Kitchen Floor Tiling

[kayone]

I'm having a new kitchen fitted and was wondering whether I should tile the whole floor before the kitchen is fitted or tile up to the units after they have been fitted!

[B00]

We're doing the latter.

[ummmm]

Ours was tiled after.

[tonyav]

You could do either, however the kitchen fitters could knock your new tiles about if you tile before the kitchen is fitted !.

[ummmm]

And plus you could end up tiling areas that don't need to be tiled.

Our floor tiles cost nearly as much as the kitchen.

[carrust]

No need to tile the whole floor. Tile say 6" past where the units are going to be situated. You wont get akward cuts round the unit dividers then.

[gness]

As Tony says, to protect the floor I would tile afterwards. Remove the kickboards and you will be able to tile a good way under the units after fitting. That way you wont have a join at a vulnerable point. x

[Old_Geezer]

Either. Fit first makes the tiling cheaper. Fit after tiling means that, when the next person who wants to replace the units and swop them around takes a look, they don't hold their hands up in horror at seeing the extra floor tile replacement work that may be necessary. I prefer floor tiling first as I see that as doing the job properly.

[The Builder]

I have to say that I would tile the whole floor first if it's a completely new installation.
There's nothing wrong with tiling up to the plinths, or even taking them up and tiling a few inches beyond. Both methods are fine for vinyl and very thin tiles.

The problems start with modern floor tiles which are often 9mm thick.
With the adhesive bed, this can be 12mm - half an inch!

It wouldn't be the first time that someone has tried to cram a free-standing fridge or dishwasher under the worktop, only to find it's now too tall :o(

[SlackAlice]

I'm with The Builder.
Tile floor first then fit the units. Almost fell foul of leaving sufficient clearance to fit the white goods. Our kitchen floor had to be levelled a bit and with the extra depth of tiles/adhesive would not have had the clearance.

[Old_Geezer]

Surely builder it should always have been too tall ? Tiled under untis or not, the fridge/dishwasher stands on the same level as the untits ?

(Ah... unless you mean the units are on the floorbaords but the space between them for the fridge/dishwasher was tiled, in which case someone didn't plan ahead.)

[The Builder]

Yes, that's it OG. What I should have added was.......... since it's a new installation, then the units could easily be fitted with the legs wound up to give extra clearance.
Roughly speaking - setting the worktop height at say, 915mm instead of 900mm.
Then tiling could be done after fitting units, and there would be clearance.

I can guarantee that, somewhere down the line, alterations may be needed. With a whole floor tiled, there won't be any patching up to do.... and discovering the tiles are no longer available.

Not a huge point. Just good practice, that's all.

[tonyav]

Builder, I think that the Ed should give you another badge for that excellent reply.

[The Builder]

Well, thankyou for that Tony :o)))

[tonyav]

Your welcome, Builder :-)

[RATTER15]

Like The Builder say, new fit, tile the whole floor first.