Time between tiling and Cabinet installtion

11 years ago

We have installed porcelain 18x18 on cement board with thin set . This was completed yesterday and today morning, the contractor finished the grouting. Following queries

1. Do we need grout sealing?
2. Can we install cabinet after 48 hours of setting of tile on thinset and 24 hours after grouting?.

Request inputs. Thanks

ADR

Featured Answer

kevdp4

11 years ago

It all comes down to preference. In my area the high end builders do cabinets before tile and the many lower end builders do tile before cabinets.
I prefer cabinets before tile, especially after seeing one of my builders get stuck with a huge labor bill because of an adhesive/thinset failure. The thinset manufacturer paid for removal and install of tile and CBU but the builder had to eat the cabinet removal and reset, new granite because the granite cracked during removal, new backsplash tile, labor to remove and reinstall tile, paint touchup and plumbing removal and reinstall. That was the last time he put tile in before cabinets.

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Comments (8)

kevdp4
11 years ago
Sealing grout does nothing to stop it from getting dirty, it only helps prevent absorption from liquids. So seal whenever convenient.

The time frame you mentioned is fine.

Why are cabinets going in after tile instead of before?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
11 years ago
"Why are cabinets going in after tile instead of before?"

Because that's the right order.
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kevdp4
11 years ago
The right order... says who?
Doing it that way can cause a multitude of problems and expense down the road. Suppose there was a problem with the material or installation and the floor had to be replaced or the homeowners just decide they want to change out the tile. The cabinets are in the way of tile removal. The homeowner will have to foot the bill to have the cabinets and countertops removed and reset or tons of extra labor and risk of cabinet damage to try and remove tile from under cabinets.
Tile before cabinets is not the right order!
weedyacres
11 years ago
Kev: suppose the homeowner wants to change the cabinets down the road, but not the tile. They want to change the layout, and the footprint of the new cabinets doesn't exactly match that of the old ones. The homeowner will have to foot the bill to replace the flooring so the new cabinets will look right.

Cabinets before tile is not the right order!

To the OP, yes, you can put your cabinets in 24 hours post-grout.
kevdp4
11 years ago
Hmm,
In my 38 years in the industry I've never seen a kitchen remodel where someone has gone through the expense to replace cabinets, countertops, backsplash and repaint walls without replacing the floor.
sjhockeyfan325
11 years ago
If you go back and read posts on this subject from years past, you'll find it's about 50/50 -- the same as it is for bi-level vs. single-level peninsulas and islands.
Fori
11 years ago
People do seem to do both. As long as the dishwasher isn't trapped in a hole I'm not sure I care.

In an open floorplan where the floors are the same throughout, it makes a lot of sense to tile even where you don't need it. Or stuff a bunch of extras in a closet somewhere...