Install Doors Or Hardwood Floors First

Cover floor for protection where needed.

Install doors or hardwood floors first.

Much easier to install the flooring no trimming of the doors needed no fitting around cabinets etc. To keep the floor flush consider installing a different cheaper type of flooring underneath cabinets and appliances or even plywood risers. The first row of a wood floor must be straight sound and fastened tightly before installing the remainder of the floor. I think either order would work fine but i thought installing the door frames last was much easier.

The last thing i want is the flooring crew to undercut my jambs remove the doors from their hinges and risk dmaging them or adding an unexpected bump in the flooring which takes me coming back to pull the door. It s human nature to seek the easier softer way but it only makes common sense that you install floors first then have a skilled carpenter to put door frames on top of floor then trim around door last. Other than some trim work the rest of the house was finished so there was very little traffic on the new floors. All i here is it s harder for a carpenter to install doors after floors are installed.

The potential of mismatched flooring one downside of installing risers or different flooring is that you add a complication if you wish to change the kitchen footprint in the future. For instance solid hardwood flooring is typically nailed down during installation while tongue and groove engineered flooring is usually clicked together or completely glued down.