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Whether you install flooring before or after kitchen cabinets depends primarily on the type of flooring you are using. For materials like hardwood, tile, and sheet flooring, the best practice is to install the flooring first. This ensures the cabinets are installed at the correct height and on a stable surface. However, you should not install cabinets on top of floating floors, such as laminate or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). These types of flooring need room to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Placing heavy cabinets on top can restrict this movement, potentially causing the floor to buckle and making the cabinets unstable. For floating floors, install the cabinets first and then lay the flooring up to them. Other reasons to consider installing cabinets before the flooring include saving money on materials (since you won't need flooring under the cabinets) and avoiding potential damage to your new floor during cabinet installation. Additionally, installing cabinets directly on the subfloor might prevent voiding your flooring's warranty.

Concrete flooring, particularly sealed concrete, is the lowest maintenance flooring available. It is affordable, durable, and can last more than 100 years if you seal it and care for it. Far from just being a boring gray, you can stain, stamp, and even paint concrete to match your style and decor. If concrete is not your thing, consider ceramic tile flooring. It is waterproof, stain resistant, and perfect for wet rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Luxury vinyl tile also requires very little care; it is water and stain resistant, very durable, and affordable.

Carpeting has a few benefits on stairs in addition to being a cost-effective floor covering. It absorbs sound, dampening footsteps. It also provides additional traction, which is especially important if you install linoleum floors, epoxy flooring, or any other floor covering that can become slippery if you’re wearing socks. Therefore, carpets can help prevent slips. 

Porcelain and ceramic tile are two of the longest-lasting kitchen flooring materials. However, while these materials can withstand a good amount of daily wear and tear, they’re likely to crack if you drop something heavy on them, and they’re pricier than many other options. On average, installing a ceramic tile kitchen floor costs between $1,240 and $11,250. Other durable kitchen flooring options include natural stone and concrete.