When remodeling a kitchen, one of the biggest decisions is choosing the right order for installing the floors and cabinets. Many homeowners wonder, should I install the flooring or cabinets first? The order you choose can impact the final look, cost, and ease of installation. Below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of laying flooring before versus after cabinet installation so you can make the best choice for your kitchen remodel.

Laying Flooring Before Cabinets: The Pros

Installing flooring prior to cabinets comes with some advantages:

Achieve a Seamless Floor

Laying the flooring first allows you to install it wall-to-wall without any interruptions from cabinetry. This can create a smooth, seamless floor that looks clean and uniform throughout the whole kitchen. Having flooring flow under the cabinets gives it a built-in look.

Easier Floor Installation

Without cabinets in the way, installing flooring is simpler. Areas like corners and along walls are more accessible before cabinet boxes and toes kicks are in place. Flooring can be fit tightly to the edges of the room.

Improved Cabinet Installation

With flooring in place ahead of time, cabinets have a smooth, even surface to be installed on. The flooring provides a stable, flat underlayment that prevents cabinets from settling unevenly or wobbling if the subfloor has imperfections.

Cabinets Can Hide Flooring Edges

Installing flooring first means you can use cabinetry to conceal the seams and edges of flooring materials. Transition strips between rooms or flooring imperfections can be subtly hidden by strategically placing cabinet bases over them.

Floors Protect During Construction

Putting in flooring early safeguards the subfloor from damage that can happen during cabinet installations and other construction work. It’s easier to replace damaged flooring than repair a compromised subfloor.

The Cons of Flooring First

Despite the advantages, laying flooring prior to cabinets also comes with some downsides:

Floors Can Be Damaged During Installs

Even though floors are installed first, they’ll still need protection during cabinet installations and other work. Flooring materials like hardwood are vulnerable to dings, scratches, and indentation damage from tools, construction debris, and heavy appliance moving.

Imperfect Cabinets May Not Fit Right

If cabinet bases have any defects or fit inaccurately, they may leave unsightly gaps or not sit flush with newly installed flooring. This could require refitting cabinets or redoing parts of the flooring. Doing cabinets first provides an opportunity to address any issues.

Toekicks May Not Align Properly

Toekicks or scribes provide a smooth, finished transition from flooring to cabinets. When floors go in before cabinets, toekicks may not fit snugly or align cleanly with the flooring height.

Floors Increase Installation Difficulty

While the flooring itself is easier to install beforehand, it can make setting cabinets more difficult. Moving heavy cabinets across flooring creates potential scuffing or denting. Leveling and securing cabinets properly also requires more precision and care on top of finished floors.

Can’t Make Adjustments

Once flooring is fully installed, you lose flexibility. For example, if the flooring ends up not pairing well with the cabinets for aesthetic reasons, or if you change the cabinet layout, adjustments become very difficult and messy.

Installing Cabinets Before Flooring

Putting cabinets in first is the more traditional method, offering its own pros and cons:

Cabinets Establish Layout

With cabinets installed first, they determine the exact floor plan and provide fixed reference points for installing and fitting flooring perfectly. No guesswork is needed for aligning or cutting in flooring around cabinets.

Customized Toekicks

Toekicks can be cut and scribed to match the flooring profile precisely, ensuring a seamless transition from floor to cabinet bases. This integrated look would be hard to achieve installing floors first.

Protects Floors During Construction

Cabinets act as a shield over subflooring, protecting the floor area from damage during the rest of construction. Only flooring around the perimeter needs heavy protection.

Easier Cabinet Installation

Without flooring in the way, installing and leveling cabinets is much simpler. Cabinets can be secured firmly and aligned properly to the subfloor without worrying about damage.

Adjustments Are Simpler

If any changes to cabinet layout or floor plans are needed, they can be made more easily when the flooring is not finalized. There is flexibility to make revisions or corrections during the process.

Potential Cost Savings

In some cases, installing cabinets first slightly reduces material costs. Less flooring is wasted since exact measurements are known. Transition pieces and trim may also be minimized.

The Downsides of Cabinets First

While often preferable, installing cabinets before floors isn’t perfect either:

More Difficult Flooring Install

Flooring around complex cabinetry and fixed appliances now has to fit perfectly. Precise cutting around obstacles or transitions to other flooring takes skill.

Gaps or Height Differences Are Obvious

With cabinets in place, any small gaps, seams, or height variations in the flooring stand out clearly. The finished look depends heavily on flooring execution.

Toekicks May Need Replacing

If toekicks are installed beforehand based on guesses about final floor height, they often end up noticeably off and have to be redone after flooring installation. This adds time and cost.

Subfloor Damage Still Possible

The subfloor around the outer edges of cabinets is still exposed and susceptible to damage from debris and tools during the rest of construction. Some repairs could still be needed.

Cabinets Can Be Damaged

In the time between cabinet and flooring installation, cabinet doors, bases or finished edges could get dinged, scratched or damp from construction activity. Some touch up may be required.

Key Factors to Consider

Choosing the best flooring and cabinet installation order depends on weighing several factors:

Flooring material – Some flooring is thicker and harder to cut precisely, like natural hardwood. Ceramic and porcelain tile also have rigid requirements. These favor going cabinets first. Materials like luxury vinyl plank are easier for DIYers to install around existing cabinets.
Cabinet style – Full overlay or frameless cabinets with hidden toekicks cover the flooring edges, so floors can go first. Standard overlay cabinets need precisely fit toekicks for a seamless look.
Appliances/fixtures – Flooring installed after cabinets and appliances allows for a perfect fit. Pre-existing appliances or island layouts usually mean flooring has to come later.
Subfloor condition – Damaged or uneven subfloors favor doing flooring first to create a level surface for cabinet installation. Pristine subfloors allow either order.
DIY or professional install? – Skilled flooring contractors can easily work around installed cabinets. DIYers may find it much simpler to install flooring first.

Pros and Cons Comparison Chart

This summarizes the key advantages and disadvantages of each installation order:

| | Flooring Before Cabinets | Cabinets Before Flooring |
|-|————-|————-|
|Pros |- Seamless floor
– Easier floor install
– Improved cabinet install
– Hides flooring edges
– Protects subfloor |- Establishes layout
– Customized toekicks
– Protects floor during construction
– Easier cabinet install
– Allows adjustments
– Potential cost savings|
|Cons | – Floor can be damaged
– Imperfect cabinets
– Toekicks may not align
– Increased cabinet install difficulty
– Limits adjustments|- Difficult floor installation
– Gaps obvious
– Toekicks may need replacing
– Subfloor still exposed
– Cabinets can be damaged |

Frequently Asked Questions

Many homeowners have additional questions about choosing the ideal installation order. Here are answers to some of the most common queries:

Should I install vinyl plank flooring before or after cabinets?

Vinyl plank is easier for DIY installation and very forgiving, so you can install it either before or after cabinets with good results. Pre-installing vinyl plank ensures a seamless floor, while going after allows perfectly fitted toekicks.

Should you install tile floor before or after cabinets?

Most tile professionals recommend installing cabinets first, especially for stone tile. Precise tile cuts and transitions around cabinets are difficult without an established layout. Tile also risks cracking if cabinets are installed onto it.

Can you put laminate flooring in after cabinets?

Yes, laminate can be installed after cabinets through a “floating” method. Planks are joined without nails or glue and can be fit around cabinets for a tight seal. Use underlayment to smooth the subfloor surface under the laminate.

Is it better to install hardwood or cabinets first?

With hardwood’s thickness and susceptibility to damage, most experts recommend installing cabinets before hardwood floors. This allows tightly cut seams around cabinets and prevents dents during construction.

Should I install cabinets or flooring first with existing appliances?

For kitchens with pre-existing appliances like ranges or islands, flooring generally needs to go in after cabinet installation. The cabinet layout has to be designed around the appliances, making it hard to have flooring underneath.

Can I install kitchen cabinets on uneven floors?

Installing cabinets on uneven subfloors risks settling, gaps, and alignment issues. It’s best to repair subfloor damage first, then install flooring to create an even surface. Otherwise shims, blocking, or levelers will be required.

How are toekicks attached with new flooring?

With new flooring, toekicks are best installed as separate pieces after. This allows cutting them precisely to match floor height. They can be secured to cabinet bases through nails, adhesive, or L-brackets on the inner top edges.

Flooring-First Tips and Tricks

If you decide to lay flooring prior to cabinet installation, here are some tips to get the best results:

Remove existing baseboards and quarter-round molding to allow flooring to run full wall-to-wall.
Plan out cabinet locations precisely, and use painters tape to mark the locations on the flooring.
Use plywood or other subfloor protection in high traffic areas during cabinet installation.
Carefully lift and place cabinets onto the flooring rather than sliding them to avoid scuffing.
Use shims liberally under cabinet legs to avoid denting, compression, or unevenness.
For toekicks, measure the gap to the floor and cut boards to fit the space exactly.
Expect to need some filler pieces or transition strips where flooring meets cabinets.
Make any cuts precisely with a jigsaw fitted with a fine-tooth wood blade.
Be prepared to touch up or replace pieces of damaged flooring after cabinet installation.

Conclusion

Determining whether to install hardwood floors or cabinets first is an important decision that impacts your kitchen remodel process. While there’s no universally right option, understanding the pros and cons of both approaches will ensure you pick the best order for your specific kitchen. Factors like cabinet and flooring style, installer skill, and appliance layout all affect the ideal sequence. Many homeowners achieve great results by starting with new floors, while others prefer to have their cabinet footprint laid out first. Careful planning and preparation can lead to a smooth installation whichever route you choose. With some flexibility and contingency plans, you can end up with a dream kitchen combining beautiful floors and cabinets seamlessly.

Flooring Before Cabinets Allows For a Seamless Floor Design

Installing wood, tile, vinyl, or laminate flooring before kitchen cabinets allows you to lay the flooring continuously from wall to wall without any breaks. The floor flows smoothly underneath cabinet bases for a built-in look. Having an uninterrupted floor design creates a clean, streamlined look throughout the whole kitchen space.

Advantages of a Seamless Floor

Choosing to put flooring down prior to installing cabinets offers several benefits:

Aesthetically pleasing – Flooring that runs wall-to-wall provides a sleek, uniform appearance. The kitchen floor becomes a cohesive design element.
Makes rooms feel bigger – Continuous floors draw the eye, making spaces appear larger and more open. Broken-up floor patterns tend to reduce perceived size.
Easier cleaning – Not having floor seams and edges to trap debris simplifies sweeping and mopping. Hidden edges also reduces spots for grime buildup.
Fewer transition pieces – Seamless floors minimize the need for transition strips between rooms or at doorways since flooring continues underneath.
Enhances other features – Unbroken flooring puts the focus on decorative elements like inlays or border designs. Disjointed floors compete visually.

How To Achieve a Seamless Floor Look

Creating a smooth, continuous floor before installing cabinets takes planning:

Have flooring run under areas where built-in appliances will go prior to installation.
Remove existing baseboards and trim to allow flooring to continue to walls.
Join additional flooring planks using scarf joints for near-invisible seams.
Use plywood or cardboard protection over floors during cabinet installation.
Carefully cut flooring around plumbing or other obstacles for tight fits.
Consider border or accent floors that integrate with main flooring, not butting against it.
Use coordinating transition strips, thresholds and endcaps to minimize disjointed edges.

Products For Seamless Floors

Certain flooring products are particularly well-suited to achieving tight seams:

Engineered wood – Many types can be glued or floated for tight connections. Templating allows seamless radiused edges.
Luxury vinyl – Waterproof planks click or lock together for durable, flush seams. Some have angle/angle installation for hidden ends.
PVC-free vinyl – Made from polyurethane with embedded prints, this seamlessly fuses sheets together with heat welding.
Seamless sheet vinyl – Sheets fuse together with chemical bonding for imperceivable seams. Often used for decorative inlaid borders.
Porcelain tile – Hard-fired for minimum grout lines, porcelain has near-imperceptible seams. Popular for modern designs.

Design Considerations

A seamless floor impacts other kitchen design choices:

Cabinet bases and walls will need to be cut to follow the floor profile precisely.
Island and peninsula cabinet layouts may fit better than totally disconnected bases.
Take plumbing and appliance layout into account so flooring can run smoothly under them.
A sleek, minimalist cabinet style complements and enhances seamless floors best.

Getting the details right results in a cohesive, integrated kitchen design where the flooring flows smoothly throughout the whole space.

Installing Cabinets Before Floors Allows Adjustments

Putting cabinets in prior to installing flooring allows more flexibility in the kitchen remodeling process compared to flooring first. With cabinets already secured, the floor layout can be adjusted as needed to accommodate imperfect cabinet placements, last minute layout tweaks, or inevitable hiccups along the way.

Floor Plan Adjustments

Cabinets installed first means floor layout can be adapted if:

Cabinets are off center – Flooring can be cut asymmetrically if cabinets end up slightly off center or angled.
Walls/corners out of square – Uneven walls can be accounted for by adjusting floor cuts rather than cabinet placement.
Need flooring layout changes – Alterations like shifting floor direction or adding new transitions are simpler.
Appliance adjustments – Flooring can easily be cut around appliances if they get moved or swapped after cabinet install.
New fixtures – Last-minute additions like kitchen islands can be integrated into the floor plan seamlessly.

Toekick Adjustments

Toekicks are also much easier to customize when flooring installation comes later:

They can be cut to match the exact floor height.
Scribing creates a perfect contour to the flooring profile.
Errors in initial toekick height are simple to correct.
Final look is perfectly flush and integrated.

Cabinets First Means:

No wasted flooring from layout changes – measurements are exact.
Easy access for repairs – floor can be pulled up under problem areas without cabinet removal.
Leveling issues are minimized – shims can be inserted before flooring.

While a meticulously planned floor installed first looks great, having the flexibility to adjust makes cabinets-first the safe choice.

Flooring Installed After Cabinets Allows Tight Fits

Installing kitchen flooring after cabinets offers the key advantage of achieving a tight fit. With the cabinet footprint firmly in place, floors can be cut and installed to fit seamlessly against bases and toekicks. Tight flooring installation ensures a clean, integrated look.

Cutting Flooring In Situ

The key to tight fits is being able to cut flooring pieces on-site for each cabinet:

Planks can be test fit and marked precisely for each space.
Irregular gaps or uneven walls can be accounted for.
Sections around plumbing fixtures can be scribed for accuracy.
No need for estimations or best guesses on dimensions.
Tile saws allow mitered edging against cabinets and walls.

Customized Transition Pieces

With exact cabinet measurements, transition pieces like thresholds and reducer strips can be cut for a perfect fit:

T-moldings between flooring types butt right up to cabinets.
Flooring edges are protected with cove molding sized just right.
Quarter-round matches floor perimeter and concealment of gaps.
Custom end caps and tracks result in flawless transitions.

Do You Lay Flooring Before Installing Cabinets?