We have demode our kitchen completely down to the concrete floor and drywall walls. My question is. Is it better to tile the floor from wall to wall or put in the cabinets and then tile the floor and cut in the appliance holes? Our tiling guy say do the whole floor and our cabinet guy say we should do it after the cabinets. Any one have and answers for me?
Susan

Actually, both ways are correct, and each has it's pros and cons. Tiling under the cabinets will give you a much cleaner look with reference to all the cutting. Also, you're sure the cabinets will be high enough for under-cab appliances, such as dishwashers, trash compactors, etc.. However, If the cabinets go in first, you only have to put them up on plywood close to the same thickness as the tile to be able to account for that, and if the floors are out of level even a hair, you won't see the gapping under the bottom edge of the cabinets.

As Bill said both right. As a cabinet installer, I perfer that the base cabinets go in first however. Although I also do tile work and prefer to be in first, which means less work for me installing tile, the best way is to install the cabinets first. Here is the reason.

Damage to the tile. Cabinet work requires a lot of tools, measure devices, leveling equipment and moving around some times very heavy cabinet boxes. All of which can damage or scratch the surface of the tile when dropped or moved. Of course you would think putting a plywood cover over the tile would protect it, naw, the wood needs to be removed and replaced as shims are placed down, and cuts to the base of the cabinet are done to level it. Als who is going to be responsible for cracked tile? The tile person will blame the cabinet guy and the cabinet guy will deny doing the damage because the tile is put down wrong.

Many times the end or back of a cabinet is open to view. By placing the tile under the cabinet you may not end up with a square even look from the seam of the tile and the edge of the cabinet.

Its best that the tile person after the cabinets are placed down square the tile with the room and cabinets and place the tile down, not the other way around.

In favor of tiling first, think along the lines of it being a better sealer should a dishwasher leak - I'd rather not have to deal with the possible mold or downstairs ceiling re-do.

Thanks for the info guys!
Susan

there are pans that can be installed under dishwashers if the fear is a leak, have not seen to many of them in the many years I have been doing this work, but you make a valid point. But its difficult to if not impossible to trim the base cabinet with moldings to hide the gaps created by shimming and cutting base to level cabinet.

I hear 'ya. But like I always say, all ends level that begins level!

And this is why I said both ways are acceptable, and each has its pros and cons.