I'm in the middle of installing over 1000 sq ft of LifeProof vinyl flooring, and I'm stuck on what to do about my kitchen island that will sit in the middle of it. Should I install the island first, attach it to the subfloor, and then run the flooring up to it, which might require using quarter round to cover the gap? Or is it better to just lay the flooring as usual and place the island on top, letting the weight of the granite hold it down without securing it to the floor? Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
I’d go with installing under. If you ever decide to replace the island, chances are the new one won’t fit exactly the same, which means you’ll be dealing with mismatched flooring. Keeping the vinyl underneath saves a lot of hassle in the long run.
You definitely shouldn’t run the vinyl flooring under the island. Vinyl is a floating floor, which means it needs space to expand and contract. Most installation guidelines suggest leaving about a 1/4 inch gap around fixed objects. If you place your island on top of the flooring, it could potentially buckle when the seasons change, so keeping it separated is the safer option.
But what if the island has feet? Sometimes it can depend on the type of island or furniture, right?
I'd suggest putting the island in first and then laying the flooring around it. That way, you won't have to worry about uneven flooring later on, and you can always make adjustments if you replace the island in the future.
Yeah, but you’ll probably need to replace the flooring anyway when you switch out the island since there will be some damage to the vinyl.