Should You Install Cabinets or Floors First?

When renovating a kitchen, one of the earliest decisions is determining whether to install the new flooring or cabinets first. Both approaches have their own sets of pros and cons to weigh when planning a kitchen project.

Deciding on the right installation sequence is an important consideration that can impact the workflow, budget, and final aesthetic of your kitchen. Carefully examining the key factors around flooring and cabinet installation order is essential.

Key Factors When Deciding Between Cabinet or Flooring Installation First

There are several important considerations when determining whether to install floors or cabinets first during a kitchen remodel:

• Importance of moisture protection for floors - New floors need to properly cure and acclimate before cabinet install.
• Ease of cabinet install with no flooring in the way - More flexibility in placement.
• Potential damage to floors during cabinet install - Heavy appliances and tools can scuff surfaces.
• Aesthetic reasons for doing flooring last - Floors tailored to fit cabinet layout for seamless look.

Other factors are the layout and design plans, types of flooring and cabinets selected, budget, and general contractor recommendations. Carefully weighing all these considerations is key before deciding on order.

Importance of Moisture Protection for New Floors

If new wood or laminate flooring is installed first without proper curing and acclimation, moisture issues can damage floors over time. Water spills can also penetrating underneath during cabinet installations. Having floors down first leaves them prone to water exposure.

On the other hand, installing cabinetry first means new flooring avoids moisture risks. The cabinets provide protection while allowing floors to properly set. However, moisture testing the slab first is still vital before new floors go in.

Ease of Cabinet Installation with No Flooring in Place

Installing cabinetry on a bare subfloor rather than over finished floors provides more flexibility. Adjustments to cabinet locations to fit layouts and accommodate plumbing and electrical are simpler without flooring obstacles.

Cabinets can slide smoothly into position on the subfloor and be securely fastened and leveled in place. But with flooring in place beforehand, even slight repositioning of a heavy pantry or island cabinet can damage flooring.

Risk of Damaging Finished Flooring During Cabinet Installs

Pre-finished hardwoods, luxury vinyl plank flooring, natural stones, and tile flooring are all susceptible to dents, gouges, and scratches. Heavy cabinets dragging over floors during installation can damage expensive finishes.

Dropping hardware or tools can also lead to noticeable marks on polished flooring. Waiting until cabinets are installed avoids scratches, nail pops, and appliance dents in completed floors.

Aesthetically Pleasing Floor Gap Coverage Under Cabinets

While most modern cabinets utilize a toe kick for slight gap coverage, a toe kick alone often leaves sections of the subfloor still exposed after installation.

By installing flooring last after cabinet placement has been finalized, the flooring can be precision-fit to provide full under cabinet coverage. This delivers a harmonious and seamlessly integrated kitchen floor plan and avoids dust traps.

Pros of Installing Floors Before Cabinets

While there are numerous benefits to putting down new floors first, it also comes with downsides to weigh out.

Added Protection For Floors During Construction

With durable finished flooring installed early before cabinetry and countertops go in, they are better protected during the rest of the renovation.

The finished flooring avoids damage from spills, falling hardware items, tool scratches and dents from installation of appliances. The flooring stays safer than leaving subflooring exposed.

Ability to Slide Cabinets Over Finished Flooring

New cabinet bases equipped with appropriate protection and wheels can gently slide over standard finished floors without harming them.

This permits simpler cabinet positioning, pushing into place, and leveling adjustments by the installers vs lifting and dropping into exact locations.

Custom Tailoring Floor Flow with Cabinet Layouts

With flooring installed first, cabinet configurations can be designed to align with floor plans for seamless transitions between rooms.

Flooring materials and directional patterns can be chosen to integrate beautifully with anticipated cabinet and kitchen layouts.

Cons of Putting Flooring Down First

While finished floors first offers advantages, it also comes with drawbacks to factor in.

Lack of Cabinet Placement Flexibility

Pre-installed flooring reduces flexibility in positioning cabinets. Adjustments to accommodate unexpected issues with lengths, alignments, appliances etc become problematic.

Cabinets in fixed positions may end up imperfectly aligned or with visible seams between units after installation over flooring.

Susceptibility to Construction Damage on Floors

Despite protections used, finished flooring still risks scuffs, gaps, and separations from underlying surfaces during cabinet installations.

Drywall dust and paint can stain porous floors. Appliance and cabinet movements create scratches or dents. Permanent marks erode flawless pre-done floors.

Gapping with Floor Expansion and Contraction

Over time, expansion and contraction of floating wood or vinyl plank flooring leads to visible light or dark gaps. This worsens when large appliances or cabinet bases pin floors down.

The floor edges peek out unevenly against trim pieces. Leaving 1/4 inch gap unseen under cabinets avoids this eyesore game of hide and shrink.

Pros of Installing Cabinets Before Flooring

sequence comes with pluses too.

Floors Can Be Precisely Fitted to Cabinets

With cabinets solidly in place first, new floor dimensions can be calculated and materials laid to fit perfectly flush beneath and around bases.

No gaps, overhangs or uneven seams appear between floors and cabinet components over time. Integrated built-in appliances also blend smoothly.

No Construction Damage Risk to Finished Flooring

By leaving cabinet installation until after flooring is fully cured and protected, no scratches, gouges, or stains occur on floors during construction.

The finished flooring avoids damage from falling hardware, paint spills, appliances installations, and potential water leaks from hookups.

Simply laying flooring last prevents unsightly marks on showroom perfect floors in a new dream kitchen.

Cons of Putting Cabinets in First

Installing cabinetry ahead of time also comes with a few cautions for renovators.

Increased Challenge with Flooring Installation

Navigating flooring cuts and placements around fixed cabinet bases proves more complicated, especially around pipe openings.

Limited room for table saws or intricate tile spacing slows the process. Improper floor joins hidden by cabinets risk unseen gaps or weak seams.

Flooring Access and Removal Obstructions

With cabinet bases solidly anchored to floors, removal for repairs or replacement proves extremely difficult compared to floating over subflooring.

Accessing electrical, plumbing or insulation under cabinet spaces also becomes nearly impossible without damaging floors.

Gapping from Under-Cabinet Floor Contraction

Just as wood floors expand and contract seasonally due to humidity and temperature, contractions can also impact under-cabinet flooring.

Gap spaces along walls creep out unevenly from under cabinets over time. Quarter round trim along cabinets can camouflage but finding perfect floor fits proves tricky.

Determining the ideal order requires taking the pros and cons into account.