I’m going to be tearing out my vinyl flooring in the kitchen and I’d like to put down 12″ ceramic tile.
Now, should I remove the base cabinets and put the tile under ALL the floor (ie, under the cabinets as well)?
Or put down like furring strips or what not so the cabinets sit on that and then tile everything?
This is a plain-jane “rectangular” kitchen. I’m assuming tile should go under the stove and fridge, but wasn’t sure about the cabinets.
It would probably make things easier to just tile everything (haha).
Kitchen is 8′ wide by 14′ long
Replies
Your question is asked a lot here and if you search past threads you'll find lots of answers for both ways of doing it. Six of one, half dozen of the other. (Though I prefer putting the tile down first, under the cabinets. The guy I often work with puts the cabinets in first and tiles up to them.)
If you tile under the cabinets you will waste a lot of tile, durock and thinset. If cabinets are existing, you would have to remove the sink and countertop. You will have to put a moulding where the end cabinets meet the floor due to shimming. Plus if you or the next owner want to change the tile, they will have to cut and break it out at the toe kick and ends. It's not fun. Always tile under stove and refrigerator.
Thanks, although I'll have to take out the cabinets and counter anyway because I need to rip up the 1/4" luan that the vinyl is attached to so that the tile is even with the rest of the floor.So, with that in the picture, I guess if I counted the actual counter space (yes, I do have a dishwasher), then I guess it's not that much more for some tile and thinset, etc. to put down.Thanks!
If you're putting down expensive tile, then consider using bargan tile as filler under the cabinets.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
GREAT idea!Thanks (I never would've thought of that and ended up wasting some money).
... Or alternatly build it up with even cheaper wood (sheet) subflooring.
Even with bargain tiles there is still considerably more work involved then cutting shims of plywood or similiar to rest the bases on.
I wouldn't bother with the additional backerboard or tile if I was planning on using anything but the same tile as the field.
My personal opinion is that it doesn't really matter one way or the other. Chances are if you or someone else is going to remodel and change cabinets at some point in the future you or they are also going to replace the floor anyway. On the flip side as an installer it's usually easier to the floor with no cabinets in the way.
If you're putting down expensive tile, then consider using bargan tile as filler under the cabinets
Why do you even need tiles under the cabinet where they won't be seen? Just leave the space under the cabinets un-tiled.
-Don
In my limited experience, if you don't tile wall-to-wall, then the parts that aren't tiled are low and vulnerable to pooling liquids; OTOH, if you tile right across, you end up with one contiguous, flat, level floor to work with.
Now, I also just happen to think that putting a $25.00 tile under a cabinet is a waste if a $1.00 tile will do (2 rows for a 15' run of cabinets in this case would save $700.00 - non-trivial amount)..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I see your point. It's hard to argue with with a technique that goes above and beyond.
It reminds me of a tile job I did in a bathroom. After I had the baseboard (wood) installed, the customer told me that her husband noticed some gaps between the end of the tile and the drywall and wanted it caulked to prevent water from penetrating the walls. She asked if I had caulked those gaps. Since they can't be seen anymore (because of the baseboard), I could have lied, but I told her that I hadn't and it's not going to stop water anyway.
Well, I had to pull the baseboard, caulk the gaps and re-install the baseboard. A better approach would have been to use a tile baseboard, but it's not the look she wanted.
-Don
You didn't mention a dishwasher, be careful that your tile doesn't prohibit you from getting that either in or out!
Doug