According to one flooring maker’s installation FAQ, how your new floor installs decides the order. For a floating floor, that maker says to install the cabinets first and leave a 1/4-inch expansion gap. For a glued-down or nailed-down floor, that maker says either order works, so the plan for your cabinets decides. That is the short answer to flooring before or after cabinets.
Getting it backward shows up after the work is done. One flooring maker says cabinets set on top of a floating floor pin it in place, and a pinned floor can buckle or fail at the joints over time. One cabinet maker adds that flooring cut around installed cabinets can have to be redone, in part or across the kitchen, if the layout changes later.
Three things settle it: how the floor installs, what each order protects, and the finished floor height. Confirm that height with your design team before the cabinet order goes in.
| Weigh these criteria. | If the floor goes in first | If the cabinets go in first |
|---|---|---|
| Check how the floor installs. | One flooring maker says either order works for a glued-down or nailed-down floor, but a floating floor shouldn’t be pinned under cabinets. | That maker’s order for a floating floor is cabinets first, with a gap of at least 1/4 inch at the base. |
| Plan for toe-kick drawers. | One cabinet maker says to put the flooring down first so the bottom drawers work. | Ask your designer how those drawers will clear the finished floor. |
| Think about changing the cabinets later. | That cabinet maker says flooring underneath leaves a level base, so cabinetry or appliances can be swapped out. | A layout change can mean replacing parts of the floor, the same maker says. |
| Protect what is already installed. | The cabinet maker says this avoids nicks or stains on your cabinets during floor demo, install or sanding. | That maker also says cabinets first means less flooring damage from heavy kitchen materials. |
| Look at what ends up hidden. | The cabinet maker notes flooring sits under the cabinets, where it ends up hidden. | The floor stops at the cabinet base. On a floating floor, the flooring maker says trim covers that gap. |
Flooring Before or After Cabinets Starts With How the Floor Installs
One flooring maker states it plainly: the installation method determines the sequencing. So start with the floor, not the calendar.
A floating floor is one whose planks click together instead of being glued or nailed down. The fixed alternatives are glued down or nailed down. That difference matters because, that maker says, floating floors need room to expand and contract.
That maker says cabinets installed on top pin the floor in place, and a pinned floor can buckle or fail at the joints over time. Its rule for its own floating floors is cabinets first, then flooring run up to the base with at least a 1/4-inch gap — the same gap used at walls. It says the toe kick, quarter round or baseboard covers the gap, so it isn’t visible after installation.
For a glued-down or nailed-down floor, that maker says either order is fine. That maker adds that a fixed floor doesn’t need the same expansion space. With the floor question settled, your cabinet plan decides the order.
Each maker’s rule covers its own floors. Follow the installation instructions for the floor you choose, and ask the seller or installer how that floor installs. For a floor these sources don’t cover, such as tile laid wall to wall or sheet flooring, don’t assume an order at all.
What the Floor-First Order Protects
Toe-kick drawers are the first reason. If you’re including them in your kitchen design, one cabinet maker’s flooring-order article says to put flooring down first so the bottom drawers can function properly.
The second reason looks years ahead. That maker says flooring under your cabinets creates a level foundation, so new appliances or cabinetry can be easily swapped out. The alternative, that maker says, is replacing parts of your flooring, or your entire kitchen floor, if you add on or tweak the layout in years to come.
The third is simple protection. The cabinet maker says that with the floor in first, you avoid potential nicks or stains to your cabinets during floor demo, installation or sanding.
This order gives something up. Flooring is placed underneath where the cabinets will sit, and the cabinet maker notes that some contractors and homeowners see that as material that ends up hidden. It also doesn’t suit a floating floor, which one flooring maker says shouldn’t be pinned under cabinetry.
What the Cabinets-First Order Protects
Cabinets first protects the floor itself. The cabinet maker says installing cabinets first means less flooring damage from heavy kitchen materials.
For a floating floor, this is also the order the flooring maker calls for. The floor stays free to expand and contract, which that maker says floating floors need. At the cabinet base, that maker calls for the flooring to stop at least 1/4 inch short, the same gap it uses at walls. It says the toe kick, quarter round or baseboard hides the gap.
There’s a schedule side too. The cabinet maker says your choice of order can mean ordering flooring months before the cabinets are selected, or settling the flooring while the cabinets are still on the way.
What this order gives up is flexibility later. If you add on or tweak the layout, that maker says you may be replacing parts of your flooring or your entire kitchen floor. And the cabinet maker says toe-kick drawers call for the floor down first.
Replacing Only the Floor Is a Different Question
Some homeowners keep the cabinet boxes and reface, paint or replace the doors. If the cabinets stay and only the floor changes, the cabinet maker says a thin flooring can run right up to them. It lists luxury vinyl, laminate and tile as working this way, with the edge covered by baseboard or molding adhered to the bottom of the base cabinets.
That puts the product you choose at the center of the question. Guthrie’s flooring and tile services page says flooring materials range from hardwood to tile, luxury vinyl plank/tile, laminate, carpet and more. Ask the installer whether the product you like can run up to the cabinets you’re keeping.
Settle the Finished Floor Height Before the Cabinet Order
As a general rule, the finished floor’s thickness can change where cabinet tops and counters end up, and how openings such as the dishwasher line up. So the flooring gets chosen, and the finished floor height confirmed with the design team, before the cabinets are ordered.
Guthrie’s post on how flooring changes a vanity’s finished height makes the point in a bathroom. Whatever flooring goes down lifts the whole assembly, because the vanity, its top and its sink stack on the finished floor.
Timing follows from the order you pick. Guthrie’s guide to the stages a kitchen remodel moves through lists ordering and manufacturing lead time ahead of demolition, and cabinet installation and countertop templating ahead of backsplash, flooring and finish work. Your order can mean choosing the flooring before the cabinets are selected, or choosing it while the cabinets are on order.
Then follow the installation instructions for the product you choose. Treat the floor as part of the whole kitchen remodeling plan, not a finish you pick at the end.
Match the Order to Your Kitchen
A floating floor: cabinets first. The flooring maker’s rule for its floating floors is to set the cabinets, then run the floor to the base with a gap of at least 1/4 inch.
Toe-kick drawers in the plan: floor first. The cabinet maker ties those bottom drawers to flooring that is already down, so they can function properly.
Cabinets or appliances you expect to change later, with a glued-down or nailed-down floor: floor first. The flooring maker says either order works on a fixed floor, and the cabinet maker says flooring underneath leaves a level base for a future swap.
Cabinets staying and only the floor changing: the floor goes up to the cabinets. The cabinet maker says a thin flooring can go right up to them, with baseboard or molding covering the edge. For a floor none of this covers, ask your installer and follow the maker’s instructions for that product.
Frequently Asked Questions About Floors and Cabinets
Does flooring go under cabinets?
It depends on the floor. One flooring maker says a floating floor shouldn’t be pinned under cabinets, because cabinets on top can cause buckling or joint failure over time. The same maker says a glued-down or nailed-down floor can go in either order. One cabinet maker’s reason to run flooring underneath is that it leaves a level base, so new cabinetry or appliances can be swapped out later.
How big is the gap at the cabinet base, and can you see it?
One flooring maker calls for at least 1/4 inch on a floating installation, the same gap it uses at walls. That maker says the toe kick, quarter round or baseboard covers it, so it isn’t visible after installation. Check the instructions for your own floor, since each maker’s rule covers its own products.
What about a kitchen island?
One flooring maker splits that two ways. A freestanding island that isn’t anchored to the floor is fine on top of a floating floor. A built-in island bolted to the subfloor should be treated like cabinets, installed before the floating floor goes in, with the same 1/4-inch gap at its base.
Can a refrigerator or range sit on a floating floor?
One flooring maker says appliances are not a concern and can be placed on its floors after installation, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges and washing machines. Its caution is about cabinets set on top, which pin the floor in place. Check the instructions for your own floor.
Does the order change if I’m keeping my cabinets?
Yes. One cabinet maker says that if you’re simply replacing your floors and not your cabinets, a thin flooring can be installed right up to the cabinets. It says this works with luxury vinyl, laminate or tile. It says the edge is then covered by baseboard or molding adhered to the bottom of the base cabinets.
Bring Your Floor and Cabinet Plan to the Showroom
Flooring before or after cabinets is a question your floor choice answers, so bring both decisions to the same conversation. At Guthrie’s Pleasant View showroom, you can see cabinetry and flooring first-hand and talk through your kitchen plan with a member of the design team.
Guthrie’s flooring and tile page says the team can design and install your project, or help with design and product selection if you have your own installer. Settle the order and the finished floor height before the cabinet order goes in, and talk with Guthrie’s design team about your kitchen floor and cabinet plan.