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
Just installed a floating vinyl plank floor with an island with an overhang. The overhang has 2 posts supporting the counter. Can I install the posts on top of the floor or should be cut out the area under the post?
Hi Krista! We would recommend you cutting out the area where those posts will be installed.
Hello. I’m in the middle of a master bathroom remodel. I am installing this type of flooring Aquaguard Bayport Grande Water-Resistant Laminate. I just was reading where you shouldn’t put heavy cabinets on this flooring. We are installing Windlowe 61 in. W x 22 in. D x 35 in. H Bath Vanity in Green with Carrera Marble Vanity Top in White with White Sink from Home Depot. It does have a granite top so it definitely will be too heavy to wall hang. But I am at a point where we could install it since we are several rows away from where the vanity will be. would this type of vanity be too heavy for that type of flooring? It is not a solid base bottom and does have feet that are a wide footprint. If it is recommended not to put it on the floating floor is there any suggestions since we’ve already put down and under floor layment. Thank you so much for your assistance. I am so happy I stumbled upon this great article!!
Hi Tiffany, thanks for the question. I am not familiar with this particular brand, but the advice should be the same no matter the brand. Your vanity should be fine on top of the flooring. Since the weight will be disbursed through 4 legs and it’s a small space, you shouldn’t have issues. Just be sure to put felt or coasters under the legs to prevent denting.
I am slowly remodeling a 6’x4′ bathroom. Currently it has a 34″ x 24″ vanity. I am wanting to replace the vanity in the near future but I am not sure as to the style yet. Can I install click lock planks wall to wall under the vanity as it is in a small room and expansion should not be as much of an issue?
BTW, the current vanity only sits on the floor on the right and left sides and is anchored to the wall. There is a drawer across the bottom with a small 1″ piece of wood across the floor which does not hold weight.
Hi Chris, thanks for the question. If the vanity is not bearing weight on the floor, then you can install under it. If you are installing a cabinet-like vanity, you will install around the cabinet.
We are building an apartment . Already we installed all the kitchen with the Luxury Plank Vinyl before the cabinets , island and appliances .
What I understanding we cannot do it because is a flooding floor .
Do we have any tip in this case already all the floor was installed?
Thanks for your help .
Hi Sonia, thanks for the question. My recommendation would be to just uninstall the vinyl where the cabinets will be installed. If you install the cabinets over the floor, you can risk buckling and other issues.
I am installing vinyl click flooring in a bathroom. The bathroom will have a 61″ vanity that weighs approximately 250-300 lbs. The vanity will not be bolted to anything, only affixed to plumbing. Can I place the vanity on top of the vinyl plank flooring or do I need to place the flooring around the vanity and come up with a way to hide the gap? If the vinyl needs to be placed around the vanity, would a bead of caulk work as a way to cover the gap as opposed to trying to modify the bottom of the vanity I just spent a good amount of money on?
Hi Rachelle, thanks for the question. Is it a vanity with legs or a solid bottom? If it has legs, just add disks or cushion under the legs to disburse the weight. It will be fine over the flooring. If it is more of a cabinet bottom, you will need to install flooring around it. If you do float around it, use a quarter round to cover the gap. Hope this helps!
A little of both…the front of the vanity has 2 legs, the back does not. Here is the vanity, sold by Lowes. Google for a visual.
Diamond FreshFit Palencia 60-in White Bathroom Vanity Cabinet
Nice vanity, Rachelle! You can float the flooring under this, as it will not be adhering to the floor.
We are installing the click lock floating vinyl flooring. It is going to be in our bathroom and we have 2 small kids who like to splash and play, thus at times water gets splashed out into the floor. Is the click lock floating flooring truly water proof? Or do we have to do something to it to make it water proof? And can we install the floor, and then the toilet? This way of the toilet leaks it’ll be over top of the flooring, not under? Thank you for any help!
Hi Katrina, thanks for the question. Vinyl is completely waterproof! You will need to seal the flooring around the tub and water-prone areas to prevent water from getting trapped underneath the flooring, which can lead to mold. For the toilet, yes you will install the floor first.
I know you said no kitchen cabinets on click n lock vinyl plank. But can you put the stove and fridge on top of the plank flooring
Hi Brenda, thanks for the question. Yes, you can put the stove and fridge on top of the floating floor. For the dishwasher, usually this is a built-in appliance like the cabinets, which is why we do not recommend adding it under here. I believe most dishwashers will just slide in under your countertop if you want to replace them.