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Hardwood Floor Installation

geoman | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 3, 2010 01:12am

Hi All,

I have selected a wood floor installation contractor to lay new flooring in  kitchen and dining room that I’m remodeling.  In getting quotes, most flooring contractors stated that they would install the flooring in the kitchen before the cabinets are installed.  ANother said he would install 3/4 inch exterior grade plywood under the cabinets.  Friends say that I should tell the flooring contractor to install the floor after the cabinets are installed to save on cost of the material.  My contractor says that installing floor after the cabinets go in could result in damage or scratches to the new cabinets.  Size of kitchen is only 11 ft x 11 ft.   I am curious what those here think about .

Thanks so much.

Geoman

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  1. calvin | Aug 03, 2010 08:00pm | #1

    dammit-I typed a great reply..........

    server problems=try again later.

    Nope-

    condensed version-I've done all of the above.  Whatever works-costs less-does the best job.

    not necessarily the easiest for the lazy s.o.b. that knows it all.

    Best of luck.

  2. JTC1 | Aug 04, 2010 08:05am | #2

    I agree with

    "most flooring contractors stated that they would install the flooring in the kitchen before the cabinets are installed."

    This provides the most flexibilty in the future and gives the best substrate for cabinet installation - gets my vote. And agrees with the flooring contractor which I think you have already selected.

    The "plywood under the cabinets" trick will save some money on flooring material but requires more layout time and decreases future flexibility for remodeling. Keep in mind that the plywood is not free and also needs to be cut and installed.  Kind of depends on how likely it is in the future that you would change cabinets and keep the existing floor.

    I have always had good luck protecting finished floors with 1/8" masonite, cardboard and/or drop cloths during the cabinet installation.

    Fitting the flooring after the cabinet installation provides way more "opportunities" for scratching cabinets and poor flooring fits - just estimate how many flooring-to-cabinet joints there will be and how many pieces of wood have to be maneuvered around the finished cabinets and you will see what I mean by "opportunities".  Plus, if you are using 3/4" thick flooring just how are you going to produce a workable dishwasher opening (no dishwasher = not a factor)?

    Jim

  3. sapwood | Aug 04, 2010 11:31am | #3

    Floor first

    I'm in the floor first/cabs second school. That's the way I did my last kitchen where I was the floor installer and the cabinet maker/installer. The flooring was much easier to install without cabs in the way. I used "lesser" boards for the area under the cabs. I didn't scratch the flooring while installing the cabs because I took care not to. 

    Personally I think this is a no-brainer decision and really wonder about those who do it the other way around. But to each his own and: whatever works!

  4. Norman | Aug 04, 2010 01:54pm | #4

    +1 for the floor first

    Anything else is asking for trouble. What if a cabinet has to come out? Is there a dishwasher, how will it be installed? I can't believe that the flooring material cost is so high as to justify installing after the cabinets. It will cost more to install the floor after the cabinets are down, what savings is left after that?

    Remind your friends that the single biggest cost is labor, not materials.

    Good luck.

  5. Piffin | Aug 07, 2010 05:56pm | #5

    6 of 1 - 1/2 dozen the other

    IMO, the cost savings on material is offset by increased cost of installl - net no cost diff. I make the decision based on time scheduling, and don't forget that the flooring must acclimate for a time before being installed.

    Also, being prefinished can be a variable that scores for some guys. In other words, if doing the floor first, extra precaution needed against damage.

  6. geoman | Aug 08, 2010 10:12pm | #6

    Thanks so much to everyone that responded to my post.  I now feel much more comfortable in the installation of the hardwood floor first and much sooner than the date of cabinetry delivery.  I appreciate the feedback guys.

    Geoman 

  7. Geoffrey | Aug 10, 2010 01:44am | #7

    This is a no-brainer to me....floor first throughout the room...there is NO savings in doing plywood under the cabs....and potential damage to pre-installed cabs is a lot more expensive to repair than the flooring (if it's damaged by the  cabinet installer...which should not happen if the cab installer is of any capability.

    After floor install and before cabs... floors should be sanded and sealcoated (50/50 oil/thinner mix typically or 2 coats of water base if that applies) this will help protect floors from liquid spills and the use of masonite or similiar....as already mentioned.... will protect against impact damage.

    This all assumes standard type flooring,(3/4" sanded).. if your using laminates or engineered you may want to go the plywood under the cabs route.....since many of these floorings are installed as floating floors....and having cabs on top may cause bucklng of the floor.  Pre-finished solid wood floors don't have this worry either.

    I would also suggest that if you go the ply route ....for whatever reason....you should seal the ply with poly before the cabs are installed....this helps protect the sub- floor...and below  from liquid spills/leaks...especially under the sink area.

    Geoff

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