Good point.
Browse Forums Kitchen Corner Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 21Jul 22, 2007 7:42 pm stonecutter1309 In our unit they tiled the entire floor then installed the kitchen. We only found out this when we removed one of the cabinets to install a dishwasher - it was nice and easy just to slide it right in. Good point. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 22Jul 22, 2007 7:45 pm Ruth Does everyone agree to put the kitchen or flooring in first? It can be done either way. But I believe its best to put the floor down first. There are less complications in the long run. It can also come down to supply of the materials and when your trades can do the work. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 23Jul 22, 2007 8:07 pm A friend wanted to change their kitchen and it involved moving one of the benches 150 mm further away from the main bench. In the original kitchen, the tiles were done after the benches so they thought about either putting in some other (contrasting) tiles where the gap would be or ripping out all the living area tiles and replacing them. They replaced them all. Had they had the flooring go down first and throughout, they would have saved themselves a lot of work and money.
I agree with cuttingedgecabinets, get the floor throughotut and then put the kitchen on top. It's what I will be doing unless I hear a compelling reason otherwise. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 24Jul 22, 2007 8:09 pm OK, the mist is clearing somewhat with the help of all your answers.
We are putting down tiles that are going to cost about $26 per sq. meter. My husband is going to do the tiling (he is really a capable chap), and it would take him so much longer to cut tiles to go around units. In this instance, his time saving is worth more than the saving on tiles. I agree that if there were to be a leak it would be more aparent if the water didn't hide behind the edge of the tiles. Kickboards are not expensive to replace. I also agree if someone in the future wanted to change the layout of the kitchen - even slightly - then the tiles to about 30 sq. m would have to be changed. Our cupboards and benchtops are going to be laminate, so the weight issue is not as imperative as it would be if we were opting for stone. I think it's going to be easier to demolish the existing kitchen, retile the entire floor space and then install the kitchen. It should be quicker and less fidilly and more versitile for the future for prospective buyers. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 25Jul 22, 2007 8:17 pm Ruth Kickboards are not expensive to replace. If the kitchen is done by a reputable manufacturer then they can be quite expensive to replace because they use a proper kickboard substructure. If they use the cheap and nasty plastic legs and a kick front plate then yes its not that expensive to replace. The plastic legs are quick and cheap but in my opionion dont give enough support. Also the way that most companys that use this system fit the front plate leaves alot to be desired. But I believe you are making the right descision to do the entire floor. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 26Jul 22, 2007 9:35 pm wasn't sure where to post this to you cuttingedgecabinets but i had a question after looking at your website. i love the first walk in robe on your website and was wondering (give or take) how much this would cost for a 2300 x 3500 room (total walk through robe ; ie 870 doorway in the middle of both ends to go from bedroom to ensuite).
sorry to hijack the post!! thanks in advance helen Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 27Jul 22, 2007 9:43 pm MaylandsManor wasn't sure where to post this to you cuttingedgecabinets but i had a question after looking at your website. i love the first walk in robe on your website and was wondering (give or take) how much this would cost for a 2300 x 3500 room (total walk through robe ; ie 870 doorway in the middle of both ends to go from bedroom to ensuite). sorry to hijack the post!! thanks in advance helen Hi Helen, no problems. PM sent. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 28Jul 22, 2007 10:36 pm thanks cuttingedgecabinets, much appreciated. will check PMs
Helen Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 29Jul 23, 2007 12:31 am Ruth (& all),
It has been interesting reading through the discussion here, and I've learned a bit in the process. I'm not a big fan either of the floating floors, as they can swell and cup if exposed to much moisture. Given your circumstances and cost constraints, I'd say tiles may be the way to go, especially if they must meet your other floating floors and the height should be similar. If you have tiles, I concede that laying the tiles before the kitchen may be the best way to go. I don't agree though in installing a kitchen over the top of any ABSORBENT floorcovering such as laminated floating floors. In the event of water damage, an absorbent floor will hold moisture for a long period, requiring the kitchen to be removed to get a water damaged floor up. If you go for ceramic tiles, remember the grout is what soils and stains. So, choose quality tiles that allow for a fairly narrow grout-joint. Using epoxy grout will give you a stain-resistant grout finish. Ash. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 30Jul 23, 2007 1:00 pm royalblue Ruth (& all), I don't agree though in installing a kitchen over the top of any ABSORBENT floorcovering such as laminated floating floors. . If you use the plywood based proper floating floor then its not Absorbent, I would not use the cheap MDF based flooring anywhere near a kitchen. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 31Jul 23, 2007 7:07 pm This is a real dilemma for me too.
We're doing solid timber floors separate from our builder. I'm thinking of a ceaserstone style benchtop that extends down on either side to floor level much like Michelle described earlier. Problem is the builder doesn't want the flooring to be done until after the kitchen is installed and almost everything is completed. So it looks like I won't be able to lay the timber underneath the kitchen and won't be able to install kickboards all the way around due to the stone benchtop design. I don't want the edging that you see in some places either. this is a real tough bind for us. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 32Jul 23, 2007 7:36 pm Not a problem with timber, you will always be able to match that down the track if you decide to revamp your kitchen.
But I agree with your builder, solid floor beneath such a weighty bench top. Everyone has different ideas on how to do things; this is the dilemma when building. There will always be conflicting ways and suggestions, I have seen it all done both ways and too me there isn’t much difference. I just worry about the floating floors, not real timber floors. Don’t stress over it, it will be fine. No you can’t have a kickboard with the stone running all the way to the floor……but would you want to? I don’t think you need a skirting or kickboard or edging on the stone. As for your kitchen kickboards, they should remain the same. To me you will have a nice look; I don’t see that you need to worry. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 34Jul 23, 2007 8:25 pm pasey25 This is a real dilemma for me too. We're doing solid timber floors separate from our builder. I'm thinking of a ceaserstone style benchtop that extends down on either side to floor level much like Michelle described earlier. Problem is the builder doesn't want the flooring to be done until after the kitchen is installed and almost everything is completed. So it looks like I won't be able to lay the timber underneath the kitchen and won't be able to install kickboards all the way around due to the stone benchtop design. I don't want the edging that you see in some places either. this is a real tough bind for us. In you position I would install the kitchen first without benchtops. Then have the floor put down and then have the benchtop installed. This way the benchtop sides that extend down to the floor actually sit ontop of the floor. It will make for a better fit and finish. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 36Jul 23, 2007 8:33 pm pasey25 I'll speak to my builder. their big worry is about hte floor getting damaged while they are working and being liable to fix it if something happens. This is usually the builders issue with installing the floor first. It makes it harder for them. They have to be more carefull. Its not hard to put some MDF cover sheets down to protect the floor. 3mm MDF is cheap as chips and protect well. Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 37Jul 23, 2007 8:35 pm No way would I let a builder try to fit any sort of flooring around a waterfall sided benchtop.
As CEC says, if the builder insists, put the cabinets in first and then get the tops done. If you are using Caesarstone the kitchen will need to be installed before they can come and make their templates anyway. Just to add my opinion, I would always prefer to have the floors in place beforehand - if you are using tiles you don't have to worry about getting the tiles cut up to the kicks, they just go underneath. And if you ever decide to change any aspect of your kitchen layout there will be no hassles about where there are and aren't tiles. In my experience the reason builders don't want to lay floors until after the kitchen is in are: 1) Less cost (less flooring) 2) Especially in the case of timber, they don't have to worry about the kitchen installer and plumber and electrician from scratching or otherwise damaging their nice new floor. Cheers, Earl Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 39Jul 23, 2007 9:32 pm Sorry I did read the thread but may have missed it should I put vinyl down first when doing a kitchen. I'm looking at a good quality Karndean one (either stone look tile or timber plank style) or similar. Is this floating floor? The vinyl may be used for a whole floor of a house so wouldn't want to replace it for a long time. It would be on masonite on concrete slab I assume.
Ta, Jola Re: Flooring or kitchen fitting, what comes first? 40Jul 24, 2007 11:42 am jola Sorry I did read the thread but may have missed it should I put vinyl down first when doing a kitchen. I'm looking at a good quality Karndean one (either stone look tile or timber plank style) or similar. Is this floating floor? The vinyl may be used for a whole floor of a house so wouldn't want to replace it for a long time. It would be on masonite on concrete slab I assume. Ta, Jola No this isnt a floating floor. Floating floors are usually 10-12mm think either MDF or plywood backed usually with timber on top. If your just putting vinyl down then I would sugest doing it after the kitchen is installed. 1000000% definitely add insulation. I have in my home and it makes a big difference minimising sound transfer. Insulation is pretty cheap and definitely worth it 2 6191 Engineering timber is certainly a less fuss option, times cheaper to supply and install and better withstands humidity. 1 15907 Hi there, I'm a conplete newbie to this, but I'm looking to put a floor down in my 6x9m shed. It's currently sitting on a 100mm thick concrete perimeter (dirt floor… 0 6467 |