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Design Dilemma Kitchens

Kitchen floor tiling

3 months ago

Kitchen designers always tell you to get the whole floor tiled first so the units will sit neatly on top, However, suppose you want a tiled floor edged with a border. That cannot be done before installing the units because one is never sure exactly where the units will fit. A centimetre out and the effect is a mess. Any ideas? Thank you.

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Comments (4)

Isla Cherry
3 months ago
I think it depends on the kitchen. If your walls are straight and you have the new cabinet depth then its possible to get it in the right place. The reason why people tile under units is to stop flooding water forming a pool in the event of a leak from a dishwasher or washing machine and it also gives you options for changing your kitchen units later if you want to. Our oak floor is an absolute horrendous mess under the island. The floor was cut off on all sides to save money, it also is not neatly trimmed. This means we always have to have the island in that spot and that exact size or change all the flooring in the whole open plan downstairs. I would never stop my flooring at the face of the units for that reason. I have always tiled under the units for hygiene reasons too. The unit depth should be 600mm or more.
margretg2 thanked Isla Cherry
margretg2
Original Author
3 months ago
Many thanks, Isla. I’m sorry about your floor. It sounds awful for you. Our kitchen wasn’t - isn’t - square and we did tile the whole floor first. But I would have liked a chequer-board pattern and that really needs a border to make it look nice in a non-square room. I did ask the kitchen company (Neptune) if they square up the units but they looked blank so thought it best not to risk it.
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Isla Cherry
3 months ago
I don't blame you for being disappointed that they were not prepared to commit to getting it straight. When I worked in kitchen design we had some horror projects with the floor not lining up with the units properly. The squaring up should absolutely be done after the floor with spacers if necessary. I totally agree about the chequer-board pattern needing a border. There are not many fitters around today with an exacting eye or the patience for small but crucial details.
margretg2 thanked Isla Cherry
margretg2
Original Author
3 months ago
Such helpful comments, Isla. Thank you.

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