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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Which First? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1085171413 Message started by Windy Miller on May 21^st, 2004, 9:30pm

Title: Which First?
Post by Windy Miller on May 21^st, 2004, 9:30pm

Hi Guys - I'm refitting the kitchen, and laying laminate flooring. Should I fit the flooring around the new units, or fit the units on the new flooring? What's the 'proper' way to do this?
Cheers
Windy

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by big_all on May 22^nd, 2004, 12:56am

definatly fit the floor first
if you dont youve got to cut round units

lay in alcoves for cooker fridge w m �d w

freezer �t d ect with quadrent infills

you may also have to cut the bottom of

the plynths

if you try and cheat and only floor just inside

alcoves for white goods you wont pull them out
easily cos the step [will also ruin the edge

please dont use cheepo laminate the edges will
blow and look poo in no time if you dont keep it
bone dry

aim for 15 year laminate you may get away with
10 year[gareenteed] laminate
but none will gtee in kitchen or bathroom
but you must mop up spills quickly
[the cheeper the quicker]

and click type although more expensive
is worth the extra cost
fitted in half the time ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by coggy on May 22^nd, 2004, 8:39am

IMHO i would fit the kitcken first.

This is just my choice because you might want to change the floor in a couple of years and dont want to start messing with the kitchen units.

Also the floor could get damaged if you put it down first and then fitting a kitchen on top, if you drop and tools or scrape the laminate etc.

It is easy enought to fit the floor to the units, and just run quadrant round the plinths to cover the expansion gap, which means it does not have to be a great fit anyay.

Like Big All said, i would go right into alcoves for washing machines, cookers etc. If you don't it does not look right and also if you need to slide them out for any reason, the legs get stuck on the step where the floor finishes.

Hope this helps

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by woodsmith on May 22^nd, 2004, 9:04am

This is good we are getting like the sparkies; ask a simple question and get two different answers ;D

As I have casting vote I think......

They are both right.

For me it would depend on the layout of the kitchen, if it is reasonably sized with variously place appliances I'd go with Big All, it is easiest to fit the floor first (when all the services are done and the units are just about to go in). It doesn't cost too much extra.

But if it is a big room with fitted units all along one wall for instance, like coggy, I wouldn't fit the floor under the units, just up to the legs of the units, then trim the plinth to fit.

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by HandyMac on May 22^nd, 2004, 10:08am

Actually, adding my five penneth to the debate......

If there is any need of floor preparation (for example screeding or underlaying with plywood) then do that first, add the kitchen units, then laminate.

An advantage of kitchen units is that you can take out the kickboards before laminating, then trim the kickboard to allow the expansion gap under. Bit more difficult at the end of the unit though.

Andrew

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by Windy Miller on May 22^nd, 2004, 10:40am

Great response - Cheers Guys!
You have covered all my thoughts and questions, so I think I'll fit the plain units (white carcasses) first, but without the wood coloured end panels or the plinths. Then slap the flooring down, and afterwards fit the rest of the bits to the units.
Thanks for the advice Guys.
Windy

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by big_all on May 22^nd, 2004, 12:09pm

just another thought

if the units have fixed plinths
[part of the structure]
it would of course be easier to cut a
bit off before instilation

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by ROBBO on May 22^nd, 2004, 10:34pm

Dont listen to them eejits windy ...... dont bother with laminate everyone has that, get yourself some nice Italian hand crafted marble and go at it with a hammer and cold chisell, your a plasterer you can do anything you put your mind to. ;D ;D ;)

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by Windy Miller on May 24^th, 2004, 9:37pm

Cheers again for all the advice Guys - looking at it all again, it will be just as easy either way. I have made the decision to fit the units first based on the simple fact that I have already collected the units, but the not the flooring yet!
Robbo - thanks for the vote of confidence Mate, the Italian marble would look really cool, but the budget won't stretch that far at the mo! By the way I really appreciate you calling me a plasterer though! 8) I can't really claim to be a spread yet as I am very new to the game but cheers anyway!
Windy

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by ROBBO on May 24^th, 2004, 9:51pm

I think we would all have to spread a few walls, spark a few houses or plumb a good many rads before any of us adorn our kitchens with Italian marble mate....... unless you are rabbit rabitt, his whole house is made of marble & gold I hear ;)
Good luck with the spreading, if I can ever be of any guidance you know where to find me.

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by Dewy on May 24^th, 2004, 11:09pm

wrote on May 22^nd, 2004, 10:34pm:

If you break a bit too much with the hammer & chisel you could make it a mosaic floor then your friends will be green with envy. ::)

Title: Re: Which First?
Post by big_all on May 24^th, 2004, 11:43pm

now could this item not be condenced down

for a"[glb] how to [/glb]"item

with some fitting tips added