Floating Floor Under Cabinets
My name is matt capell and i am the owner of capell flooring and interiors in meridian idaho.
Floating floor under cabinets. The proper installation would be to install the cabinets and then install the flooring around the cabinets. If it s a modular kitchen with standalone cabinets or it s a kitchen at ground floor prone to termite attack or water moisture then it should go under cabinets. A new kitchen remodel may bring in smaller or larger units and they may be placed in different positions.
To cut down cost under counter flooring can be little sturdy low cost but must be strong high density. Another benefit of installing the floor first will be possible design changes at a later date. Installing the cabinets on the flooring could bind the floor due to the weight of the cabinets.
Remodeling a kitchen is a costly home renovation in addition to being a time consuming endeavor. If you install heavy cabinetry such as kitchen cabinets on top it will inhibit the floor from expanding and contracting and can lead to issues such as buckling and damaged locking systems. Since your floor will be floating on the subfloor and connected solely by the locking system it needs space to expand and contract with temperature changes.
A minimal gap should be left between the flooring and the cabinets. One trick i use is to install nylon chair glides on the underside of the base cabinets. Floor covering or finish flooring is the surface that you see and walk on not the sub floor and not an underlayment.
Wood flooring can enhance the look of any area in a home. This could cause the floor to come apart. I have installed dozens of floating floors and cabinets.
A floating wood floor has to be free to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity and it can t do that with heavy cabinets resting on top of it. The floor covering will be cut to size and almost butted against the cabinets. Unless there are severe changes in the relative humidity the floor will not move very much and kitchen cabinets can be installed directly on the flooring.
With the floor running under the entire area gaps will not appear as they will be by installing the flooring after the cabinets. My company and i want to be your flooring store and i like to give you flooring tips about carpet.