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Engineered wood floor installation under cabinets

BVJohnston | Posted in General Discussion on November 12, 2010 01:25am

I am going to install engineered wood floors into my kitchen. My plan was to install the flooring prior to putting in the cabinets as well. I have heard mixed ideas as to what is the best practice of floor installation and the cabinets. One party says to put the cabinets in first and then install the floor and the other party says to just install the flooring completely first. Is it true that if I put the floor in first and then the cabinets, the floor could crack and the warranty would be void? I just want to do this right.

I had been planing on also putting in an underlayment other than rosen paper and then stapling down the floor.  Would that also be recommended?  I am putting this over an existing linoleum floor,

Thanks!

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  1. calvin | Nov 12, 2010 02:34pm | #1

    Floor Crack?

    I don't think so.  You are installing a staple down floor, not a floating floor.  If you are intending on the other than rosin paper to be a foam pad (like used in floating floors), then I can only answer "I don't know".

    When dealing with a floating engineered floor I have always run the floor to just under the cabinet toe kick layout-then blocked and shimmed "behind" that so the cabs didn't really sit ON the floor.  Besides, with a cushioned underlay you'd be beating your head and level against the wall-what is level now would probably change when you set the range, reefer or loaded the cabs.

    1. User avater
      BVJohnston | Nov 12, 2010 03:56pm | #3

      Thanks for the input and quick advice!!

  2. moneypitdc | Nov 12, 2010 03:25pm | #2

    Height consideration

    I recently researched this issue and think height is a very important consideration.  If you choose to NOT lay your finish flooring under your base cabinets, then you need to put some sheet material the same thickness as your finish flooring under your base cabinets . . . so there's not a lip created by the finish flooring in front of your dishwasher and fridge and any other appliance that may need to be moved in the future.  This is particularly important with respect to the dishwasher, because your counter top would prevent you from lifting the dishwasher up and over a lip. 

    1. User avater
      BVJohnston | Nov 12, 2010 03:57pm | #4

      I agree, I figured I would put some same thickness plywood under the cabinets if I don't lay the floor all the way under them. 

  3. Geoffrey | Nov 21, 2010 05:36pm | #5

    Well, as is always the best advice, read the directions!! If this is a nail down floor run it under the cabs, if it's a floating floor, install plywood that is 1/8" or 1/4" thicker than your flooring under the area where the cabs will go, then install cabs first, then the flooring,  the gap will be covered later by the toe-kick.

    Geoff

  4. oops | Nov 21, 2010 06:44pm | #6

    flooring vs cabinets

    As has been said before, you can do it either way. If it's prefinished I would not like having carpenters, plumbers. electricians, etc.,etc. tromping all over, and dropping tools and stuff on my new  floor.

    1. calvin | Nov 21, 2010 06:57pm | #7

      ooops

      If it's prefinished I would not like having carpenters, plumbers. electricians, etc.,etc. tromping all over, and dropping tools and stuff on my new  floor.

      Happens all the time-not the damage, but the other trades working over a finished surface.  With the proper precautions and the right people, no need to panic.  No reason to hire the bulls in the china shop, there's plenty of us finish guys available.

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