I prefer tile after cabinets because once those cabinets go on top of the tile, grout lines will show little spaces between the bottom of the cabinet and floor. You may also run into some tiles that don't lay perfectly flat and more spaces/gaps will appear.

You know forgotten I mentioned the same concern to my DH and he looked at me like I was crazy. LOL Men don't think of those things.

If given a choice...I'm putting the tile in first. :)

jerry t, that's because you're a man and you're not worried about the dirt and dust that will accumulate in the grout lines under the cabinets! HA! We know, it's less work for you, but the dirt, yuck!!

No.... more or less work has nothing to do with this.:) You just need to allow for a few things like the range height, refrigerator height, dishwasher installation, your working height is reduced by 3/4".

It would be better to have the cabinets installed on top of 1X cleats so all the heights work out as they should.

One very important thing to consider- if you ever have to replace a tile or want to change it someday, it is easier to install cabinets first. You could put the tile under the stove and sink just like under the fridge. Just another thing to consider.

Flooring first...except for some vinyl and laminate installs.

Thanks everyone, it seems no one seems to agree but I will pass the info on to the dh, and let him make that decision. I am decisioned out!! At least that is how I feel today. Thanks again

Don't fret over it too much dona0... in your particular situation either way is fine.

I have slate floors and Ikea cabinets. The kitchen was completely gutted, a lot of the slate was lower quality so it made sense to hide it under the cabinets, and I wanted the cabinets to be a high as possible (we're tall.)

The ikea cabinets install on feet and then there's a light panel that goes across the front - this is different than cabinets where a base form is nailed to the floor that you would run the tile up to.

So we put in the slate first.

I had porcelain tile installed 12 years ago under my cabinets in a remodel. The GC said it would be easier for them to get the cabinets level that way. Apparently, they installed them, but did not prepare the surface correctly. Over the years my beautiful porcelain tiles began to crack. I thought it was from me dropping things on the tile. When I had someone come out to look at it recently to fix it, they said the tile was loose and was not installed correctly.

It cost me a fortune to have them cut out last month around the base of the cabinets and replaced. They had to use a diamond saw to cut all around the cabinets then had to install an extra bit of trim around the base to hide where the old porcelain went under the tile.

Moral of the story: If you EVER want to change your tile for any reason when you tile under the cabinets, it will cost you a fortune. Hopefully, your tile people will do a good job installing the tile in the first place so it won't start cracking on you too.

there is a very long thread in the kitchen forum on the topic of tiling before or after cabinets. and, actually, it ended up being 50:50!

i'm now wondering if it is the same for cork (planks) or if that should always be put down after. ( i like the idea of having the floor down first for smooth cabinet installation)

if the room is bare, i prefer to put the flooring all the way wall to wall. or CLOSE to teh wall any way, no sense making cuts in areas under cabinets.

if the cabinets are already in place, such as a floor only remodel, then it is ok to but the new floor up to the cabinets, but to me going under the cabinet makes a more professional look.

for instance, if i tiled up to my cabinets, but not under them, then the stove would sit higher than the cabinets or else you would see the line where the tile ends in front of the stove. same with the dishwasher.