabinets will cut down on overall labor costs. Putting in your tiles first will help prevent water damage in your kitchen. Cabinets can be installed first if you're placing delicate tiles that might get damaged during cabinetry or appliance installation.
The decision of whether to install flooring under cabinets or not ultimately depends on your personal preference, budget, and design goals. While installing flooring under cabinets provides a seamless appearance and better protection against moisture damage, it can be more expensive and time-consuming.
The answer will vary depending on the material used for the floor and the way that the boards are constructed, but, as a general rule, both Laminate and Engineered Timber floating floors do need some form of underlay to have optimal functionality and longevity.
Installing the First Row
Start in a corner of the room, placing spacers against the walls to maintain a 5/16-inch expansion gap. Lay the first plank with the groove side facing the wall. For click-lock systems, angle the tongue of the second plank into the groove of the first and press down to lock them together.
Do not place stove directly on carpeting, vinyl tile or any combustible material other than wood.
Disadvantages of Floating Vanities
Floating vanities tend to have less storage space than freestanding designs because the cabinets don't go all the way to the floor. However, this can be mitigated with modular wall storage solutions that can be designed to coordinate with the vanity.
Pros of Floating Flooring:
The planks or tiles simply click or lock together, creating a seamless and stable surface.
The one exception to the floors before cabinets rule of thumb has to do with using floating floors, such as laminate. When you're putting floating floors in kitchens, they need the ability to move and expand and contract over time, which can be a problem if they're trapped under cabinetry.
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...
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. Pro Tip: Install the cabinets first if you believe the cabinets will remain a fixture for years longer than the flooring.
Do I install the kitchen floor before or after cabinets and why? You should install your floating floor after your kitchen units have been installed.
For those unfamiliar with the term, base cabinets are a type of kitchen cabinet that is installed to the floor. These cabinets provide structural support for counters and other kitchen surfaces. In addition, they usually offer storage in the form of drawers or shelves within which items can be stored and organized.
For instance, built-in appliances, like wall ovens or cooktops, often don't need flooring underneath since they are more permanent fixtures. In contrast, movable appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers benefit from having flooring underneath to prevent movement and protect against potential leaks.
What are the problems with floating floors? Floating floors can be susceptible to moisture and humidity, which can cause warping or buckling. They also tend to be more prone to gaps between planks due to their lack of attachment.
On average, laminate flooring can last 15 to 25 years with proper care and maintenance. However, some higher-quality laminate floors can last even longer, potentially up to 30 years.
Floating floor systems are designed to support loads under 30kg/cm2 or 200kg/object area. If your load will exceed this, we strongly suggest using the direct stick method.