Proudly Canadian. Serving Victoria, BC and the surrounding area.

Let’s be honest. Renovating your kitchen can feel like a puzzle, especially when it comes to the order of installation.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked by homeowners here in Victoria:

“Martin, should I do the flooring first or last? What about tiling? When do the countertops get installed?”

These are great questions. And whether you’re doing a full kitchen renovation or just a cabinet refacing project, the order of operations matters more than you might think. Getting it right avoids headaches, delays, and those little finish details that make a big difference.

So let me walk you through it, step-by-step.

Step 1: Flooring (If You Can)

If I had it my way, I’d always tell you to do the flooring first. Why?

Because when the flooring is in before the cabinets, it gives us a clean slate to work with.

We can get our cabinets in tight, level, and square without needing a workaround.

Plus, and I’ll be blunt, this helps avoid the use of quarter round trim, which doesn’t belong in a kitchen. Quarter round is what flooring guys use to hide the gap between flooring and cabinetry. But if we can install our cabinetry after the flooring, that trim becomes unnecessary. Cleaner finish. Better look.

If for some reason flooring needs to go in after the cabinetry (which happens sometimes depending on the material or contractor), we can still work with it. We would leave toe kick material on site so it can be installed later, giving you that same polished, professional finish without the dreaded quarter round. So, make sure that any cabinet contractor you use can help in this way.

Step 2: Cabinet Refacing or Full Cabinet Install

Once the floor is in (or ready to be worked around), our team gets to work.

If you’re doing a cabinet reface, we’ll update your doors, gables, hardware, and more to give your space a fresh new look without gutting the whole room.

If you’re doing a full cabinet replacement, we’ll start from scratch and install brand new Canadian-made cabinetry, custom-fit to your kitchen layout.

Step 3: Countertop Installation (Timing Depends)

This one’s a little trickier. If you’re getting stone countertops like quartz or granite, they can’t be templated or measured until your cabinet boxes are fully in place. These materials can’t be trimmed on site, so accuracy is key.

So if we’re adding or adjusting cabinets, your countertop team will come in after the cabinetry to do their templating and installation.

But if no new cabinetry is being added, sometimes countertops can be installed before we start the reface. It depends on the scope of the project, and we’ll always help you decide what’s best based on your goals and timeline.

Step 4: Tiling and Backsplash – Always Last

Always, always, always do your tile backsplash last.

Once the cabinets and countertops are in, your tile installer will know exactly where the lines start and stop, giving you a crisp, finished look with proper alignment.

This is one of those things where the sequence really does matter, cutting and measuring tile before everything is in place leads to waste, errors, and unnecessary stress.

A Smooth Process, Every Time

Here at The Kitchen Technician, we’ve spent over 25 years helping homeowners across Greater Victoria turn their kitchen stress into kitchen success.

Our promise is simple:

We make kitchen renovations easy.

Whether it’s a full kitchen remodel or a simple cabinet reface, we guide you through every step, and make sure it’s done in the right order.

Still Not Sure Where to Start?

Let’s chat. I’m happy to answer questions, help you map out your project, and even pop by for a no-obligation consultation.

Give us a call at 250-658-1313, visit us at our Victoria showroom, or check us out online at www.TheKitchenTechnician.ca.

Your Cabinets – Your Way.

The Kitchen Technician

“Where the Canadian quality goes in before our name goes on.”