{"id":4866,"date":"2022-01-13T06:16:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T06:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rtacabinetstore.com\/blog\/?p=4866"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:04:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:04:10","slug":"cabinets-or-flooring-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rtacabinetstore.com\/blog\/cabinets-or-flooring-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Flooring or Cabinets First?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chip Wade Answers the Age Old Question of Floor or Cabinets First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Should you install kitchen cabinets or floors first? It\u2019s a question that lingers in every kitchen renovation. Every contractor has their own preference. If you\u2019re managing your own remodel (or DIYing the remodel) you need real answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TL;DR<\/p>If you’re installing new cabinets and flooring, the general rule is to install flooring before cabinets\u2014especially with floating floors. However, there are exceptions based on flooring type and project scope. Talk to your designer to make the best choice for your space.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where expert Chip Wade comes in. As a master craftsman and regular on home improvement television shows, he\u2019s tuned into the needs of the DIYer. We talked with Chip recently to find out what goes first, cabinets or flooring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRenovation goes a lot faster if you do it in the right order of operations,\u201d Chip began. \u201cCabinets are the meat and potatoes, the sun in the solar system that everything else revolves around so it\u2019s important to get them in at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does flooring go under kitchen cabinets?<\/strong> Yes, that’s Chip’s recommendation unless you have a floating floor or a thicker floor<\/em>. Here’s the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home improvement and interior design concepts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Floors First for Longevity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chip puts down the floor first 90% of the time. \u201cIt\u2019s a more straightforward start. It gives you a clean playing field. It\u2019s safer to floor under everything,\u201d he told us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting off right goes a long way to make a kitchen remodel successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides having a clean start, another big reason to put down floors first is longevity. Think of the future. You\u2019ll run into more remodeling issues down the road if you put in the cabinets first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if you need to change out appliances or you decide to do additional remodeling down the road? Putting down the floor before the cabinets makes for clearer sailing now and into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treat the floors under your cabinets like a permanent installation. They should receive the same treatment as the rest of your floor. Just because they won\u2019t show doesn\u2019t mean you can cut corners. The integrity of the floor now and any future plans will be best served by a 100% complete floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cabinets First for Particular Types of Flooring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chip prefers to put down flooring before cabinets in most cases. But there are two instances when that all changes: floating floors and thicker floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Floating Floors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Can you put cabinets on a floating floor?<\/strong> No, cabinets should be installed first. Floating floors need space to expand and contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A floating floor is a plank floor with tongue and groove installation. It comes in many different types like engineered hardwood, laminate, vinyl, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are not secured directly to the subfloor. They \u201cfloat\u201d on top of it. They expand, contract, and move with the house. However, if you put cabinets on top of them, they can\u2019t shift and there may be problems down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thick Floors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thicker flooring materials (greater than 1\/2″) won’t impact your cabinet installation, but they can spell trouble for your appliances. Even if you put in appliances before thicker flooring, you’re it’s very hard to get them out when it’s time to replace them. Be sure to use a flooring that is less than 1\/2\u201d to avoid problems retrofitting appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hardwood & Tile<\/td>Install flooring first to prevent height misalignment.<\/td><\/tr>
Laminate & Floating Floors<\/td>Install cabinets first to allow flooring to expand and contract naturally.<\/td><\/tr>
Vinyl & Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)<\/td>Can be installed either way, do floors first for a quality job, but many prefer cabinets first to reduce material costs.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you put kitchen cabinets on top of flooring?<\/strong> For most solid flooring types, yes. For floating floors, no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But What About Potential Damage if You Install Floors First?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the big arguments in the cabinets-first camp is the possibility of damage to floors as construction continues. Chip recommends three remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n