What Comes First? Flooring or Kitchen Cabinets

Many people come across the same question when it comes to considering new renovations in their home: what should be done first, the kitchen cabinets or the hardwood flooring? As with most things, there is no one answer. Every customer’s situation is different depending on the other factors involved. Here are some items to address before making the final decision.

Obtaining the Best Finish

Installing cabinetry first can lead to early damage to the paint or finish if hardwood floors are going to be installed after them. Any marks or nicks in the wood, varnish or paint can become a greater headache than is necessary when deciding to put in flooring first could have been the alternative option. Meanwhile, having to reconfigure the hardwood around the previously-installed cabinetry can be another stressor that may end up being unnecessarily costly.

 

Flooring First Gives More Opportunity for Other Kitchen Changes

Since hardwood flooring is fairly durable and long-lasting, installing it first allows for greater opportunities to make other changes in kitchen cabinets or appliances down the road. The flooring can often endure a lot of human commotion without being fatigued, and therefore can be a wise choice to install previous to any other adjustments made in home renovations later on.

 

However, Floating Hardwood Flooring is a Different Matte

Though installing the floors is generally a more practical option, using floating hardwood floors can be a game-changer. After all, these tend to adapt to temperature changes and can therefore be unreliable if heavy cabinetry were to be placed on them during these fluctuations. So, in this case, putting in cabinets first or waiting for a more permanent flooring solution may be a more suitable answer.

 

Overall, the question of installing kitchen cabinets or hardwood flooring isn’t always an easy one to answer, as it varies for each situation. When it comes to most, though, laying down high-quality hardwoods before making any other renovations can often be a more cost-effective solution.