Is there a definitive answer to which should go in first - kitchen or flooring?

[NYPDSue]

I was told flooring first then kitchen.
My friend has been told kitchen then flooring.

So whose builder is right?!

[antimatter]

flooring of course!
don't let your builder not to put tiles under your units

[bookgirl1982]

I used to deal with insurance claims and it was always a nightmare if there had been a leak and the tiled floor was under the cupboards as the whole lot would have to be removed. So kitchen first, then floor!

[AlternativeTentacle]

What would your kitchen be doing, floating? Flooring first.

[Mehfruittea]

I don't know, but if the floor is fully tiled, it's much easier to get your appliances in and out to clean behind them.

[magicstar1]

We got the tiles down first then the kitchen, but made sure there are no pipes under the floor.

[WidowTwonky]

We're doing kitchen first

[antimatter]

if there had been a leak and the tiled floor was under the cupboards as the whole lot would have to be removed.
the whole lot of what needed to be removed?

[plannedshock]

Kitchen first. Otherwise you will pay a fortune for something you will never see!

[MrsBadger]

Kitchen first but don't put the kick boards on.
Then floor.
Then kickboards.

[DramaAlpaca]

We did what MrsBadger did - kitchen units, then floor tiles, then kickboards. We continued the tiles under where the appliances were going to go so they are easy to pull out.

[QuitMoaning]

We asked this very question last night to our builder and they said same as MrsBadger.
They said it was also a risk damaging the floor when the kitchen was being fitted. We are having Karndean if that makes a difference as it might be floor first if it is a stone floor.

[AddToBasket]

Flooring first.

[shushmonster]

Kitchen in first with kick boards off, then flooring in so it goes just under the units. The stands for the units should be far enough back to allow the flooring to go so far under the units when you put the kick boards on they will be on top off the flooring. That way if you have flooring issues your kitchen units do not have to be disturbed. Hope this makes sense.

[shushmonster]

Ah fuck should rtft yeah what Mrs Badger said

[FinallyGotAnIPhone]

Carpet shop man and builder both told me the flooring (LVT) would be more expensive if I put it in before the kitchen you're putting floor on bits you don't see, plus there would be a risk of damaging new floor when putting kitchen in. Mine is going in after the kitchen.

[bojorojo]

Depends on the flooring and if you are a cheap skate! Stone, tiles or wood need to be first. Other flooring won't matter if it's later. You cannot put stone, wood or tiles down under cupboards that are already fitted! You can push a bit of vinyl underneath easily.

[Lesley1980]

We did flooring last just because It took me so long to pick it.

If you put down stone or something thicker you can trim the kickboards.

[notangelinajolie]

Floor.

[PigletJohn]

Full flooring first.

The builders will be gone long before you drop a bottle of milk on the floor, and it runs under the appliances and units.

Kitchen flooring is designed to be impervious to milk, cat pee and ants.

If the flooring is cut like a patchwork around your units and appliances, you will find it difficult to rearrange them without leaving bare patches.

If you use a thick flooring such as tiles you will find it very difficult to lift appliances over the step when they need mending or replacing.

[Kokusai]

Also if you do Kitchen > tiles > kickboard then the unit heights won't actually be as high as you were expecting, likly to then be a tight fit for a DW or WM to fit under the counter.

[leighdinglady]

If you don't tile under the cabinets they'll be about a cm or so shorter than they should be. That means you won't be able to fit your washing machine etc. Also they risk being on a slant with their front front up on tiles and the back end lower on bare ground

[wowfudge]

Funny - never had that issue when we had a past kitchen floor tiled after the units were fitted. The tiling was all the way under the appliances and up to the cabinet legs elsewhere hidden by the plinths. I've never known anyone change a fitted kitchen layout unless they were re-doing the whole thing. Also, you are paying for materials and labour for something you will never see or stand on if the entire floor is done before any units are fitted.

Each to their own, but with many flooring types you will find that areas not exposed to light or walked over will look different from the rest of the floor when exposed anyway.

[NYPDSue]

LOL! Clear as mud! I will talk to my flooring guy (he's independent from builder) and see if he has an opinion.

[wowfudge]

Speak to your kitchen fitter too - you will find they have different opinions!