Install the cabinets first. The installers have to make sure the cabinets are level, and may need to SHIM the cabinet bottoms. Shimming can be necessary on both concrete foundations or pier and beam foundations—anywhere the floor has a low spot.

@mindshift.. thanks for the response.. i would think they need to shim either way to make sure it is all level / our floors are raw concrete right now and we are going to be installing porcelain tile.. floor has been checked and leveled (grinded down the high spots).. my installer said if we set cabs on tiled floor it is an extra charge to scribe the toe kicks exactly to the floor.. he is 50/50 on before or after tile plus we have to tile under the appliances anyway...

We laid our flooring before the cabinetry, but there’s no right or wrong here. Just personal preference.

Flooring first. It's easier on the cabinet installer and the flooring installer. And you get a better job with less potential for damage to the cabinets.

Flooring 1st. That way if you ever decide to move things in the future, the tile will be already in place. Trying to find matching tile years later is difficult, buy some extra for possible future fixes.

I think it also depends on flooring.. our first reno 25 years ago we had the hardwood floors that went under cabinets and we had no issues.. 2nd kitchen as well in an apartment we did the floor was under cabinets and now we will do the same.. even if the cement floor is not level the tile will be.. hopefully

Tile floor, then cabinets. We usually install the tile underneath the cabinets.

In my area, they do cabinets first.

If your tiler is good, you won't need shoe molding around the cabinets, and that makes it easier to clean.

(Obviously, tile in the DW, range, and fridge holes.)

Floor first then cabinets.

Another reason to do tile floor on subfloor 1st is because it gives an extra barrier to protect the floor underneath if a water leak should happen.

Some companies charge per square foot & include under the vanity in the square footage & don't tile under. Watch out for that trick ;)

Of course if you are doing a bathroom and want the coved tile in lieu of baseboard, you'll want the vanity tiled in. Or if you want a border in the tile that follows the shape of cabinets and walls...

Nobody does interesting floors anymore. *Sigh*

tile first it is.. it was what i wanted all along but people trying to talk me out of it had me check in with Houzz people..

subfloor is concrete... there is nothing on the first floor.. it is walls only and about 1400 square feet we did a total gut.. we are finishing up drywall, texture, installing the crown and 2 windows and interior doors.. then paint.. then the floor and the shower tile needs to be done.. once floor is in we will install kitchen cabinets, trim out doors and install baseboard... my crown, trim and base was delivered today.. 950 linear feet.. it's 2 days shy of 3 months since we started the reno.. we also replumbed the entire first floor, some new electrical, moved walls and enlarged the first floor bathroom by 5 feet.. all while living here and running a biz at the same time (on the 2nd floor) if i do not lose my mind by the time we are done it will be a miracle.. i will be posting before, during and after pics when we are done.. or maybe some during pics now..

This was a sticking point for my job supervisor. I wanted the tile to go in first because, before, we had problems getting the under-counter appliances to fit when tile was done afterwards. Seems some contractors don't think about those clearances. I heard all kinds of comments about how they never do it that way and I always want "different things". I stuck to my guns because tile installation raises the finished floor more than others.

Between the thinset and tile, my floor about 1/2 an inch higher. That's pretty important when trying to get a certain dishwasher to fit. I vote tile first or build the cabinets to take into account the projected finished height. Of course, your tile contractor has to be one you trust and not the luck of the draw. I still had issues due to some other "unusual" choices, so think ahead! My pro didn't, despite having the info.

When they skipped tiling under cabinets, it’s due to saving money - less sq.

Its always best to install flooring then kitchen cabinets First! There is a reason for that as well, Flooring gives your entire room fabulous look and it helps you for smoothly do your kitchen works. Kitchen Cabinets are useful as well but first always comes first than Cabinets. So, try floor first. this is my opinon.

If you don't tile first, then you need to put something under the cabinets (like luane) to set the cabinets at the same level as the tile.

With concrete, a moisture barrier is necessary before laying something like lauan or similar.

Flooring first.

Why? Because it must coordinate with the flooring in the rest of the house.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to both, and either one is acceptable. The tile guy will almost always tell you to tile first-- not as many cuts!! LOL But it also leaves a cleaner look afterward, and you don't have to worry as much about whether or not undercabinet appliances will fit afterward. But if the cabinets must go in first, it's not the end of the world, either. The cabinet installer can simply put pieces of plywood under the cabinets to elevate them off the subfloor to the same level as the tile, and then, again, there's no worry about under counter clearance.

We had hardwood installed in our kitchen. It was recommended to us to install the flooring first. By doing this, we didn't have to have shoe molding going around the base of the cabinetry. It's a cleaner look.

Agree with Cook's Kitchen. The overall look is cleaner and if in the future you want to change the cabinets, you do not have to change the floor as well.

Thank you for all the advice and opinions.. I will go with my gut and first choice of the floor (porcelain tiles) be installed wall to wall.. I personally do not plan to change the floor or the kitchen ever in this house - not after all the planning and stress..

Tile first! If you EVER change the footprint.....islands,etc.....you don't have to remove cut tiles and modify. Also, it's a MUCH cleaner look.

I ended up installing cabinets first and then tiling. I did the work myself so labor was free. The cooks kitchen is right about the labor, the extra effort is significant to shim the cabinets and cut tile around the cabinets. In my case I had to shim 3/4”. I used a premium travertine tile (zero fillings, perfect finish), and saved myself about 1k for tiles I would never see under the cabinets. 1k was not worth the extra effort I went through. The reason I actually did it though was because it’s easier to control the finished height of the counters. In my case I had very specific clearances for outlets mounted under very low windows I could not deviate 1/16” over. You also get a cleaner installation for the dishwasher and (integrated) fridge although that might depend on the brand. I am not a builder, just a simple homeowner with enough tools to tackle a full home remodel. The kickplates for those kinds of appliances are a set size, so you also don’t want an opening that is too much bigger than required.

You would have spent a thousand dollars(!) for tiling under the cabinets? You must have a REALLY HUGE kitchen!

Hi stonetech, not that big, little over 220 sf. $12/sf for ditra and stone will get you there easy.

I suspect it's pretty rare to replace cabinets but leave the flooring as is.

Whatever method is followed, stick some extra flooring bits in the crawlspace just in case!