Want hardwood floors in kitchen...but want to keep?

Question

existing appliances and cabinets. Good idea or not?

We plan on replacing appliances next year, and cabinets in 2-3 years.

Ideas? Suggestions? Can't do all at once as we first thought.

Answer 1

Well it seems like it would make more sense to do at least the cabinets and floors at the same time, because you may need to take out the existing cabinets in order to complete the flooring and if you're going to the trouble of putting cabinets back in, it may as well be the new cabinets. Appliances should be easier to remove and reposition. However, you might want to think about doing it all at once since you might decide on say a larger refrigerator or adding in another appliance, and if that's the case you'll want to choose cabinets that fit in with the appliances you choose.

By the way, if you are worried about real wood flooring being expensive/hard to take care of, you might think about laminate. Looks like wood and is easier to take care of.

Answer 2

Shouldn't be a problem as long as your cabinets are standard size. Just do your floors and have them butt against the cabinets. When you replace your cabinets, they will fit in the same space. Appliances - ditto

Answer 3

That should not be a problem, as long as the new cabinets fit the profile of the old ones, or you just reface the old ones.

Though prefinished hardwood floors have better abrasion resistance, since this is a kitchen you may want to put down an unfinished floor because when you stain and poly it, all the cracks and crevices will be filled. This will help prevent water damage. Realized over time gaps will open as the wood expands and contracts.

I have seen people use laminate wood flooring, but I don't recommend it for kitchens or bathrooms because it is highly susceptible to water damage. One person used it against my advice, and now they have water damage on the floor by the dishwasher, after only 3 years.

Answer 4

It's doable, but some cautions:

1) Buy extra flooring if you want to change your layout when you replace your cabinets.

2) If you have to repair or replace your current dishwasher, the added height of the wood floors in front of it could make getting it out of its spot difficult.

3) Wood floors typically go under refrigerators.  If you're tight to the ceiling or cabinet above it now, the extra height could create a fit issue.

4) When you remodel the rest of the kitchen, you risk damaging your new wood floors.  (Again, buy extra!)

5) If you buy what you love and believe will look great with your future style plans, it may not work well with what you've got today.  (That 2-3 years might seem very long indeed!)

Good luck with your project.

Jamie

http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/

www.jgkitchens.com

Answer 5

For kitchen floor i think marble or granite is better, because if you apply hard wood for maintenace is dificult and a lot of stain

on the wood.

Thanks - http://www.asesidea.com

Answer 6

I think tile goes better with wood cabinets. Too much wood kind of ruins the effect in my opinion. Whatever you choose, buy enough to fill any floor left exposed when you change the cabinets. Just in case you don't do the base units exactly the same.