As a seasoned expert in the field of home remodeling, I have been asked countless times about the best order for a kitchen remodel. With so many moving parts and decisions to make, it can be overwhelming for homeowners to know where to start. One common question that arises is whether to install the kitchen floors or cabinets first. After years of experience and research, I can confidently say that it's better to install the floors before the cabinets.
When it comes to kitchen floors, there are various materials to choose from, such as vinyl, laminate, hardwood, and tile. The thickness of these materials plays a crucial role in determining the order of installation. For slim floors like vinyl and laminate, they can easily be installed behind or under cabinets and appliances. However, thicker floors like hardwood and tile may need to be installed just above the subfloor to achieve standard cabinet height.
In most cases, the standard floor height will require you to install the cabinets or kitchen island before the floor covering. This means that you will also need to install the floor before the appliances. The floor covering is the visible surface that you walk on, not the subfloor. It can include materials like laminate, vinyl, wood, and tile.
The floor covering needs to be cut to size and glued to the cabinets or island, leaving a small gap between the floor and cabinets. This gap will be covered with baseboards or shoe moldings that are nailed to the bottom of the cabinet base. This is why it's essential to install the floor before installing the cabinets. If you were to install the cabinets first, it would be challenging to fit the flooring around them without leaving gaps or having to cut around them.
Now, you may be wondering what to do if you need to raise the total floor height. In this case, you can install the floor before the appliances, cabinets, and kitchen island to compensate for the difference. This is especially useful if there are design circumstances, such as an odd height of an appliance or a construction anomaly.
