Most kitchen floors are very flat especially in homes less than 40 years old.
Install kitchen cabinets over finihed flooring.
Find the highest spot on the floor.
If you re determined to install the flooring first use a piece of plywood as a filler piece.
Install tile under cabinets and floor based appliances with a 2 inset this allows you to move the pattern and grout lines where needed.
You would not want your dishwasher to be trapped underneath the floor and.
This way if you need to remove any of the planks due to water damage as you mentioned you won t be held back by having your shelving unit installed on top of the flooring.
Seal the edges of a piece of 3 by 3 foot plastic sheeting onto the floor with duct tape.
With the floor running under the entire area gaps will not appear as they will be by installing the flooring after the cabinets.
Why it s better to install the hardwood floors before the cabinets.
If you install the floating kitchen floor over concrete test for moisture before you begin.
Install the flooring in the fridge dishwasher and stove area.
The flooring will be able to expand and contract beneath the toekick without revealing a gap.
Mark the layout of the cabinets and all floor based appliances.
We do several kitchens per week and never install over finished floor unless the floor isn t being replaced in a remodel.
Install plywood in remaining area to exact height of tile floor to finish cabinet install.
After 24 hours.
Another benefit of installing the floor first will be possible design changes at a later date.
But before installing cabinets it s always best to confirm that by looking for the highest spot on the floor anywhere a cabinet will sit.
Now install the new flooring but keep it about a inch from the first filler strip.
First it s important that the cabinets are the standard 36 inches above the floor and it s important that the appliances are at this same height so that there aren t issues later if when you want to change the appliances e g.
Plus you have a level base to set the cabinet on and save money on flooring.
As a previous poster said it looks better and wears better over time.
Finally install the cabinets on both strips and attach the toekicks.
There s a good.
When to install flooring before cabinets.
If due to design circumstances for example an odd appliance height or construction anomaly your total flooring height will need to be elevated and finished higher than normal two inches or more consider installing flooring before putting in the kitchen cabinets and appliances.