We often get asked if vinyl flooring can be installed under cabinets. Well, the answer isn’t cut and dry. The two most common installation types of vinyl plank flooring is Click-Lock or Glue-Down installation. Depending on which you install, you may be able to install under cabinets.
Click-Lock Installation
If you are installing click-lock vinyl plank flooring, you should NOT install under cabinets. Since your floor will be floating on the subfloor and connected solely by the locking system, it needs space to expand and contract with temperature changes. If you install heavy cabinetry such as kitchen cabinets on top, it will inhibit the floor from expanding and contracting, and can lead to issues such as buckling and damaged locking systems. As for furniture, it is okay to have furnishings on top of your floor. Invest in felt pads to attach to the bottom of your furnishings so any movements do not damage your vinyl plank flooring.
By installing the flooring after cabinets, it will also be easy to uninstall and re-install if any leaks happen, or a design change is needed.
If you already have click lock vinyl flooring installed and do not want to uninstall in areas where cabinets will go, you can opt for floating cabinets that do not put weight on the floor. These are especially popular in bathrooms and laundry spaces!
Glue-Down Installation
If you are installing glue-down vinyl plank flooring, it is okay to install under cabinets. Since the planks will be glued down to the floor, they will not contract and expand with temperature changes. If you are working with an empty space, it is most definitely easier to simply lay the entire surface without complications and later install cabinets such as kitchen cabinetry. As for furniture, it is okay to have furnishings on top of your floor. Invest in felt pads to attach to the bottom of your furnishings so any movements do not damage your vinyl plank flooring.
Are you thinking about installing vinyl in your kitchen? Have more questions? Write them in the comments below and we would love to help you!
Learn More:
- What mm thickness do I choose when I buy vinyl flooring?
- How Should I Prepare for my Vinyl Flooring Installation?
- Can I put vinyl plank flooring over vinyl sheet flooring?
73 comments
We just installed vinyl plank flooring in our bathroom, and we bought a vanity that has legs. So the floor will be visible under the vanity. The floor was put in as a floating floor, should we take it out, redo and glue it down? The vanity is not returnable. I’m trying not to panic right now.
Hi Larissa, thanks for your question! If it is not a bolted down vanity, you should be fine to install over the flooring. Be sure to use disks under the logs to help prevent denting of the flooring.
What about a bathroom vanity? We are redoing our half bath and we are using a vinyl plank floating floor. Can I put our 30″vanity with granite counter top on top of the floor? Our bathroom is 3’x8′ with the vanity on the 3′ side.
Hi Lisa, if it is a built in vanity and cabinet, you should not install it over the vinyl. Anything that is very heavy can stop the vinyl from being able to float freely.
I have excercise equipment , what should I put under the legs? Rug or rubber matts?
Hi Sue, thanks for the question. I would be careful with rubber mats, as they can discolor the floor. You should be able to find coasters or disks that you can put under the legs.
Hi, I am installing flooring in the kitchen, is it OK to run it underneath the oven?
Hi Tracy, yes you can install the flooring under the oven and other appliances, just not under the cabinets.
I am going to get new cabinets installed and have bought a click vinyl floor. We are trying to decide between gluing vs floating. Ideally we would like to have the cabinets on top of the floor to avoid the less than ideal appearance of trim at the bottom of our cabinets and we know that you cannot do this on a floating floor… But is it possible to just glue down the planks where the cabinets will go and then float from those glue down pieces for the rest of the kitchen?
Hey Jennifer! That is a great question. Unfortunately if you glue one part of a room, you have to glue all of it. This is because the planks that are not glued would have nowhere to move as they expand, and would then cause the floor to buckle. I hope this answers your question!
I have been told by flooring store owners that cabinets can be placed on a COREtec flooring, but I am reading differently, I am replacing kitchen Cabinets and flooring. Would prefer to go under but which is best? Alliances will be on top of the flooring . Confused
Hi Ken, thanks for the question. If you are installing COREtec as a floating floor, you will need to install cabinets first and have the flooring outline the cabinets. They should not go under the cabinets, as it will restrict the ability to float properly. If you are gluing vinyl down, you can place it under the cabinets. In my opinion, installing glue down vinyl under the cabinets is just a waste of money, considering it will not be seen and is unnecessary for under the cabinets. I hope this helps!
I’m remodeling my downstairs and i have vinyl plank locking floors going in. I don’t want to put my cabnets on concrete what should i use under the cabnets and could i put the vinyl planks under the appliances?
Hi, Sandra! Very good question. We do not recommend putting click-lock vinyl flooring under cabinets as the floating floor needs to be able to expand and contract. However, you can put appliances (fridge, washer/dryer, etc.) on top of the vinyl plank flooring. Putting cabinets directly on the concrete is the best option for your cabinets and for your flooring. The concrete provides a stable surface for the cabinets to be placed on. If you have any other questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-520-0961!