Installing base kitchen cabinets. Over or upto slate tile?

[Richard Mancuso]

I'm in the process of installing 12" slate tile in my kitchen.
I will also be installing all new kitchen cabinets.

I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.

I bought enough slate to go wall to wall. I'm also aware of all the
benefits of going wall to wall (i.e. less cutting, can slide out
appliances, etc.). However, because slate is not perfectly flat, I'm
worried about leveling the base cabinets over the tile and possible
creating gaps between the tile and the base cabinets.

Any suggestions out there?

Richard Mancuso
***@hotmail.com

[Robert Allison]

Post by Richard Mancuso
I'm in the process of installing 12" slate tile in my kitchen.
I will also be installing all new kitchen cabinets.
I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.
I bought enough slate to go wall to wall. I'm also aware of all the
benefits of going wall to wall (i.e. less cutting, can slide out
appliances, etc.). However, because slate is not perfectly flat, I'm
worried about leveling the base cabinets over the tile and possible
creating gaps between the tile and the base cabinets.
Any suggestions out there?
Richard Mancuso

Richard,

This is one of those deals where you can do whatever you want. We
do it both ways. Many times we are installing tile in a remodel
situation where the cabs are already in place, so we tile up to
them. Mask off the cabinets to protect from mastic and grout.
Another way that I have done it is to lay out where the cabinets
will be, and tile just past that line, then set the cabinets on the
tile with shims at the wall and the toe kick and side panels on the
tile. Due to the variations in the tile, this usually requires the
additional step of adding shoe mold. Either way is fine. If you
plan on redoing your cabinets in the future, tile all the way to the
wall and you can change them any way you want, but few people
install cabs with the intention of changing them.

[S]

I wondered the same thing when I put ceramic tile in our bathroom a while
back, along with new cabinets at the same time. I decided to tile all the
way, then install the cabinets. I felt that it would make it somewhat
easier if I ever had to remove one cabinet, i.e., I could slide it out
across the floor.

Bu tthen when I installed new kitchen cabinets, and Pergo flooring, I
installed the cabinets first (on the subfloor) then installed the Pergo up
to the cabinets. So if I ever need to remove one cabinet for any reason,
it'll be a problem.

As someone else mentioned, I think you can do whatever you prefer, for
whatever reason suits you. I don't think there's a right or wrong method.

Post by Richard Mancuso
I'm in the process of installing 12" slate tile in my kitchen.
I will also be installing all new kitchen cabinets.
I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.
I bought enough slate to go wall to wall. I'm also aware of all the
benefits of going wall to wall (i.e. less cutting, can slide out
appliances, etc.). However, because slate is not perfectly flat, I'm
worried about leveling the base cabinets over the tile and possible
creating gaps between the tile and the base cabinets.
Any suggestions out there?
Richard Mancuso

[Rudy]

Post by Richard Mancuso
I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.

On the last house we built, we tiled AFTER the cabinets were in. Actually,
my wife (Master Tiler) decided to go with 3" tile 'baseboards' in the tiled
rooms and we cut and applied tile in the "Toe Kick" area of the new cabinets
too. Looked great and saved some $$ not wasting tile under cabinets.

We're halfway thru building our next home and we're doing the same here.

[Wayne Boatwright]

Post by Rudy

Post by Richard Mancuso
I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.

On the last house we built, we tiled AFTER the cabinets were in. Actually,
my wife (Master Tiler) decided to go with 3" tile 'baseboards' in the
tiled rooms and we cut and applied tile in the "Toe Kick" area of the
new cabinets too. Looked great and saved some $$ not wasting tile
under cabinets.
We're halfway thru building our next home and we're doing the same here.

And what do you do when you get to the dishwasher? Feet behind the tile?

[b***@nospam.tnx]

On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 11:15:09 GMT, Wayne Boatwright

Post by Wayne Boatwright
And what do you do when you get to the dishwasher? Feet behind the tile?

Can do. Or if there's enough height, you can tile under it. No big
deal either way.

Ken

[b***@nospam.tnx]

Post by Richard Mancuso
I'm in the process of installing 12" slate tile in my kitchen.
I will also be installing all new kitchen cabinets.
I'm wondering if I should 1. Install the base cabinets first and
install the slate tile UPTO the base OR 2. Install the slate wall to
wall and put the cabinets on top of the slate tile.
Richard Mancuso

Usual practice is to install cabinets first, tile up to them.
Probably do a tile kick. Tile fridge and stove areas. You may want
to tile under dishwasher to make it easy to slide out ... most people
don't bother ... if you do, make sure to measure the height carefully
first.

No reason not to tile complete floor first .. your house, your call.

Ken