I'm in the process of installing new engineered hardwood flooring in my kitchen, and I'm a bit torn on whether to put the hardwood around my kitchen island or underneath it. Our current kitchen setup has the cabinets and appliances sitting on plywood, and since my contractor has already detached the island, he suggests placing it on top of the new flooring. This seems like it might be better for future island replacements, but I have some concerns:
1. If I put the hardwood around the island now and later replace the island, will it be obvious if I have to fill in the gaps with matching planks?
2. If I go with the contractor's suggestion and lift the island to install the hardwood underneath, could that lead to an odd height difference between the island and the surrounding cabinets?
3. If I decide to replace both the island and the surrounding cabinets and countertops in the future, do I need to use the same hardwood underneath the new cabinets?
I'm really stuck on which option is better!
2 Answers
If the island is mobile, definitely install the hardwood under it. It shouldn’t add much to the cost and will keep things looking seamless. True, there might be a slight height difference with the countertops, but if that concerns you, you could always trim the bottom of the island to match. Just keep an eye on the thickness of your hardwood when making that decision!
Personally, I always install the flooring around the island instead of under it, especially with engineered wood or laminate. It just makes more sense for future flexibility. If you ever need to change or replace the island, it’s way easier to manage that way! But if you’re using solid hardwood, then going under the island is usually fine since it’s a more durable option.
I’ve picked a 5/8 thickness for the engineered hardwood, which seems manageable, but I’m still worried about how noticeable the height difference might be if I trim the island down. Thanks for the advice!