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No subflooring is perfectly level, but you should never ignore any noticeable floor sagging. Most contractors deem a floor that slopes by a 1/2 inch to 1 inch per 20 feet of floor acceptable. Further investigation is required when the slope or sag is more than one and a half inches.

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.

Laminate flooring is susceptible to expansion and contraction during temperature fluctuations. In the summer, laminate flooring is more likely to expand, possibly giving it a crowned or warped look. In the winter, when temperatures fall, the flooring can contract, revealing gaps between the boards. This is normal and should be expected when you install laminate flooring.

You can tell if you have linoleum or vinyl floors if you look under the floor's surface. Linoleum floors have color that goes all the way through the tile, while vinyl flooring uses a printed image on the surface of the tile, plank, or sheet. This image often realistically replicates the look and feel of wood, ceramic tile, stone, or other natural materials.