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Flooring Kitchens

Engineered wood floors- before or after cabinets?

5 years ago

I know this has been asked a million times. My kitchen cabinet guy says to install engineered wood floors around the Cabinets after they’re installed. My floor guy says to install before and under the cabinets. Who/which do I choose? They are glue-down engineered Walnut floors (Acacia wood). Thanks!

Featured Answer

kariyava

5 years ago

There are pros and cons to both. We decided to install our glue down engineered flooring around our cabinets because of the possibility of water damage -- if there is a small leak from the dishwasher or sink that requires replacing a couple boards, that is a lot easier if the boards do not go under the cabinets.

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Comments (10)

Allison0704
5 years ago
It's a personal preference. We always install flooring before cabinets. No shimming (or minimal) and if cabinets replaced with a difference foot print, you're good to go.
PRO
Uptown Floors
5 years ago
The cabinet guy (is he a salesman?) probably wants to eliminate responsibility if the floor gets damaged...and they do with loose screws rolling around or dropping a cabinet on the corner..ding! Seen that many times in my years.

The floor guy (is he a salesman too?) is likely to mention what he said because it's much quicker. No cutting around areas or having to install shoe molding or other. I'd side with the the cabinet guy because I've had to repair those dings, dents and others before...no fun! You probably don't want that extra stress either especially with a prefinished glue down floor.
chiquita177 thanked Uptown Floors
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Ours were also like Pooh's. Install, sanded, stained, and two top coats. Then cabs went in the kitchen and DR. (We installed new unfinished wood floors in entry, FR, LR, DR, mudroom, and kitchen as part of a whole house reno.) Very last item before we moved in was the last top coat. I did cover the floors with Ram board (like thin cardboard on a roll, but water resistant) after the two top coats. The inspector, carpenters installing a house full of trim and doors, electrician, cab maker, wood floor company, painting company doing trim and doors,and plumber were all impressed with the board. All those guys and tools tromping in and out over months did zero damage to the floors.
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chiquita177
Original Author
5 years ago
Awesome! Thank you! We will do it around the cabinets. =)
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
5 years ago
Personal preference. Here in mid Texas cabinets are installed first prior to flooring. If you decide to change the flooring down the road, you don't have the added expense of tearing out cabinets, counter tops, fixing backsplashes (that normally get damaged from removing the counter) etc.
Chessie
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
What would be the height difference? Seems like that would be a consideration. It would for me. I’d probably want to have the same height in an underlayment, under the cabinets, so that I didn’t lose that inch or so to the higher wood floor.
cookncarpenter
5 years ago
If you do it after, make sure to raise up all cabinets on a substrate equal to the finish floor thickness.
PRO
User
5 years ago
The rule of thumb is permanently installed floors go under the cabinets. Nailed down, glued down, thinsetted. Floating temporary floors like laminate, vinyl plank, or floating engineered wood go in after, as they cannot be pinned in place by the cabinets.

It’s much more of a pain for everyone concerned to do after. It usually results in additional costs for the additional time needed. All of the cabinets will have to be shimmed to the finished floor height. And all of the flooring will need to be cut in around the cabinets. No base molding in the room can be done until the flooring goes in.
chiquita177
Original Author
5 years ago
Hmmmm. Okay. Maybe I should do before then.
User
5 years ago
Floors first. Always. Unless it’s floating.

Installing protection over the floors should be a no brainer easy. Rosin paper down, use the cardboard from the cabinet boxes over that, taped seams, and another layer on top. You can turn over 5 gallons of paint on that or drop a hammer and the floor will be fine.

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