Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Kitchen Fitting

Tiling/Flooring Query

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 2.46 PM

Good Afternoon, We are in the process of replacing our L-shaped kitchen with a Howdens one. The oven will be integrated however the fridge and washing machine will continue to be free standing and moveable. We currently have wall tiles which follow the L shape and sit between the worktop and bottom of the wall cabinets. On the floor we have cork tiles on plywood which are in turn on the floorboards. We (and by that I mean the other half!) are in the process of deciding what wall tiles we want and whether we want floor tiles or laminate. A couple of people have suggested that we could have new the kitchen fitted and then fit the wall tiles and flooring at a later date once we have decided what we want. The advantage being we can see how everything looks first. The existing wall and floor tiles would be removed along with the old kitchen and I have been told that everything could be prepped ready for the new tiles/flooring. Depending on the condition of the plywood on the floor this may need to be replaced. Having never had a kitchen fitted I am not sure whether this suggestion is practical so I would appreciate some guidance. I would have thought it would be sensible to do everything all at once both from a cost and practical perspective (I get the impression replacing kitchens generates a fair amount of mess). However as the kitchen and new appliances are sitting in my lounge taking up space there is some appeal in just getting on with it! Thank you

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

5 Answers

Anonymous user

Hello Elmer_45, I feel you (and your other half) may prefer it, if the rest of your kitchen is fitted first. I've fitted a lot of kitchens over the years. Sometimes the customer's(other half's) aren't sure what things will look like until it's all nearly fitted. Especially when it comes to flooring, wall tiling (sometimes work top's, decoration etc). Apart from removing the plinths(and maybe the odd end panel) from your new kitchen to lay the floor, it doesn't really make much difference which way you do it, cost won't be any different. There is nothing worse than fitting a complete kitchen, floor wall tiling etc, and then the customer deciding to change it. You always risk damaging things that way, especially removing tiling etc. Kitchen fitting isn't too messy :) I suggest you just get on with it! Kind regards Mark

Answered6 January 2012

Interext Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goole

Hi, im darren from ds joinery. I have plenty of experience at fitting kitchens and in my experience there is nothing stopping you laying the floor ( tiles/ Laminate) afterwoulds, ideally i would leave the plinthes off and run the laminate up to the base cabinet legs then sit the plinthe on top, if you are doing the floor at a later date just fit the plinthes now ( not tight) then the floor fitter can then plane the plinthe down. Personaly when u have your kitchen fitted you just want it in as quick as possible and get back to normal. This way like you say you can take time in choosing the floor and do it at a later date. Also for the wall tiles it is allways easier to tile the splashback when you work surface is fitted and in place. Hope ive been of help to you Darren dsjoinery

Answered5 January 2012

Anonymous user

Like others have said not having the tiles and flooring to hand doesn't stop the installation of kitchen,To be honest if fitting vinyl or laminate i prefer to lay the floor towards the end of the job to avoid any damage. I usually leave the end panels and plinths till after floor laid and take the flooring to under the front legs so that when the plinths are fitted no edges are seen

Answered12 January 2012

Anonymous user

Like others have said there is nothing stopping you doing the floor and walls after. Walls are normal done after anyhow and tiled up from the worktop. But for the floor if this is done after you can only really tile just under the plinth or around 100 mm in. Once plinths are removed. The disadvantage of this is if you get a leak on and sink waste or any other integrated appliance the water will try to run under tiles also if tiles are layed on ply then this will become wet and can lead to rot of the ply if the leak goes not noticed for a long time. If the tiles are layed first it forms a barrier and also the water will run along grout line onto your visible floor. Does cost more in tiles but finished Job is better quality. But it all depends on customer preference. Hope this helps.

Answered8 January 2012

Anonymous user

Hi, Like previous contractor I prefer to lay any flooring after the kitchen is completed but do prefer to lay the sub-floor(usually ply)before fitting the units. This way if you have freestanding washing appliances you don't usually need to worry too much about height clearance between final floor finish and underside of work surface.

Answered6 February 2012