So, if we're going with hardwood in the kitchen...

[kaylie]

::face palm::

Just to humor H, I'm going to consider it because I secretly kind of like the idea. 

We'd have to wait until we were ready to do the entire first floor because of the layout. In the meantime, we'd just keep the flooring we currently have (vinyl planks) and go about the rest of the kitchen spruce up as normal, right? We're keeping our current cabinets but adding a kitchen island. They'll be painted and we'll get new counters/backsplash. Basically, I just want to confirm that we don't *have* to install the hardwood first.

[house]

Hmm,if anything it makes more sense to me that you would put in the island first before laying out the hardwood floor. But I could be wrong.

[simpsongal]

Definitely lay floor under the island in case you ever want to move or change it. IF the island is big, it will be a bit of a paint to move for the flooring but I highly recommend this approach. But you're right, the floor can go last.

[thatgirl2478]

I think you would want to have the island in first. Hardwood needs to expand & contract, so I don't think they like to put it under things like that... but then I'm not an expert!

[lys]

floor first
any future changes (eliminate/move island or another remodel) could possilby wind up with no wood in areas that then need it.

[sratsey]

The floor should go in first

[kaylie]

I don't think we'll ever move the island - it's not going to be large (24'' x 60'') but there really won't be anywhere else for it to go. We're also putting an electrical outlet to the side of it so once it's in place, it's in place.

[kaylie]

I'm going to guess by the mixed responses that I could go either way =) Thanks ladies!

[FoxInFiji]

Yes you can do it either way but island first is usually the way cabinet makers recommend. Floating an island on wood that is moving every season is tricky. I would do island first and save a few pieces of flooring if you ever want to move or remove the island (or anything else for that matter). Is the HW going to be prefinished? Engineered or solid?

Also if I was doing HW in a kitchen I would look into any possible way to waterproof behind the fridge and DW.

[kaylie]

Thanks Fox! Right now we're thinking prefinished solid. The contractor is pushing me towards engineered, but the reviews I've read make me think it won't hold up as well. I'm still on the fence about having it in the kitchen because of the water risk, but I do think it would look better than tile.

[sillygoosegirl]

I used to live in a condo where the kitchen island was actually on feet and you could move it around according to your needs. We didn't move it often, but it was a nice feature that I'd love to have again...

[sillygoosegirl]

Are site-finished hardwoods in your budget? Even just for the kitchen area? I want to have hardwood in my kitchen someday, but I'd be concerned about water risk with prefinished or engineered too.

[kaylie]

Jan 18, 2013 16:51:42 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

Are site-finished hardwoods in your budget? Even just for the kitchen area? I want to have hardwood in my kitchen someday, but I'd be concerned about water risk with prefinished or engineered too.

I mean, they could be but not for the species I want to go with. I'd still be worried about water regardless.

[carifly]

When I redid kitchen they put the hardwood down first and then the cabinets in. So I would have thought it would be the same with an island, but I'm not actually sure. I haven't ever had any issues with there being hardwood under them in terms of movement/etc though. Nor have I had issues with water, though I should maybe knock on wood

I love having hardwood floors in the kitchen. They are warm and comfortable and really not hard to clean. And I like how it flows smoothly from the rest of the house.