Should flooring be installed before or after new kitchen cabinets?

Install flooring before cabinets in most cases - this creates a continuous, professional look and makes future cabinet changes much easier without leaving gaps or requiring flooring patches.

The standard sequence for kitchen renovations is flooring first, then cabinets. This approach allows the flooring to run continuously under the cabinets, creating a seamless appearance and protecting the subfloor completely. When you eventually replace cabinets years down the road, you won't have exposed subfloor or mismatched flooring where the old cabinets sat.

There are a few exceptions where cabinets go first. Heavy stone countertops on full-height cabinets sometimes require this approach to distribute weight properly across the subfloor rather than the flooring material. Some contractors also prefer cabinets-first with certain tile installations to avoid potential cracking from cabinet weight, though proper subfloor preparation typically eliminates this concern.

In Ottawa's market, most licensed flooring contractors recommend the flooring-first approach, especially with today's durable materials like luxury vinyl plank, engineered hardwood, and porcelain tile. The key is ensuring your subfloor is perfectly level and structurally sound before any installation begins. Your cabinet installer will need to account for the finished floor height when measuring and installing cabinets.

Coordinate timing carefully between your flooring contractor and cabinet installer. The flooring needs time to acclimate (especially hardwood and laminate), and you'll want to protect the new floors during cabinet installation. Most professional installers will use protective coverings and take extra care around fresh flooring.

For a free consultation on your kitchen flooring project and proper installation sequencing, Ottawa Floor Install can coordinate with your other trades to ensure everything flows smoothly.