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Flooring Design Dilemma Kitchens

Replacing flooring without replacing kitchen cabinets?

3 years ago

I’m looking to tear up the five year old engineered wood in our new remodel (it’s scuffed up from renters, dark wood and has an ugly plasticky sheen) and replace with wide plank oak. The company I’m purchasing flooring from makes very thick planks - 13/16” plus 1/8” underlayment, so about an inch thick overall. I unfortunately won’t be able to get into the house for another two weeks to pull up some of the existing floor and see how thick it is, and I want to place the order for the new wood ASAP.

My question is around whether the new wood being thicker will be problematic (my guess is that this new wood will be 1/4 to 1/2” wider but we’ll see). We’re not tearing out our kitchen cabinets so if the floor is thicker aka higher, 1) the counter may become slightly shorter. which doesn’t bother me much 2) the stove may sit too high and no longer flush with the counter, which does bother me 3) the dishwasher may no longer be able to be pulled out for service I worry?

Has anyone with flooring or remodel experience run into this? And if so how did you handle it? Any advice would be so appreciated!

Featured Answer

smit2380

3 years ago

We recently had solid hardwood floors put in our house and wanted to run them into the kitchen. We couldn’t because of the dishwasher and stove as you noted. i just thought I would mention that it would have also trapped my fridge due to the height of the over fridge cabinet. Just thought I would mention it in case you were in the same boat.

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Comments (7)

User
3 years ago
Yes, you can have clearance issues. No, you should never order anything until you figure out those issues.
ks0012 thanked User
remodeling1840
3 years ago
Haste makes waste. Two weeks to get it right will look brilliant instead of years of regret if you get it wrong.
ks0012 thanked remodeling1840
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ks0012
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Thanks for the replies! I should clarify that I am going to wait until I get to see what’s under the wood but I’ve been ordering a lot of samples and really only like this one, so it’s currently my plan to go with it. Mostly just wondering how people have handled this in the past if it is in fact a thicker plank than the previous flooring. Is my only option to go with a plank of the same thickness as the previous floor? Or are there workarounds?
wiscokid
3 years ago
Hope your dishwasher never, ever needs to be removed or pulled out. Or you’re going to need to pull your counters...
ks0012 thanked wiscokid
carol beachlady
3 years ago
Dishwashers - I think this is the main reason that builders put flooring in place - wall to wall -before anything else goes in.
ks0012 thanked carol beachlady
ks0012
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Thank you all! We have an awkward amount of space above the fridge before it hits the cabinet (like a good foot above it before it would hit the builtin) so thankfully no issue there, but really appreciate you pointing that out. Helpful to hear these thoughts and experiences.

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