Install Kitchen Cabinets On Subfloor Or Finished Floor

Place both hands on the front of the cabinet.

Install kitchen cabinets on subfloor or finished floor.

They may install on subfloor but shim as if on finished. If the flooring were to expand due to high humidity levels or other moisture sources the floor could potentially buckle. Plus you have a level base to set the cabinet on and save money on flooring. Check with your manufacturer to see if your floors are within normal height range.

First the quantity of flooring needed will decrease by the area under the cabinets. This might not sound like much but if you are installing a high end stone tile the price can easily go over 10 per square foot. We do several kitchens per week and never install over finished floor unless the floor isn t being replaced in a remodel. Install tile under cabinets and floor based appliances with a 2 inset this allows you to move the pattern and grout lines where needed.

Installing the cabinets on the flooring could bind the floor due to the weight of the cabinets. That s much easier to do because you can project the flooring under the cabinets and avoid cutting around them later. Mark the location on the floor where you wish to install the base cabinet. As a previous poster said it looks better and wears better over time.

Put all the base cabinets in place then mark a line on the subfloor corresponding to the front edge of the toekick. That means height is from finished floor. But floor finish ie what we d want on a materials list often extends under refrig dishwasher only not other cabinets. They may install on finished.

But if you have to install the flooring first here s a method that will avoid some of the problems i just described. Hardwood flooring tile most vinyl and some laminate floors can handle cabinets resting on them with no problem. The proper installation would be to install the cabinets and then install the flooring around the cabinets. Install plywood in remaining area to exact height of tile floor to finish cabinet install.

Floor covering or finish flooring is the surface that you see and walk on not the subfloor under the underlayment or underlayment between subfloor and finished layer. If this is the case install either floor panels or plywood risers beneath your cabinets to even the level. Install new finished flooring if you can. Install the flooring in the fridge dishwasher and stove area.

Use your body and your hands to lift or slide the back of the cabinet. Before installing flooring know how you plan to use it and if you think you re going to change your layout often try putting the floors in first. In most cases given standard flooring heights you will install the cabinets before the floor covering. Most finished floor materials can be installed ahead of the cabinets.