I want to re-do my kitchen...?

Question

My question is what do I do first, have floor installed or purchases the appliances first?

Answer 1

I can be done either way, but it's always been a pet peeve of mine to see a floor laid after the appliances are set.

Why? For one it's tough to pull out a fridge, stove and dishwasher for service and cleaning with the appliance sitting below the new finish floors level. If it's tile you're certain to crack the tiles at this edge when doing maintenance and cleaning. It's also a great place for debris and bacteria to develop and reside.

Most importantly it's simply not a proper or professional installation; besides there's no real savings here in material or time. If an installer said to me it was extra to lay those areas I'd run them off the job. In new kitchens where I'm installing new cabinets, I tile the whole floor before setting cabinetry, including under the cabinets; it just looks better and it avoids there being this potential 3/8" to 1/2" retention pond beneath the cabinetry due to spills or a future plumbing leak.

Best Regards,

Mike Lonergan
TradesProfessional, Inc.
http://www.tradesprofessional.com

Answer 2

In a kitchen remodel the first thing I would do of course is set the plan to paper, down to the knob on the cabinets.
If you are putting in new cabinets and appliances, I would first do the ceiling, then the walls, so if it drips or whatever it is not on the new floor. Next, If new lighting goes in, then I would put in my flooring, appliances, cabinets, then go from there....sounds exciting!

Answer 3

Trades Professional has it right. We are having a new home built and the hardwoods are finished under where the dishwasher and refrigerator will be going. We are doing a countertop range so there isn't an issue there but if we were putting in a floor unit, it also would have been placed on top of the hardwoods. You wouldn't want them to be below your other flooring for the reasons he mentioned and so aren't done so.

Answer 4

If you are doing expensive flooring such as Italian tile, you want to do the floor first. In the event that you make any changes, the floor will last forever, then the cabinets, then the drywall man, paint, then appliances
I finished mine two weeks ago, and I am very happy with it.
Take your time and do it like you want it.

Answer 5

floors are almost last, appliances should at least be ordered and diamensions known before any cabinet mods.painting then assembling cabs install built ins, flooring ,final appliances then base boards( unless your tileing, base before tile and grout up to them.

Answer 6

a good floor guy can work around appliance, also, the longer you have the floor down, the longer it has a chance to get scratched when big, ackward, heavy appliances get brought it. call some floor guys and ask their preferance.