What is a Subfloor?
Subfloor is the flooring underneath the flooring, if you will. It is the strong middle layer of the finished floor that offers a structurally sound, flat surface to hold up the underlayment as well as the kitchen floor. Plywood is typically considered the best material for subflooring because of its strength.
Should You Install Kitchen Cabinets On Subfloor?
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question. There are several factors to consider when installing kitchen cabinets.
It is interesting to note that American kitchen cabinets are designed around the house, but the standard European kitchen is designed to allow new occupants to move in with their cabinets and appliances. This means Europeans are placing cabinets upon arrival. This is a big reason why Ikea makes what Ikea makes. Cabinets on legs don’t require a new floor to be installed.
Cabinets are usually bolted to the walls unless we’re talking about a kitchen island. Since your kitchen island is designed to sit directly on the floor and apart from any walls, online the other cabinets, it will have to be bolted down to either the subfloor or the finished floor, depending on which installation method you go with.
The look changes drastically based on your decision. Some people love the look of a “disappearing floor act,” while others prefer the more traditional aesthetic of shoe molding and toe kicks to compliment their kitchen flooring.
What kind of flooring you’re using should also play a big part in this decision because of the standard height for cabinets, which is 36 inches between your floor and countertops. Laminate flooring vs. hardwood, for example, will make a big difference.
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When to Avoid Installing Kitchen Cabinets on Subfloor
Do you see yourself doing some future remodeling any time soon? If the answer is yes, you will not want to have your kitchen cabinets attached to anything until after you get the flooring laid.
Installing your base cabinets to the subfloor means fitting flooring around the cabinets and kitchen appliances, which means you’re really stuck with one layout unless you’re also planning new floors.
Installing cabinets this way does not just mean you’ll be moving things around and bolting things down. It also means you will have to install flooring, which means you’ll be doing some detailed cutting. If you’re not comfortable with this kind of work, it may be best to make the flooring independent of the cabinets.
On the flip side, installing the cabinets on the subfloor increases the stability.
When to Avoid Installing Kitchen Cabinets on a Finished Floor
It is generally not recommended to bolt down your cabinets on finished flooring. Typically, kitchen cabinets are bolted to the wall.
If you’re looking at simply replacing the existing cabinets and not replacing all the kitchen flooring, it may not even be plausible to bolt the new cabinets to the current floor covering. If you have hardwood or tiled floors, you may not want to disrupt what you have.
Factors Affecting Where Kitchen Cabinets Sit on the Subfloor
Flooring Material Type
If you are choosing a solid hardwood or upscale tile option, you could safely install your cabinets on top of the flooring. These materials are hearty and withstand years of heavy use. They will have no trouble holding up to your cabinets.
That being said, vinyl or cheap flooring doesn’t hold up well to the weight of cabinets. They will often sag or bend, becoming unlevel and damaging your cabinets.
The thickness of the Flooring Material
As we already mentioned, the standard height between the floor and the countertop is 36 inches. If you’re going to install hardwood or heavy stone tiles, the cabinets should not sit on the subfloor since it will create the wrong height difference between the floor and the counters.
Some tile flooring and most laminate or vinyl flooring will retain the proper height between the two surfaces even if your cabinets sit on the subfloor.
Levelness of the Subfloor
Oftentimes contractors will consider installing the cabinets on the subfloor as a good investment because of how level they are. Level floors will help your cabinets last long and perform better.
However, not all subfloors are level. Some are distorted and warped, and you should not install the cabinets onto the subfloor if this is the case.
Style of Cabinet Base
Heavy cabinets often require more stability and support than standard kitchen cabinets. If your cabinets are very tall or robust, your may way to install cabinets on the subfloor instead of the finished flooring.
If the kitchen cabinets you’re installing are of a very intricate design, they will require a lot of detail work regardless of where your kitchen cabinets sit. However, laying the cabinets on the subfloor when they’re a unique shape or design will create a lot of extra work. It’s not impossible, but it is difficult.
Budget
Having your cabinets installed on the subfloor could potentially save you quite a bit of money on the flooring. If you’re doing tile, you won’t have to purchase as much tile. That goes for every other flooring material. It’s because you’re not laying flooring beneath the appliances and every single kitchen cabinet.
However, keep in mind that the contractor will have to work more hours to do the special cuts required to install flooring around appliances and kitchen cabinets.
Depending on how many appliances you have and how many cabinets you’re installing, it may be a fantastic way to save you money. However, be sure and check with the contractor to make sure he’s comfortable installing flooring with those kinds of restrictions.
Future Planned Renovations
Future remodeling plans could affect your decision about whether to install the cabinets on the finished flooring vs subfloor. However, if you don’t plan on changing the kitchen cabinet layout, it may not.
Without having new flooring installed, it is very hard to end up successfully matching color and stitching gaps between what has already been installed and what has yet to be. If you had your cabinets on the subfloor, that means the floors were laid around it, which means some patching will have to be done.
Having a tile floor could potentially be to your benefit in this situation because of all the seems that happen naturally when you lay tiles. However, something like hardwood floors will be harder to cover up.
If you don’t plan on changing the layout, it’s much more feasible to have the cabinets on the subfloor.
Get Professional Advice
Speaking with a contractor before deciding on a course of action could save you a lot of time and struggle. Even if your plan is to do the job yourself, you might consider consulting with someone. Their expert advice could potentially benefit you in ways you had considered or help you see things in a new light.
It’s best to research people in your local area and read reviews before placing a call, which is where sites such as Yelp and Angi can help. They will provide you with many avenues while keeping you feeling confident about your decision at the same time.