I'm redoing my kitchen with new kitchen cabinets and floor tile, Is it ok to tile under the cabinets?

Question

Essentially when I rip out all the cabinets should I tile the entire kitchen including where the new cabinets will sit or should I just tile under the stove/fridge/dishwasher etc.... What's the best way?

Answer 1

From a professional floor installer, and jack-of-many-other trades:
I would definitely install the complete floor before the cabinets - you'll only be looking at an extra 20-30 square feet of tile, and the benefits are worth the extra little expense:
- easier, neater looking installation for the flooring, whether ceramic or vinyl tile - no cut pieces around the cabinetry.
- water barrier under the sink / plumbing, protecting your wood subfloor from moisture damage if your plumbing ever leaks or your sink overflows.
- if you're going with a built in dishwasher, no concerns about the flooring height creating problems for the dishwasher fit.
- if you're going with a ceramic tile floor, the additional height of the cement board, mortar and tile will steal almost an inch from your toe-kick, making it a little less broom and mop accessible when you clean.
- if you decide to remodel / rearrange in the future, and especially if you've chosen a ceramic tile floor that you like, you won't have to redo part or all of the floor.

One thing to note: If your floor is sloped or slanted badly, when they install your cabinets and level them, you may end up with shims and a gap on one end of your cabinet base - this should addressed with a properly cut & fit peice of wood or laminate on the toe-kick to cover any gap, or you could even tile the toe-kick to match the floor.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The comments about the dishwasher could be very important; tiling the complete floor before cabinets will avoid problems with removal and installation of the dishwasher, especially if the counter-top is unflexible hard surface like tile/corian/granite/etc. A laminate counter-top could be unscrewed and bent up a quarter inch or so if necessary, but If money is not a major issue, its better to just tile the whole floor. An added benefit is you won't wind up with a bunch of dirty cracking grout lines around the cabinets after a few years and it will just look better. If you do put the cabinets on top of the tile, make sure the toe kicks are trimmed out in some way that does not leave a bunch of gaps.

Good luck with your project!

Answer 3

If you do not put tile under the cabinets then make sure that the cabinets are installed at the finished height of the floor. If you have a built in dishwasher it will be difficult to get in or out if you intall cabinets first then tile up to them. This assumes you are using ceramic tile. If you are putting in vinyl tile it is much thinner and you can do it either way. Personally, I would shim up the cabinets in back and on sides and tile just under the front edge. Tile under stove, fridge and dishwasher. If you are using durarock backer it comes in 5/16" thickness, add 2/16th's for thin set mortar and measure thickness of the ceramic tile. I bet you come out to about 3/4".

Answer 4

if u install the tile after the cabinets r installed u will loose 3/4" of ur toe kick ( 1/2" backerboard or Duroc + 1/4" for tile) u can fur the cabinets up with a 3/4" board first and the toe kick will kill it off at the bottom.....another idea is to use ur chipped or damaged tile under ur cabinets to keep the cabinets flush with the tile floor.....

lic gen. contractor

Answer 5

I'd tile under the cabinets. That way if the kitchen is ever remodelled again, you won't have to worry about if the new fixtures cover the floor.

Answer 6

tile under the sides of the cabinets at least and under the stove, dishwasher, and fridge. that way the counters will all be at the same level and you can move the appliances easily. if you have leftover pieces you can fill in the open areas with the cut pieces. that's what i did in ours. good luck.

Answer 7

I would tile the entire kitchen including where the new cabinets will set. It wouldn't cost that much more and everything will be even including all your appliances.

Answer 8

Setting new base cabinets in a kitchen remodel – where floors are more likely to be uneven, and walls, floors and corners don’t meet at 90-degree angles – can present some challenges. Here are a few tips on how to install cabinets that should help you overcome most of them - See more at: http://www.miconstruguia.com/en/how-to-install-cabinets/

Answer 9

You don't need to tile under where the cabinets sit. (And why waste the money paying for that?) Just have the cabinets installed first, then have the tiler come.

Answer 10

Definitely tile under the sink.Under the sink is a famous spot for water leaks.If you don't tile under the sink,when you get a leak , the water will work its way under the tile & damage your floor