Do Kitchen Cabinets Get Installed Before Flooring?

Kitchen remodeling projects often require both new cabinets and new flooring. This leads many homeowners to wonder – do kitchen cabinets get installed before flooring? The short answer is yes, kitchen cabinets are almost always installed prior to the flooring. There are some good reasons for this order of operations.

Why Install Cabinets First?

Installing cabinets before putting in new floors makes the most sense for a few key reasons:

Cabinets Need to Be Secured to the Walls

Kitchen cabinets must be properly secured to the wall studs for safety and stability. This is done by screwing cabinets directly into the wall studs. If the flooring is installed first, it makes it much harder to access the wall studs behind the floor boards or tiles.

Floors Should Run Under Cabinets

Hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and tile flooring all look best when installed under kitchen cabinets. This gives the flooring a seamless, continuous look. Trying to cut floor boards or tiles around existing cabinet bases leaves gaps and looks sloppy.

Allows for Integrated Cabinets and Countertops

With cabinets in place ahead of time, the countertops can be fabricated and installed to fit perfectly against the cabinet boxes and create an integrated installation. The continuous countertop can overhang the flooring for a streamlined look.

Easier to Adjust Cabinet Placement

Installing cabinets first means their location can still be finetuned. If they don’t line up perfectly or look off, adjusting them is much easier before the flooring is in place.

Avoid Damaging New Floors During Install

Placing heavy cabinets and moving them around risks damaging new flooring, even with protection. Avoid taking this chance by installing cabinets first.

So in almost all kitchen remodeling situations, the standard process is to install the new cabinets first, followed by countertops, then flooring.

The Installation Process

When tackling a kitchen remodel, here is the typical order of operations:

Remove old cabinets and countertops – Take out all the old cabinets, counters, and sink.
Install new kitchen cabinets – Mount the new cabinet boxes on the wall securely.
Install countertops – With cabinets in place, measure and custom fabricate countertop slabs to fit perfectly.
Install new flooring – With cabinets and countertops done, install the new flooring material under and around them.
Install sinks and appliances – With the major components in place, install the sink into the countertop and slide in appliances.
Finish details – Add cabinet doors/drawers, trim, backsplash, lighting, and accessories.

Following this sequence allows each stage to be completed without interfering with the other steps. The end result is a beautifully coordinated kitchen.

Preparing for Cabinet Installation

Before installing new kitchen cabinets, some prep work may be required:

Remove moldings – Take down existing crown molding, baseboards, and window and door trim that could get in the way.
Fix rough walls – Fill holes, smooth bumps, and repair issues for an even surface to mount cabinets on.
Map out studs – Locate and mark wall studs so cabinets can be screwed securely into them.
Consider recessed lighting – If adding cans or under-cabinet lighting, install housings above/before cabinet placement.
Run electrical – New circuits may be needed for added appliances and outlets; install beforehand.
Add blocking – Secure wood blocking between studs where needed to reinforce for heavy cabinets.

Taking these steps creates an ideal environment for installing kitchen cabinets smoothly and successfully.

Flooring Prep Work

Certain preparations should also be made to the subfloor before installing new flooring in a kitchen:

Remove old floor – Completely remove existing floor down to the plywood or concrete subfloor.
Clean thoroughly – Sweep and mop subfloor to remove dust and debris for best flooring adhesion.
Level subfloor – Use floor leveling compound if the subfloor is uneven for a flat surface.
Repair subfloor – Inspect for damage and repair weak areas of the subfloor before laying new floor.
Leave expansion gaps – When laying plank flooring like wood or laminate, leave 1/4″ expansion gaps along the walls.
Acclimate flooring – Store new flooring inside the home for 48 hours before install to adjust to indoor climate.

Prepping the subfloor properly makes installing new floors much easier and sets them up for long-term success.

Flooring That Works Best Under Cabinets

Certain types of flooring hold up better under kitchen cabinets than others. The best options include:

Tile

Ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone tile makes an excellent flooring choice under cabinets. Tile is:

Durable and water-resistant
Easy to keep clean
Comes in many colors, styles, and textures
Not affected by limited visibility under cabinets

Match grout lines for a seamless look.

Luxury Vinyl Plank

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) floors are also ideal under cabinets. Benefits include:

Waterproof and scratch resistant
Easy click-together floating installation
Mimics wood, stone, and tile visuals
Holds up well to limited light and ventilation

LVP comes in many stylish options perfect for kitchens.

Laminate

Laminate wood flooring works under cabinets but has a few limitations:

Durable and affordable
Many wood look options
Can expand and contract with humidity changes
Requires gap for expansion and contraction

Leave extra space between laminate boards and cabinet bases.

Hardwood

Solid or engineered hardwood can work under cabinets but is not always recommended:

Beautiful real wood appeal
Can dent, scratch, or warp from moisture over time
Expands and contracts seasonally
Needs adequate ventilation and light

Use extra durable hardwoods like oak if choosing this option.

Carpet

Carpet is generally not well-suited to use under kitchen cabinets:

Absorbs spills, splashes, and dirt
Traps moisture and odors
Can impede cabinets or appliances being moved

Carpet is best avoided altogether in kitchens.

Installing Cabinets Over Flooring

In rare cases, it may be necessary to install cabinets over pre-existing floors rather than removing flooring first. This is less than ideal, but can be done with extra preparation:

Choose wall cabinets only – Floor cabinets won’t align properly over floor unevenness. Stick to wall mounts only.
Build out stub walls – Construct short stub walls flush with existing floor to mount cabinets solidly on top.
Shim meticulously – Use shims liberally between wall studs and cabinet to level and avoid dips.
Scribe cabinets – Cut cabinet sides and face frames to follow floor contours for clean fit.
Check for level frequently – As you build the cabinet bank, verify all units are level with each other.
Fill gaps carefully – Caulk and fill inevitable gaps left between cabinet bases and flooring.
Expect limitations – Accessories like toe kicks and moldings may not work well over existing floors.

While possible, mounting cabinets over flooring often leads to alignment issues down the road. Proceeding with an unfamiliar floor under new cabinets is generally not advised.

Can Flooring Be Installed After Cabinets?

While not the standard procedure, hard surface flooring can technically be installed after cabinets are in place. This is more difficult but can be done by:

Working around each cabinet base carefully
Scribing floor boards tightly around cabinet edges
Covering exposed cabinet sides with trim
Filling any gaps with color-matched caulk
Expecting a lack of continuity in flooring direction

Even for experienced installers, fitting in flooring with cabinets already in place rarely looks as seamless and polished as installing flooring first. Leaving new hardwood with the grain running perpendicular under cabinets can also be an issue.

For floating floors like laminate or LVP, an ideal installation is nearly impossible when working around existing cabinet bases. These floors require room to expand and contract, which cannot be achieved when confined under fixed cabinetry.

Special Considerations for Island Cabinets

A kitchen island on a flooring platform poses some special considerations:

Build flooring around island – Run flooring under island platform before securing it in place.
Include expansion gaps – Leave adequate space between island framing and flooring for expansion.
Undermount island cabinets – Mounting island cabinets atop finished floors is never ideal.
Consider boxed platforms – A fully enclosed base that cabinets sit on conceals flooring transitions.
Use trim strips – Transition trim can conceal gaps between cabinet bases and flooring.

Adding a kitchen island on existing flooring almost always requires some compromises in fit and finish.

Can You Install Flooring Before Cabinets?

Installing new floors before cabinets is strongly advised against. While technically possible, it causes a number of issues:

Transition Complications

Flooring installed wall-to-wall first means extra transition strips are needed under cabinets. These transitions create visible breaks in flooring.

Toe Kick Obstacles

Many flooing materials, like hardwood, cannot easily be cut to fit around existing toe kicks. This leaves unfinished edges.

Visibility Hurdles

Without cabinets in place, properly inspecting and adjusting floor placement as you lay boards is impossible. Quality suffers.

Cabinet Alignment Problems

Floors may not be perfectly straight, making aligning a long bank of cabinets very tricky over an uneven floor.

Floor Protection Difficulties

Protecting completed flooring while installing cabinets and countertops requires extra care and precaution.

Plumbing Access Issues

Sinking plumbing and electrical into flooring before cabinets creates extra cuts and patchwork.

While not impossible, installing new floors before cabinets is never recommended. The results are far less than ideal.

Acclimating Floors in an Empty Kitchen

One scenario where new flooring may go in before final cabinet installation is while a kitchen is totally emptied out during a remodel.

With old cabinets totally removed, new flooring can be:

Acclimated in the kitchen space
Loosely laid in place temporarily
Removed again for cabinet installation
Relaid permanently after cabinets

This allows floors to adjust to the kitchen’s humidity and temperature before finalizing. Just be sure to protect them fully when installing cabinets over the bare subfloor.

Typical Flooring Installation Process

When following the standard practice of installing cabinets first, here is a general outline for putting flooring in next:

Prepare the subfloor – Clean, level, and make any repairs needed.
Lay flooring boards – Run main flooring direction, excluding areas under cabinet bases.
Install transition pieces – Place transitions and reducer strips as needed with flooring.
Add perimeter boards – Install boards around room edges, under toe kick areas.
Install baseboard – Reinstall baseboard trim over floor edges, leaving slight gap at bottom.
Finish final boards – Cut and fit remaining rows under cabinet bases.
Make final adjustments – Trim any excess material and make any adjustments needed.
Seal and protect – Sweep thoroughly and use floor protection while finishing kitchen.

This order allows the flooring installers to lay the majority of boards early on, fitting in the most complex and detailed cuts under and around cabinets later.

Hiring Professional Installers

Kitchen remodeling projects often involve multiple specialty trades to handle different elements of the job most efficiently.

While possible for an ambitious DIYer to tackle, complex installations like flooring and cabinets are often best left to experienced professionals who can get the sequence right and deliver optimal results.

Look for contractors who:

Specialize in kitchen remodels
Have excellent references and proven examples
Are insured and licensed as applicable
Will provide a detailed written quote
Can coordinate timing of different trades

Paying pros may cost more upfront but prevents expensive mistakes and saves tremendous time and effort. A seamless kitchen makeover requires getting the order of operations just right.

FAQs About Installing Cabinets and Floors

Should you install cabinets or flooring first?

Kitchen cabinets should be installed first, followed by countertops, then flooring for best results.

Can you put flooring down before cabinets?

It’s not recommended. Flooring installed beforehand makes fitting cabinets and achieving a flush transition much harder.

What order should you remodel a kitchen?

The typical sequence is:

Demolition
Cabinets
Countertops
Flooring
Appliances and plumbing fixtures
Finishing touches

Should you replace kitchen flooring before or after new cabinets?

For a smooth installation, existing kitchen flooring should be replaced after your new cabinetry is installed.

What flooring works best in kitchens?

Good kitchen flooring options include tile, luxury vinyl plank, laminate, and hardwoods. Tile is most popular, with vinyl a top choice for waterproof durability.

Can you install an island over hardwood floors?

Installing an island cabinet over finished hardwoods is tricky. Building out a framed platform to mount cabinets on works better.

How long does it take to remodel a 10×10 kitchen?

A typical timeline for a 10×10 kitchen remodel is 2-3 weeks from start to finish, assuming all materials are readily available.

Conclusion

When remodeling your kitchen, properly sequencing installation of new cabinets and flooring is crucial for a streamlined and beautiful outcome. In almost all cases, new kitchen cabinets should be secured in place first, then countertops fabricated and installed against them. New flooring comes next, sliding cleanly under cabinet bases and toe kicks for a flush, seamless appearance.

Careful planning is required, and hiring experienced kitchen remodeling contractors ensures the job is done right. While the process takes patience and coordination, the payoff is a stunning new kitchen space you’ll enjoy for years to come. With strategic timing of trades and meticulous installations, your kitchen makeover will come out picture-perfect.