Should I have my dishwasher removed and reinstalled if I put down vinyl self-adhesive tiles in the kitchen?

Question

I just want to make sure there won't be a problem when I replace the dishwasher sometime in the future. Would the 1/8th inch thickness of the tile be enough to make it difficult to remove the dishwasher when it needs replaced? I will have the expense of a plumber if the tile has to go under the dishwasher.

Answer 1

I had to remove my dishwasher for repair after the kitchen floor had been re-tiled. I certainly wished the tile layer would have gone to the extra effort to tuck 1 thickness of tile under the stabilizing legs to make it easier to slid out.
And no, you will not have to go to the expense of a plumber. Remove the lower panel and turn the stabilizing legs up enough to get the tile under them. Turn the stabilizing legs down after you get the tile in place and replace the kick panel. You don't have to pull the whole dishwasher out.

Answer 2

when we remodeled our kitchen i ran the tiles all the way under the d/w. if your dishwasher was installed correctly, you should be able to remove it without a plumber. there should be; a few screws and brackets mounting it to the counter top, a clamp connecting the drain hose to the dishwasher or sink drain, a hose to a shut off valve on the hot water line under the sink, and either a cord or wire hooking power to a connection under the d/w. the screws and clamp are self explanatory, and the fill hose will have a nut connection that just unscrews. if you are lucky, the power cord will plug into an outlet, if it is hardwired, a cover will need to be opened, and then the wires will need to be unhooked. even if this is the case, it should be no harder to do than changing an electrical outlet. obviously you would turn off the power and the shut off valve before you started any of this work. also, the power cord and hoses are likely long enough to allow you to slide the d/w out to work on it easily. depending on how old the d/w is, this might be a good time to replace the hoses for insurance against any leaks. the cost would be cheaper than any water damage if one were to leak. and consider a handyman instead of a plumber, especially if you will need them for a second trip to hook the d/w back up after you tile. good luck, i hope this helps.

Answer 3

In Australia dishwashers can be slid forward without the need for a plumber or electrician.

the water and electric and drain connections should be in the cupboard next to the dishwasher. if you tile and don't tile under the dishwasher it can be a problem moving it after ward.

Laurie
Electrician since 1960

Answer 4

You should be able to pull the dishwasher out without any problems and tile underneath. I doubt that and 1/8th inch will make a difference at all.. Good luck

Answer 5

I put down self-adhesives in the laundry room over an old wood floor. Used a primer, and still in the end had to use an adhesive for self-adhesive tiles. Found out since then that this happens rather often. Makes me wonder about the "self" part. Yes, there truly is such a named product. Got mine at Lowes. Just something to keep in mind, in case.

Answer 6

YES