"Expert Advice on Whether to Install Flooring Beneath Your Kitchen Cabinets"

"Expert Advice on Whether to Install Flooring Beneath Your Kitchen Cabinets"

Installing kitchen flooring is an essential part of any home renovation project, and one decision that homeowners often grapple with is whether to put flooring under the kitchen cabinets. This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of this practice, providing a useful guide for homeowners embarking on kitchen renovations.

Typical Practice

Most kitchen flooring is installed before the cabinets, covering the entire kitchen floor so the cabinets rest on top of the finished floor. This approach provides a continuous, stable base and a seamless look if cabinets are moved or replaced later [3].

Benefits of Installing Flooring Under Cabinets

• Protection and Consistency: If you choose flooring materials that are thin and durable (like tile, vinyl, or engineered wood), installing flooring underneath cabinets helps protect subflooring and prevents gaps or height inconsistencies if cabinets are ever removed or replaced [1][3].
• Moisture Protection: Flooring under cabinets can also prevent moisture damage to the subfloor, especially in kitchens where spills or leaks might occur [2].
• Flexibility for Future Remodeling: Having flooring underneath cabinets makes cabinet removal less disruptive, providing maximum flexibility for future kitchen remodeling.

Drawbacks of Installing Flooring Under Cabinets

• Thick Flooring: For thick flooring types such as hardwood or thick tile, sometimes cabinets are installed on the subfloor first, and flooring is then installed around the cabinets to avoid excessively raising the countertop height or cabinet height, which could affect ergonomics or aesthetics [3].
• Cost Considerations: In some cases, flooring under cabinets is omitted to save on material or labor costs, especially if the cabinets are intended to be permanent or flooring is expensive [3].
• Leveling Challenges: When installing flooring under cabinets, leveling is crucial, or cabinets may not sit properly.

When Not to Install Flooring Under Cabinets

If you're working with a floating flooring system, it is not recommended to install flooring under kitchen cabinets as floating flooring systems require the ability to expand and contract.

Making the Right Choice

The choice between installing flooring under kitchen cabinets or not depends on the flooring type, kitchen design, remodeling timeline, and budget considerations. It is essential to plan your flooring choice and installation order carefully since flooring is foundational to kitchen design and often difficult and costly to change later [1][3].

Expert Opinions

Ryan Meagher, Business Development Manager at BVM Contracting, prefers installing flooring underneath the cabinets for most types of flooring systems. Magda Callery, an experienced interior designer in the UK, emphasizes the importance of a level floor for a better aesthetic and easier installation of cabinets and appliances.

Popular Flooring Choices

From a classic herringbone parquet engineered wooden floorboard that brings a warm, timeless quality to a space, to porcelain floor and wall tiles with a geometric pattern reminiscent of the Edwardian era, homeowners have numerous flooring options to choose from.

Additional Considerations

Installing flooring under appliances can make them easier to pull out for repairs or replacement, and it can protect the subfloor from sneaky spills or leaks. In open-plan kitchens, a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic is achievable with flooring under cabinets. For all types of flooring systems (apart from a floating system like a luxury vinyl plank), it is easier to install the kitchen cabinets above if the flooring is consistent throughout the kitchen.

Conclusion

Whether to install kitchen flooring under cabinets or not is a question that homeowners often ask. This article has provided a comprehensive guide on the benefits and drawbacks of this practice, helping homeowners make an informed decision based on their specific circumstances and preferences.

1. For a seamless look and a stable base, most kitchen flooring is installed before the cabinets that rest on top of the finished floor.
2. Installing flooring under cabinets can offer protection and consistency, preventing gaps or height inconsistencies if cabinets are ever removed or replaced.
3. Flooring under cabinets can also help prevent moisture damage, especially in kitchens where spills or leaks might occur.
4. However, for thick flooring types like hardwood or thick tile, cabinets are sometimes installed on the subfloor first, and flooring is installed around the cabinets to avoid raising the countertop or cabinet height.
5. In some cases, flooring under cabinets might be omitted to save on material or labor costs, especially if the cabinets are intended to be permanent or the flooring is expensive.
6. When installing flooring under cabinets, leveling is crucial to ensure the cabinets sit properly.
7. If you're working with a floating flooring system, it is not recommended to install flooring under kitchen cabinets, as floating flooring systems require the ability to expand and contract.

Read also: