Greetings, (I am a full time BT Lurker)
I have seen some conflicting responses on whether or not to sand and finish wood floors before or after the kitchen cabs get installed. any advise on this topic is greatly appreciated.
thanks
Scott
Greetings, (I am a full time BT Lurker)
I have seen some conflicting responses on whether or not to sand and finish wood floors before or after the kitchen cabs get installed. any advise on this topic is greatly appreciated.
thanks
Scott
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Replies
You'll get a wide variety of opinions on this. I did it a year ago, and decided to install the hw floors, sand, seal, and apply 1st coat of finish, then install cabinets, then apply 2nd and 3rd coats of finish. It worked of great. The biggest concern was the the cabinet installers would scratch the floor, but they didn't - they covered it and worked carefully.
I would sand and finish the floor first. Having more "elbow room" and not having to deal with getting up to the edge of the cabs will ease the flooring job a lot more than protecting the floor will increase the difficulty of the cabinet job.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Edited 5/1/2006 1:54 pm by RichBeckman
thanks Rich and Bill too..
i agree with you both, mainly because I think the floor will come out better if they don't have to work around the cabinets, and I really want the entire floor covered with at least a couple of coats of finish. Though my "old school" father continues to tell me that the proper sequence is to sand and finish after cabinet installation...
Maybe this should be a two part question? 1 - what would you do in your own home? and 2- what would you do on a "job"?
lets see how some other BT'ers feel?
thanks again
Scott
Home or on the job, I'd do the same as was suggested--finish floors first, then install cabinets and do touch up. Lot easier not having to contend with toe kicks.
My own home.....I agree with Rich and Bill.
I disagree with all these guys.
I'd do the floor first.
I disagree with all these guys.
I'd do the floor first.
According to my understanding and comprehension, you agree with the previous post, not disagree.
Is this a remodel or a new build?
In either case, if you sand & finish before cabinets, that is gonna mean that you will be having not only the cabinet guys, but the plumber, electrician (for the disposal and dishwasher), trim guy - to install the rest of the base molding that goes up to the base cabs, painter will be doing more that that other wise, possibly the HVAC guy (for toe kick vents) all working on your newly finished floor. Maybe even a tile guy if you are going to have a tile backsplash and maybe even a granite contractor if you happen to be getting those type of counter tops and it is a separate contractor. Your plumbing final and elect final inspections will be able to pass until after the cabinets and floor finishing is complete. Further, you will be creating a second trip to site for at least some of these guys. Professional floor guys do not have trouble finishing up to the cabinets and under the toe kicks. They have special edge sanders, and that is just part of their job. And through all this you will be near to having an aneurysm worrying about weather the electrician is going to drop a screw that 4 other guys are gonna walk on and grind into your new floor.
At the very least, if you decide to go forward with finishing the floors first, get some of those blue booties you have seen at new home tours. Even those will be marginally effective, since someone is gonna go out to their truck to get another tool, or piece of material and not do the right thing.
All this just so that you can have the H/W floors sealed under the cabinets? Or, maybe you can tolerate a bit of damage on the new floor...
Just my real world experience.
I've done it one way about as often as the other, and still can't say which is better. Worrying about the finish adds a few grey hairs, but unfinished wood is vulnerable to stains. I once had to "coffee stain" a whole room of oak (took three pots) to match.
}}}}
A ding or scratch in a floor is a lot easier to repair than the potential damage your floor sanders can do to the new kitchen. I had 1 guy wreck a limestone counter with Early American stain once.
Now I normally finish the floors, cover the entire room in rosin paper, then cover everything except where the cabinets go with 1/8" masonite duct taped together.
The last one out picks up the masonite& paper, once over with a dust mop, done.
I agree with all of the above comments,
Thanks for the replys, I guese in this situation (as most in construction) there is more than one way to skin a cat. Each having their own set of pros and cons. But knowing I am not the only one helps.. bottom line a gut reno on your own home is gonna adds some grays...............
thanks
Scott
Two threads above this one, is an Aussie asking how to fix scratched floor tile. In 40 yrs. I never saw a kitchen where the flooring was laid first. Now all of a sudden I'm hearing floor first. I will not work over a finished floor unless the owner signs a waiver. The owner has to understand that a staple in my work boot, a dropped screwdriver or any other of a hundred things could scratch their floor. Most people don't want to spend the extra money for flooring that will never see the light of day. Later, when the floor gets replaced, and it will, cutting the existing floor out along the toe kick and other spots can be very difficult, especially tile or stone. The only reason I can see for placing the floor first would be if the flooring installer is incapable of fitting. I also have the customer sign off that the cabinets and counters are damage free when I leave. Too many times another sub will use the counters for a workbench. Working over a new floor, sanded or not, is too risky for my checkbook.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match