A lot of people don't tile under the cabinets [we didn't] so you put the cabinets in, and then tile up to them. But like you've found out, a lot of people tile wall to wall, and put the cabinets on top of the tile. It's personal preference.

It's personal preference, but keep in mind access to appliances if you just tile up to the cabinets - our kitchen was done that way by prior owners including where the appliances go, and as a result it is incredibly difficult to slide out the fridge for cleaning or repair because there is a lip to get it over.

When we redo I am going to insist the flooring go under the appliances at least, so it is easier to get them out when necessary.

I'll tell you what we went through. We had a water leak so we decided to put down tile. We had to pull up two layers of old flooring, take down a wall that we build when we remodeled the kitchen as one layer of floor was under there, and then rebuild. We put hardie board [cement board used for tile] down over our subfloor, installed the lower cabinets that had been taken out, painted and then tiled so we wouldn't get paint on it. We didn't tile underneath the cabinets, but did tile under the stove and fridge. My husband adjusted the stove to the counter height so there was no problem there. He also adjusted the dishwasher to fit under the counter--the feet on both are adjustable if memory serves me. Our stove is exactly where we want it in relation to the counter.

If you had critters under your counter, you have air gaps that are allowing them to get in. You need to find and fix them. We had some mold under the sink so we had to replace some sheet rock. My husband found some large air gaps that he filled along with caulking around all the outlets on the outer walls. It's amazing how much how electric bill went down after he did that.

You are limited in changing the layout of your kitchen if you don't tile wall-to-wall, but most people don't do it very often as you have to take your countertop up if you want to move a lower cabinet, and that's very, very difficult. When people decide to do that, they usually do a major renovation that involves redoing the floor.

I propose first to lay the tile. you will not have cut.

You can do EITHER. Simple shims under the cabinets when they are "set" is common and usual.. In a new build......the hardwood virtually never goes under the perimeter cabinets. A cut against a wall is no different than a cut against cabinetry. However, should you ever want a layout change it is nice to have tile to the edges of the room. Both methods are acceptable, a floor is rarely perfectly level and all cabinetry is adjusted and leveled before set firmly in place....with shims. The same is true of your countertop, and it is why appliances come with levelers as well.

Your tile installer is correct. Most professional tile setters will spend a fair amount of time laying out the tile AFTER everything that affects the look of the floor is in place so you don't end up with little slivers of tile and out-of-balance grout joints. Another benefit to this approach is eliminating some potential damage to the new floor caused by cabinet, countertop etc. installations. I've been a builder for over 37 years and can assure you this is the best approach. Good Luck!

It's more expensive to put down tile first wall to wall but in the long run, it makes changes in the future much easier as noted with appliances.

its a matter of which you are most likely to change over time: cabinets, layout, or floor. if floor is going in last STILL order enough tiles to patch places for layout changes.

my floor went in first.

FLOORING/TILE goes down first.

I bet this was helpful.

Another vote for flooring first!

ha! well, it's good to know there isnt a Really Wrong Answer.

Lies! The Wrong Answer is to end up with what we have, which the obnoxious lip that prevents easily pulling appliances out. Even if you aren't going to change them, they need servicing and may need to be pulled out for cleaning or because something gets behind, etc. Even if the flooring doesn't go completely under, I would ask about some kind of finish on the edge by appliances that would make it easier to get them up over the difference in floor heights. (Maybe a threshold type piece that sits just under the front edge of the appliances? I dunno. I assume the professional floor people know what they can do to solve the problem.)

Tile first, if you want to save money on tile, tile just 1 row beyond the toe-kick and use scraps for the back, but make sure to keep it level and install tile under dishwasher, stove and refrigerator area.

With that said, every job that was tiled after the kitchen installation there is always a problem down the road when appliances need service, you cannot get the dishwasher out and you have to remove the tile in front of.

Tiling under appliances is the most appropriate. No matter whether that is "wall to wall" prior to cabinets or "upto cabinets" once the kitchen is finished. IF you do the TILE LAST....you need to let your cabinet makers/counter top installers KNOW...this way they can add the 1/2" of clearance NEEDED to get dishwashers underneath the counter top.

You can do it last...but you must tell the cabinet makers to adjust for the height BEFORE the cabinets are installer/counter top is installed. The loss of height must be made up somewhere.