Kitchen floor thoughts

Post Reply | Watch this Post

This may be a blessing in disguise. You have proposed to have your floor run under the cabinets. This is not always a good idea. By shimming the cabinets to the final floor height, the new floor and underlaymnet can be run up to, but not under the cabinets. This means that in the future, the floor can be repaired or replaced without pulling the cabinets. The floor can still be installed in the alcoves for the dishwasher and refrigerator, and the minor seam in front of the cabinets will be covered by the cabinet base.

There is no reason to install the durock underlayment under the cabinets, but you need to know the ultimate thickness of the floor with underlayment and tile. Just have the cabinets installed normally on shims with the same thickness as the floor and underlayment, but do not apply the final base on the cabinet kick panels. The floor can be installed, around the cabinets, then the base installed, and you will have the best possible solution.

When we recently replaced the kitchen floors, the fact the old floor, including underlayment, did not run under the cabinets (with granite countertops and built-in appliances) saved us a lot of work and money. The new floor fits tightly with the cabinets and looks great. You just never know if the choice of floor will survive the test of time and style. Being able to replace it without destroying the cabinets is a big plus.