Best cabinet contractors near Coventry, CT

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.

Make sure your shelves are no more than 12 inches deep. Any deeper and it will become hard to access items towards the back of the shelf. Yet, for larger walk-in pantries, homeowners may prefer 15- to 18-inch shelving to make room for larger appliances and cookware.

Most built-in bookshelves are custom-made to fit the available space and meet a homeowner's needs. This level of customization allows you to design the exact look and functionality you desire. However, you can buy cheaper, prefabricated bookshelves to slot into your desired space. However, prefabricated designs might not slot in as snuggly or need to be adjusted to fit.

You can stack upper kitchen cabinets, but they may not fit neatly. Because upper kitchen cabinets are typically available in these standard sizes—12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 inches—you can stack various-sized upper cabinets. But, depending on your ceiling height, these standard sizes may not work together. That’s why smaller stacked cabinets are a much more stylish and economical choice.