When remodeling your kitchen, one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is whether to install the new cabinets or flooring first. Both options have their pros and cons, so it’s important to consider all factors before deciding on the best sequence for your particular kitchen remodel. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the key considerations and provide tips to help you determine whether to install cabinets or flooring first.
Overview of the Cabinet vs Flooring Installation Debate
The order in which you install cabinets and flooring during a kitchen remodel project has been a topic of debate among designers, contractors, and homeowners for years. Some argue that it’s always best to install the cabinets first, followed by the flooring. Others believe starting with the flooring is optimal in most situations.
Those in favor of installing cabinets first point out several benefits:
- Cabinets can be installed level and plumb more easily without flooring in the way
- Flooring can be cut to fit perfectly around cabinet bases
- Cabinets won’t need to be scribed or adjusted if floors are uneven
- Floors are protected during cabinet installation
However, advocates for installing flooring first counter that:
- Floors provide a level surface for installing cabinets
- Uneven floors can be corrected before cabinet installation
- Flooring runs seamlessly under cabinets for a flush look
- Cabinets can be easily scribed to match the contour of floors
As you can see, there are good arguments on both sides. The right approach truly depends on the specifics of your kitchen layout and remodel plans.
Below we’ll explore these considerations in more detail, so you can determine the best order of operations for your kitchen.
Factors to Consider When Deciding on Installation Order
Several key factors come into play when deciding whether to install cabinets or flooring first during a kitchen remodel. Carefully thinking through these elements will help you determine the optimal sequence for your particular project.
1. Existing Floor Condition
The condition of your existing kitchen flooring can sway the decision on installation order. Here are scenarios where it may make sense to install new flooring before cabinets:
- Uneven floors – If the subfloor is uneven, it’s best to install flooring first. That way the cabinets can be scribed to match the contour of the new floor rather than having gaps at the base.
- Damaged floors – If your current kitchen flooring is damaged, loose, squeaky, etc, it’s usually recommended to install the new floors first. That way you start with a smooth, level surface for cabinet installation.
- Flooring runs underneath cabinets – For some flooring like wood or tile, you may prefer the seamless look of having the material run under the cabinets. This integrated look is only possible if floors go in first.
On the other hand, here are situations where existing floors may allow installing cabinets first:
- Floors are in good condition – If your current floors are level and in generally good shape, they provide a suitable base for installing cabinets on top.
- Flooring terminates at cabinets – If you plan to use flooring like vinyl or laminate that typically ends at cabinet bases, installing cabinets first often works fine.
- Using same flooring – Keeping your existing flooring? You can probably install cabinets first since the floors already suit the space.
2. Cabinet Installation Method
The technique you or your contractor plans to use for installing the kitchen cabinets could sway the order of operations.
Installing cabinets on top of flooring generally requires scribing along the walls and potentially the floors. This custom fitting helps cabinets sit flush against uneven surfaces.
In comparison, it’s easier to get cabinets perfectly level and plumb when installing directly on the subfloor with no finished flooring in place. The flooring can then be fit around the cabinet bases more easily.
So if meticulously scribing cabinets is not in the cards, it likely makes more sense to install cabinets prior to finished flooring.
3. Flooring Material
The type of flooring you choose for your kitchen can impact whether it should go down before or after cabinet installation.
For example, resilient flooring like luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is very forgiving. It can adapt well to being cut around existing cabinets. LVP also doesn’t require any transition strips between rooms. This versatility makes LVP a good option for installing after cabinets.
In contrast, natural stone, ceramic tile, and wood flooring are very rigid. They require a consistent expansion gap from the wall. And transitions between flooring types are needed. This inflexibility can make installing them around cabinet bases challenging. Going with these flooring types often means installing them before cabinetry.
4. Kitchen Layout and Design
The specifics of your kitchen design may dictate one installation order over the other.
For example, if your new kitchen will have an island, it usually makes the most sense to install flooring first. This allows the flooring to run seamlessly under the island for a flush look. And cabinets can be scribed to the flooring around the island.
Or if your cabinets run all the way across walls with no gaps, installing flooring after provides the benefit of easily cutting pieces to fit inside the cabinet bases.
So think about your new kitchen layout and how flooring and cabinets intersect. This can provide clues as to the best installation sequence.
5. Budget
Project budget is another practical consideration. In some cases, one installation order may offer cost savings over the other option.
For example, if your priority is budget-friendly flooring, you probably want to install cabinets first. Pre-fabricated flooring like LVP that can work around existing cabinets tends to be more affordable. Custom-cutting stone, wood, or tile to fit around cabinets adds cost.
Or if semi-custom cabinets are outside your budget, installing stock cabinets on top of finished floors means they likely won’t require expensive scribing. The more precise the cabinets and floors interface, the higher the price tag usually is.
Think about your flooring and cabinetry budget limitations and how that may influence sequencing. The most economical option for material and installation costs may help decide the order.
Installing Cabinets First: Pros and Cons
Installing kitchen cabinets before installing any finished flooring is a pretty standard renovation sequence. But it’s not necessarily the best approach for all kitchen projects. Below we summarize the key benefits along with potential drawbacks of putting cabinets in first:
Pros of Installing Cabinets Before Floors
Easier cabinet installation
Without flooring in the way, cabinets can be installed directly against the subfloor. This allows them to be shimmed and fastened to ensure frames are level and plumb. Good cabinet alignment is more difficult on top of finished floors.
Avoids costly scribing
Installing cabinets before floors means they won’t have to be scribed to account for uneven floors. This saves on labor costs associated with carefully fitting cabinet bases to floor contours.
No floor damage during install
With cabinets going in first, new floors are protected during the cabinet installation process. Dropped tools or fasteners won’t damage flooring surfaces.
Floors can be fit to cabinets
New flooring can be cut to fit perfectly inside cabinet footprints when installed after. No need for filler pieces or covered seams underneath cabinets.
Greater flooring options
Since flooring goes in last, nearly any flooring type can be used, including wood, tile, sheet vinyl, etc. Flooring flexibility is not a factor.
Potentially lower cost
If budget-friendly flooring like LVP will be used, installing it after cabinets provides cost savings. No need for expensive custom flooring cuts.
Cons of Installing Cabinets Before Floors
Can’t address uneven floors
Existing uneven floors may remain an issue. New cabinets will need to be aligned on top of unlevel floors.
Scribing often required
Cabinets will likely require scribing to account for out-of-plumb walls and uneven floors. This adds labor costs.
Gaps at cabinet bases
Flooring pieces meeting at cabinet bases often leaves gaps that require filling. This can detract from the flush, integrated look.
Uneven reveal lines
If existing flooring height doesn’t match new cabinets, it creates uneven reveal lines between floors and cabinet bases.
Limited flooring options
Using flooring that needs to run under cabinets like wood or tile is tricky after cabinet installation.
Potential added costs
Scribing cabinets and custom-cutting flooring around cabinets may increase labor expenses.
As you can see, there are clear benefits, but also some potential drawbacks to installing cabinets first. Whether the pros outweigh the cons will depend on your specific kitchen remodel.
Installing Flooring First: Pros and Cons
Putting in your new kitchen flooring prior to cabinet installation also has some notable advantages along with a few disadvantages to consider:
Pros of Installing Floors Before Cabinets
Floors set the level baseline
New flooring creates an even, smooth subfloor for installing cabinets. No need to contend with existing highs and lows.
Cabinets can be scribed to floor
With flooring in place first, cabinets can be scribed to match the floor precisely. No gaps between cabinet bases and floor.
Seamless look possible
Flooring like wood or tile can run under cabinets for a continuous, integrated look when installed first.
Transition strips hidden
Necessary transitions between flooring types can be concealed under cabinets rather than being exposed.
Uneven floors addressed
Any issues with subfloor levelness are resolved before cabinet bases sit on them.
Easier blending of heights
Differences in flooring thickness from other rooms can be blended under cabinets for a consistent look.
Wider flooring options
More delicate flooring like wood and stone becomes a possibility since it won’t be cut around cabinets.
Cons of Installing Floors Before Cabinets
Cabinet installation more difficult
Shimming and securing cabinets level on top of finished flooring is trickier than directly on subfloor.
Potential damage to new floors
Dropping tools and construction debris is more likely to damage new flooring as cabinets are installed.
Can’t easily cut flooring to fit
Flooring has to be laid wall-to-wall before cabinets go in. No custom trimming to fit cabinet bases.
Scribing adds cost
Labor costs are higher to scribe every cabinet base precisely to the finished flooring.
Limited flooring options
Using affordable flooring like vinyl that needs clean edges may not be possible since cuts at cabinets are exposed.
Transitions may be needed
Flooring like LVP often requires transitions between rooms that are visible since it can’t run under cabinets.
As with installing cabinets first, there are clear pros and cons to putting in floors before cabinets. You’ll need to weigh the benefits against drawbacks for your specific kitchen remodel.
Tips for Installing Cabinets Before Floors
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided that installing cabinets before flooring makes the most sense for your kitchen, here are some tips for success:
- Prep the subfloor – Make sure the plywood or OSB subfloor is level, secure, and ready for cabinets to be installed directly on top.
- Layout carefully – Measure meticulously and mark cabinet locations on the floor in pencil. Check alignment against your kitchen plan frequently.
- Shim thoroughly – Use shims liberally underneath wall and base cabinets to level and plumb all units.
- Secure cabinets – Anchor cabinets to wall studs and/or reinforce connections to adjacent cabinets. Don’t rely solely on toe kicks to hold them in place.
- Mind toe kick space – Leave adequate room under cabinets for new flooring thickness plus wiggle room.standard toe kick height is 3-1/2 to 5 inches.
- Undercut for appliances – Allow space under cabinet bases where appliances will fit, factoring in flooring thickness. Adjust as needed with a jigsaw later.
- Scribe for gaps – If cabinets rock on uneven floors, use scribes/filler strips to prevent gaps between cabinet bases and floor.
- Check appliances – Ensure appliances like the dishwasher and refrigerator fit properly once cabinets are installed. Make adjustments if needed before adding flooring.
Thorough planning and precise cabinet installation will help prevent headaches when it’s time to install new floors around them.
Tips for Installing Floors Before Cabinets
If your kitchen layout and flooring choices mean going with floors first makes the most sense, keep these tips in mind:
- Make subfloor preps – Fix any low spots in the subfloor and ensure levelness across the entire floor before installing flooring.
- Match cabinet style – Choose a flooring style like tile or wood that will coordinate seamlessly with cabinets when installed underneath.
- Plan transitions – Mark where flooring transitions at doorways or other rooms will fall so they can be oriented under cabinets.
- ** Mind expansion gaps** – Leave proper expansion space between flooring and walls so rows aren’t disrupted when cabinets are installed on top.
- Protect floors – Use rosin paper, cardboard, or similar to safeguard completed flooring from damage during cabinet installation.
- Scribe carefully – Take time to scribe cabinet bases to match floor contours perfectly. Fill any gaps for a flush fit.
- Allow for movement – Don’t rigidly fasten cabinets to floors in a way that prevents natural floor movement and expansion.
- Check fit – As cabinets are installed, thoroughly check for any spacing issues with flooring at bases. Make scribe adjustments immediately before moving on.
With proper planning and care taken during the installation process, beautiful floors and cabinets that fit together like puzzle pieces can be achieved.
Example Kitchens with Cabinets Installed First
Seeing real kitchens where cabinets went in prior to floors can provide a better visual understanding of the process and results.
Here are some examples:
In this kitchen, the homeowners installed simple shaker-style cabinets first since their existing floors were badly worn and uneven. Luxury vinyl plank flooring was easy to cut and fit within the cabinet bases for a seamless look.
For this small galley kitchen, the owners wanted a contemporary style using stainless steel, dark painted cabinets, and bold porcelain tile. With the uneven subfloor and precise tile cuts needed, cabinets were installed first in the remodel.
The homeowners gutted this expansive U-shaped kitchen down to the studs. Oak plywood went up on the subfloor, providing a smooth surface for installing the new oak cabinets. Hardwood flooring was then fit tightly inside the cabinet bases.
Example Kitchens with Floors Installed First
Seeing real-world examples of flooring going in prior to cabinets can also be helpful:
For this modest galley kitchen makeover, the existing cabinets were worn out but the terra cotta floor tile was in good shape. The owners elected to redo the tile flooring first. New shaker cabinets were then scribed to match the floor contours.
This large, open plan kitchen remodel involved tearing out old linoleum floors and maple cabinets. The owners chose to put in hickory hardwood flooring first throughout the kitchen and dining room. Custom cabinets were then installed directly on top of the flooring.
The homeowner wanted a sleek, contemporary kitchen with a seamless look. 12×24” porcelain tile flooring was laid first to run continuously under the kitchen’s modern flat-panel cabinets for a fully integrated aesthetic.
The Bottom Line
There are good arguments both for and against installing kitchen cabinets before floors or vice versa during a remodel project. Much depends on your specific goals, kitchen layout, flooring and cabinetry selections, and budget.
Carefully thinking through all these factors will lead you to the right sequence for your individual kitchen. In many cases, there may not be one “right” answer, as long as you understand the pros and cons of each approach.
If your existing kitchen floors are fairly level and in good condition, going with cabinets first is often the simplest route. But for uneven floors or layouts utilizing island cabinets, installing new flooring first tends to have advantages.
Whichever way you decide to go, proper planning and careful installation is key. With attention to all the details, you can achieve a beautifully coordinated, professional-looking kitchen. Just be sure to communicate your plans clearly to any kitchen remodeling contractors you hire so everyone’s on the same page regarding the cabinet and flooring installation sequence.
Kitchen Cabinet and Flooring Installation FAQs
Still have questions about whether to install cabinets or flooring first in your kitchen remodel? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Should you install kitchen cabinets on subfloor or finished floor?
For most kitchen layouts, installing cabinets on top of the subfloor is advisable, before adding finished flooring. This allows plumbing and electrical to be completed first. And cabinets can be securely fastened directly to the subfloor, ensuring bases are level, plumb, and stable. Finished flooring can then be fit in around