Should you install flooring before or after kitchen units?

Consulting flooring services in Chester and other North West communities on whether to install floor finishes before or after kitchen units can turn up different results. Ultimately, which approach you take depends on multiple factors. Here we explore both options and their benefits and some questions to ask yourself when making a final decision.

Flooring before kitchen units

There are multiple gains to installing flooring before kitchen units. With no fixtures and fittings to work around, installations are smoother and simpler to complete. Choosing flooring first also offers design flexibility, as you can alter the layout of your kitchen at any point without needing to fit a new floor.

Laying your floor before units is best when you want to keep a seamless appearance for your kitchen. Running continuously beneath cabinets, complete flooring offers a flawless look with no gaps on show. This approach is especially suited to home installing permanent flooring like tiles and hardwood boards.

A final benefit is that flooring that extends to your exterior walls can reduce issues of damp and excess moisture in your kitchen.

Kitchen units before flooring

When you want to protect glue-down flooring from scratches and scuffs, fitting kitchen units first makes sense. As less flooring material is required, there are also cost savings involved in getting your units in earlier. Ease of future replacement is also an advantage as you can install fresh flooring without needing to disassemble your kitchen units. Some freestanding appliances like washing machines and refrigerators are better suited to installation on the subfloor rather than new flooring, as they are easier to pull out when repair or replacement is required.

Which option should you choose?

Before planning your kitchen refurbishment consider your needs and aims. If you want a permanent refurbishment and seamless aesthetic installing your floor first is a smart move but if you need to save money and protect the flooring your purchase, start by fitting units and add flooring afterwards. Finally, consider your future needs. If you’re likely to change your kitchen layout, install flooring before units, but if you want to update your flooring more, put your counters, cabinets and appliances in ahead of the floor installation.