Installing hardwood floors in a kitchen is a popular design choice, but the order of operations matters significantly. The best practice, according to NWFA, is to install kitchen cabinets before the hardwood flooring. Running the floor up to the base of the cabinets and covering the expansion gap with shoe molding or quarter-round trim is preferred. This method allows the floor to expand and contract freely under the cabinets. If you were to trap the hardwood underneath heavy cabinets, you would prevent this natural movement, which can eventually cause the wood to buckle in other areas of the room. There are instances where installing cabinets on top of the flooring might be done, specifically if you are trying to keep the final floor height level with other rooms. If you choose this route, it is vital that the floor is secured to the subfloor (typically via glue-down) and you accept that the floor cannot move. However, the preferred professional approach remains stopping the hardwood at the cabinet base. This protects the integrity of the flooring and makes future repairs or kitchen updates significantly easier, as you won't have to cut the wood to remove a cabinet.
Key considerations
- hardwood under cabinets
- installing kitchen cabinets on hardwood
- floor expansion under cabinets
- Kitchen
- Cabinets
- Installation