Should You Install Your Kitchen or Floors First?

Should You Install Your Kitchen or Floors First?

At Grand Floors, one of the most common questions we get from clients, whether they're building a new home or renovating an existing one, is if the kitchen or the flooring should be installed first. If you're reading this, you probably have the same question, and it's an important one! There are two main approaches.

Professionals Strongly Recommend Installing Kitchen Cabinets First

Here's why:

Warranty Considerations for Flooring: Most types of floors like: laminate, vinyl, engineered hardwood, and solid wood, have manufacturer warranties that require them to be installed after the kitchen cabinets. If this is the case, the floors must be installed second to ensure the warranty remains valid. Any cabinets (kitchen/vanity) permanently installed on top of this kind of flooring pose a future risk of the problems described below.

Room for Expansion: Almost every type of flooring, whether it's a click-lock system (laminate and vinyl) or nailed or glued down (engineered and solid) needs room to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity over the seasons. Allowing for proper expansion space around the perimeter is essential to prevent issues like buckling, warping, gapping, and cross-pulling over time. Installing flooring after cabinets helps maintain these expansion gaps and ensures the floor can move naturally without being restricted, which ultimately meets the manufacturer's warranty, protects the flooring's longevity, and secures the appearance and value of your investment.

*The only floors that don't need much room for significant expansion are: ceramic, porcelain tile, and stone.

Easier Repairs: If the flooring got damaged by plumbing issues (leak), major dents, scratches, or excessive wear and tear, it's far easier to repair the flooring if it is not under the kitchen cabinets. Otherwise, we would need to lift the cabinets (very costly) to access and repair any damaged flooring.

What Happens During the Installation Process:

1. Kitchen cabinets are installed.
2. Flooring is installed afterward.
3. Kick plates are added by the kitchen team at the end of the project.

Installing Flooring First: The Chalk Line Method

An alternative approach is to install the flooring first, and this can work with proper planning. Here's how:

The kitchen company can mark a "chalk line" on the subfloor, which outlines the exact location where the kitchen cabinets will sit. This allows us to install the flooring up to that line, ensuring the floor perfectly aligns with the cabinets when they're installed.

Important note: If you choose the chalk line method, please ensure the floors are properly covered and protected. During kitchen installation, there will be foot traffic, material storage, and use of tools, all of which may cause unforeseen impact or damage.

Still have questions? Contact the experts at Grand Floors Ltd. to discuss your renovation needs and ensure a seamless, high-quality installation process. We're here to help!

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