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Install floors or cabinets first?

mwgaines | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 9, 2007 04:50am

It’s always been my humble opinion that cabinets should be installed to subfloors (shimmed to finish height when needed) and appliances installed on finished floors.

I know this is an age-old debate, but have all the new “engineered” products on the market provided a clear consensus yet on whether cabinets should go down before floors, or vice-versa? We now have pre-finished wood, uncoupling membranes for tiling, and a host of innovative trim components that would seem to negate any need for wasting costly labor and materials to run flooring into areas where it will never be seen. 

Your thoughts?

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  1. User avater
    carloa007 | Aug 09, 2007 05:45pm | #1

    We always run a layer of plywood the thickness of the finished floor under all cabinets and appliances. Then install the flooring (tile, wood, etc) leaving a gap between the ply and the finished floor. This expansion gap is covered by the toe kick and appliance overhangs.

    If you install cabinets and appliances to subfloor and then install finish floor you just reduced toe kick space by 3/4" to 1"

  2. User avater
    hammer1 | Aug 09, 2007 05:48pm | #2

    We never run the floor first. As you said, why waste flooring, besides, floors often get replaced before the cabinets. I'd hate to ding up a new floor while installing. With thick floor materials, you may have to raise the cabinets. Make sure you watch the fridge. They come in so many sizes that they may hit the bottom of cabinets that are mounted on 84" panels. Not all refer openings are done this way but I've run into problems with a few that have full depth cabinets overhead. It's often the hinge covers that folks don't plan ahead on. The flooring is normally run under the range and DW.

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

  3. fingersandtoes | Aug 13, 2007 05:42am | #3

    I put down flooring before the cabinets. I have had clients that have changed their kitchens four times. Hardwood and tile last a lot longer than most cabinets and vinyl is cheap. Why not? It makes laying the floor and installing the kitchen easier.

    I guess it's like the painting or cabinets first debate. It comes down to personal preference. But when I renovate, finding either missing paint or flooring somehow smacks of cheap to me.

    1. CAGIV | Aug 13, 2007 05:49am | #4

       guess it's like the painting or cabinets first debate

      Painting in my book, at least first coat.

      For floors we're probably 50/50 on before or after.

      If it's hardwood or tile we floor first, laminate and vinyl we floor last.

      I suppose we could use ply for both tile and hardwood.  Most of our floor guys would prefer to install prior to cabinets to make their job easier and it's easy enough to protect the flooring.

      I don't like working over vinyl when I can avoid it and laminate is pretty easy to put in either way.  We do raise the cab's for laminate but not usually vinyl other then to level the cabinets across the room

  4. User avater
    IMERC | Aug 13, 2007 06:27am | #5

    floor 1st...

    you can save a lot of headaches come applance time and with fit and finish if they are in 1st...

    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!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

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