*Kitchen Cabinet Install: Before or After Tiling*

[kah22]

I'm in the final stages of finishing my new kitchen: tiles, kitchen cabinets and furniture and I'm ready to go.

But should I tile BEFORE or AFTER . I'm putting down wood effect ceramic tiles.

The arguments for tiling BEFORE would seem to run you have a more even floor. If there is any problems it is much easier to fix, the cabinets and other kitchen furniture will sit more evenly.

The AFTER argument would seem to be entered around cost. Why till from wall to wall when you'll not see the tile. With an expensive tile you could save a few hundred pounds.

My own preference would be wall to wall, especially as there will be an island in the kitchen centre and I can see difficulties fitting these tiles properly around an island. I can't see the floor been re-tiled for many, many years to come!

HOWEVER, as a Money Saver I'm thinking that by installing the kitchen first and then the tiles I might save the greater part of the tiler's wage!

I appreciate there is no right or wrong way to do this but I'd like to here personal opinions from those faced with the same decision and why they opted the way they did? If there was a next time would you do it differently. My own attitude is that it is do the best job you can now for it won't be done again in a hurry.

Tile first, I was of the opinion of only tiling around ( think of costs!) but that is what had been previously done in our kitchen and because of this the stupid cow previous owner had not realised that the back of her dishwasher had been leaking for years because all the water had been soaking up straight into the floor - leaving us a floor and joists to replace! - and the need for a new kitchen! If the kitchen had been completely tiled then the water would have run out onto the tiles and she would have realised!
Also gives a nice even surface to work on.

Ours was tiled after - the tiles were laid to go under appliances (not integrated). Depends how much money you've got.

Before stops woodlice getting thru gives a neater look and for us saved money as the kitchen fitters job was easier and quicker.

Before....definitely!

We are currently redoing our kitchen and it is made so much easier by the fact that the tiles were previously laid on the entire floor so the kitchen was fitted on top. The tiles are really nice and so we are keeping them and simply changing the layout ,new units etc. Think of the big picture!

Thank you for your comments to date. My preference would be to run with tiling the whole floor and that's the way most of you seem to be thinking. Here is an example of the TILE
I'm looking at, not the exact one but the price and style are the same.

I would expect to get a decent discount as my nephew is a small builder and has dealt with this firm in the past on a business basis

Here are my kitchen PLANS There does seem to be quite an area covered by the kitchen cabinets and the island and really that is my concern at the moment. I wonder if covering the extra floor is going to be worth the additional cost

Let me know what you think

Kevin