This entire post is about whether an installer should lay flooring under cabinets ( before cabs are installed ) or afterwords. In presenting arguments for both scenarios, it was suggested by me that if an installer install the flooring first, then the cabinets are installed on top of the floors, and a water leak and subsequent damage ensued, then properly removing all the damaged flooring would be difficult. After doing hundreds of kitchen water damage repairs to wood floors, rarely are any cabinets seriously damaged. Nor is the subflooring either. WHY? Because the cabs are installed on shims, feet, hold-offs and similar. The water typically drains down through the subfloor at some point and the cabs are not damaged, but not before soaking the wood flooring. Since subfloors are designed to be allowed to get wet and dry out and still perform fine, they are not usually damaged either. Not enough to warrant removal. So, in most water damage scenarios, all that is needed is to repair the leak, remove the water damaged portion of the floor, thoroughly dry out the subfloor and when fully dry, re-install new flooring.

If an installer were to install the hardwood UNDER the cabinets and that wood got wet, it would be a wet sandwich, creating the possibility of mold growth that the repair person could not get to without removing the cabinets and counters. I don't know about you but here, the custom build kitchens run into 6 figures. What is unacceptable is to create a problem that did not need to be created ( ei: install flooring under the cabinets ). Of course, if a restoration company stated the cabinets absolutely needed to be removed to allow the kitchen components to be repaired, then that is what would need to be done. But that is NOT the point of this post. The point is, what is better? Install the floors before OR after the kitchen cabinets? Now, make you argument for one way or another.

Here's a good illustration, does it make sense to sheet rock all your walls and then have your electrician come in and mount outlets and pull wire ? No , you do your electrical first then sheet rock after. It's the logical way to do it.And flooring in a kitchen is usually a similar situation.There are exceptions like floating floors perhaps as already mentioned

I've been in flooring for over 15 years and have done many homes in Greenwhich ,CT and a few in Manhatten and everywhere in between. Certainly not fly by night kinds of houses . Under normal circumstances, I can deliver the best possible floor (glue down or stapled)(unfinished or prefinished) when I install the floor first and in the case of an unfinished floor do all but the final coat until the kitchen is completely installed. Then I apply the final coat which takes care of any minor scuffs or shallow scratches.

Here's a few of the benefits:

-The base cabinets will be sitting on the flattest possible surface and might even require less shimming to be perfectly level.
-Far less chance of the flooring contractor damaging or scratching the cabinets.I'm careful in any instance.
-With unfinished flooring , there will be much less edging which will speed up the job.
-No hidden unfinished wood under cabinets.All the flooring will be finished and able to resist moisture better as well as spills.

Many builders and kitchen companies hate this because they have to be careful and conscientious . In over 15 years of installing and sanding/finishing floors , I have yet to see a water damage issue where cabinets had to be removed because the flooring extended under the cabinets. In every case, I have been able to correct the situation by having a plumber repair the water issue and then tackling the flooring portion through rip out and re install . But usually, re sanding corrects the problem 75% of the time

If a builder or kitchen company rigidly claims that flooring should be installed after the kitchen , no exceptions , then they are being evasive or dishonest.Maybe they are in a rush and don't feel like taking the time to let the flooring acclimate.

Well, here in Belgium, acording to the scope of work. The floor is install before the cabinets.
If the client want the cabinets before, to save on + - 8 - 10 M², the labour cost for installation in this situation will be 30% higher over the normal rate.
By this way I assure you that all the clients choose to do the flooring before.
I do kitchen installation too, I always have some plywood 4mm thickness 6x4 which are placed around, after having levelled all the base cabinets.
If it's tiling, do you think that you can tile after the kitchen. These type of questions here, people will take you for crazy.
OK let have some more interesting POST.

Hi.......!!
I'm completely redoing my kitchen including wall changes, new cabinets, countertop and lighting. I will be installing either prefinished engineered flooring or prefinished 3/4 flooring. (I'm still deciding which is better). Should I install the floor BEFORE OR AFTER I put the cabinets in? I get conflicting opinion from the cabinet and flooring retailers. The cabinet person says the floor goes in last and the floor person says the floor should be first. Also, my construction floor is 3/4 plywood. Do I need to tack on a 1/4" sheet of plywood before the finished floor as if I was installing a vinyl floor? HELP!!!

Put the floor in first, because when you install up to cabinets the last 3 rows of wood coming to the cabinets will be finish nailed instead of stapled because the gun wont fit, If the cabinets arnt in yet the finished nailed boards will be hidden under the cabinets. And no you dont add another layer of plywood, you're all set. Your cabinet guy doesnt want to have to protect the floor while installing. I would rather tighter boards just under my feet at the cabinets, especially where there could be a little water spillage here or there. Remember, the flooring will run across the joist pattern, if that doesnt look good for you , add the 1/4" plywood and that will give you an inch of subfloor allowing you to run the flooring the other direction.

Joe:

Good point. It's not something often mentioned...rarely. Also some installers will face/top nail the remaining rows where the floor nailer/stapler cannot reach.

Thanks for joining in:)

It depends on where the cabinets are... i generally would say it's better to have the hardwood down first for a few reasons... the install will look better overall, easier to sand, plus if you ever have the cabinets replaced down the road you don't have to worry about them being exact size.