Would you install the ceramic tile floor wall to wall first then the kitchen base cabinets on top of them or the base kitchen cabinets first and then the ceramic tile floor up to the kitchen base cabinets.
thanks
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Replies
this has been covered about a million times here ...
I'd suggest the "search" option if it actually worked.
since it doesn't ...
it'll be 50-50.
me ... I do my own remodels ... and sub both tile and cabs ...
I install the floor first.
then cabs.
I don't look for ways to save a few pennies for my customers that they "may" someday regret. Not always ... not usually ... just someday.
Ya just build from the bottom up in my book.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
floor 1st and then the cabs..
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I agree with the others...floor first, then the cabinets. Think of it this way...5 years from now, homeowner decides to do away with an end cabinet for some reason...now what's he gonna do when after removing, he finds no ceramic flooring...just subflooring...and he can't match it with what he's got?
Also...when tiling...place tile underneath door trim casings...don't run trim up to and around them.. This involves trimming the bottoms off the casings...but hey, if you are gonna do it right, then take the time and do it right....nothing I hate more than to see this step omitted from a tiling job...rank amateurs!
Davo
Davo
Tile is much too expensive to waste under cabinetry. Installing kitchens has been a big part of my business for 25 yrs. We never put down the flooring first. The tile does go under the refrigerator, range and dishwasher but those areas are open. I wouldn't want to work over new tile or any other floor. You do need to make sure the extra height does not effect the appliance openings. I've done over 600 kitchens, 4 last month , I have two appointments for new kitchens on Monday. The flooring installers come after I'm done, appliances after them.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Generally I'll do cabs first setting furring of similar thickness to install the cabs on so tile doesn't swallow up the dishwasher/reefer opening, etc.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
For wood floors I do the floors first....I use all my cut offs and junk wood under where the cabs will go....saves money and keeps the cab to floor heights all the same.
Ceramic floors I do the same...depends how large a kitchen/cab area and the waste factor.
I always divide my floor in quarters and start in the middle.
I'll take all my cut off pieces of tile and use them under where the cabs go even if I have to use extra grout on large tile joints thats no biggie...grout is cheap. I also always have left over tile because you have to buy full boxes so I loose those under the cabs as well.
Different strokes for different folks.
Be floored?
a...
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I'm with Hammer on this one. I will usually give the client an explanation and what it will cost them to bury all that ni$e tile and labor then let them decide.
I dislike installing cabs on top of ceramic. Occassionaly you will need to attatch something to the floor, that pesky 9" base at the end of a run, or that finished panel. It's much easier to attatch to a wood floor.
I agree with the others...floor first, then the cabinets. Think of it this way...5 years from now, homeowner decides to do away with an end cabinet for some reason...now what's he gonna do when after removing, he finds no ceramic flooring...just subflooring...and he can't match it with what he's got?
Heh, heh...........that's called job security men!!!
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Wood foors first because its difficult to nail strips that run parrallel to cabinets under the kick space.
Cabinets first if its ceramic. I dont want to be responsible for that dropped hammer.
As I have mentioned many times before, we do a ton of repair work. We have a fairly typical job going right now where the ceramic tile floor in the kitchen must be replaced. For some reason, the ceramic tile was installed before the base cabinets. As a result, 24 lineal feet of base cabinets must be removed to demo the floor. Because of the way the laminate counter was installed, the laminate backsplash will be destroyed in the process. Naturally, the laminate counter matches the backsplash and will have to be replaced as well. In several areas, the backsplash goes far behind the upper cabinets. We will be removing several uppers as well to get the splash out. A huge avoidable waste of time, materials, and money.
In cases where custom cabinetry with special arched toekicks or in cases of islands, putting the tile in first makes sense.
Otherwise imo, it is one of the most annoying practices I have ever experienced.
Floors are disposable. Cabinetry is not.
Please construct your kitchens accordingly.
carpenter in transition
I'm with Hammer.... cabinets first. I can set a cabinet over tile if I feel like drilling thru the tile, but why? It's easy enough to leave the owner an extra box of tile if you're concerned that they're going to tear out the cabinet you just installed.