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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.

One reason that laminate flooring has grown in popularity is that it can be installed on top of some kinds of existing flooring, therefore saving money and time. However, don’t install laminate flooring over carpet since it may void the manufacturer’s warranty. Plus, carpet is often too plush and soft to properly support a laminate flooring system.

It takes about one to two days to remove carpet and install laminate flooring for small and medium-sized rooms. A larger room may take an extra day to complete. If you’re replacing flooring throughout your house, expect closer to one to two weeks, depending on your home’s square footage.

Laminate flooring takes about 24 to 48  hours to settle. Before this, planks are not completely acclimated to your home, and walking on them could cause shifting and permanent damage to the flooring. You should allow floorboards to acclimate for 48 to 72 hours before installing so that they can adjust to your home’s humidity and temperature levels, but they will continue to acclimate and settle after installation. For this reason, avoid placing any furniture in the room for 72 hours after installation.

Your floors will continue to settle for a few months after installation, becoming less bouncy as they rest.