The Eternal Remodeling Question
It is without a doubt the most frequently asked question we get from customers in the start-up phase: "Should I first have my new PVC floor laid, or should you come and install the kitchen first?"
The answer depends entirely on the type of floor you choose. According to structural standards, there is a strict distinction between floating floors and glued floors.
Floor Type vs. Order
| Floor type | Correct order | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Floating (laminate, click-PVC, wood) | Kitchen first | Floor needs room to expand |
| Glued (tiles, glue-down PVC, cast floor) | Floor first | Cannot expand/shrink, continuous finish |
Floating Floors (Laminate, click-PVC, wood)
Have you chosen laminate, parquet, or click-PVC that is laid floating? Then you always install the kitchen first.
Why the kitchen first?
A floating floor needs space to shrink and expand with temperature differences. An average IKEA METOD kitchen with a stone worktop, kitchen island, and built-in appliances easily weighs more than 800 kilos. If you place this enormous weight on top of a floating floor, you "pin" the floor down. The floor can no longer work and will inevitably bulge, buckle, or tear in the middle of the room.
How do you solve this? We place the kitchen on the bare concrete subfloor. Then you lay the laminate right up to the adjustable legs of the kitchen. You then close off the space under the cabinets with the kitchen plinth, which neatly floats over the laminate.
Glued Floors (Tiles, glue-down PVC, cast floor)
Have you chosen ceramic tiles, a cast floor, or glued PVC? Then you always lay the floor first.
Because these floors are glued rock solid to the subfloor, they cannot expand or shrink due to weight.
- Advantage: If you ever need to replace a dishwasher, or a panel under the kitchen gets damaged, you have a perfectly continuous finished floor under the kitchen, which is also easier to mop and catches water leaks better.
- Protection: Ensure that you cover the new cast floor or PVC perfectly with floor protector before our fitters go to install the heavy appliances to prevent scratches!
Need help planning your remodel? We assemble kitchens throughout the Netherlands. Check out our service area in Utrecht and surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I want to adjust my kitchen later, but the floor isn't underneath it?
If you have laid a floating floor around the kitchen and you decide years later to downsize the kitchen or change the layout, you will have a 'hole' in your floor. You will then have to add pieces of floor. With glued floors (which lie everywhere), you do have this enormous freedom.
Can a kitchen island be placed on a wooden floor?
Yes, but a kitchen island must be anchored. With a floating wooden floor, we often drill through the wood to attach the frame of the island to the concrete subfloor, so the wooden floor underneath can remain free to move.