Tips for Floor Replacement in the Kitchen | Ep. 87

Published: Sept. 19, 2020, 1:30 a.m.

Kitchen flooring is installed all kinds of ways, depending on the home’s age and whether the room is new or renovated. It’s important to know what you’re dealing with before considering floor replacement.

That’s just what Mary, in Iowa, is doing.

“When we redid our kitchen, the floors were laid first, then cabinets over them,” she says. “Is there any way to change the flooring without tearing out the cabinets?”

Floor replacement — specifically, whether it’s even possible in this case — is one of the top questions we receive.

Well, Mary and anyone else in this situation will be happy to know that yes, in most cases, there is a way to update that flooring without making major changes to your kitchen.

We’ll talk about that, and much more, during this episode of the Today’s Homeowner Podcast!

  • [1:16] How to clean popcorn ceiling around AC vents
  • [3:21] Garden statues have broken — how to put them back together again
  • [4:22] The best way to repair holes from a sagging towel rod
  • [6:24] How to fill cracks in plaster walls
  • [8:44] Simple Solution: How to convert a 5-gallon bucket into a cutting tool
  • [11:55] Best New Product: Rust-Oleum Outdoor Fabric Spray Paint
  • [12:54] Danny and Joe discuss uses for the Best New Product and Danny talks about his community project for the University of South Alabama
  • [15:21] What to do when dryer lint blows onto the grass
  • [16:53] Thoughts on painting vintage Marlite
  • [19:24] Help for an ongoing sinkhole
  • [23:15] Question of the Week: How to change flooring without tearing out cabinets

Simple Solutions

Scrap Bucket for Cut-offs — Here’s how to convert a plastic 5-gallon bucket into a convenient cutting station. Start by using a jigsaw to cut two shallow V-shaped notches into the top lip of the bucket, one directly across from the other.

Then, rotate the bucket 90 degrees and cut two shallow rectangular notches, each about 1 inch deep and 3½ inches wide. Again, position the notches across from one another.

Now when making cuts, you can use the V notches to securely hold round pipes and wooden dowels, and the rectangular notches for cutting flat boards up to 3½ inches wide.

Duvet Cover Trick — Here’s an easy way to place a down comforter inside a duvet cover:

  • Turn the duvet cover inside out and spread it out on the bed with the open end of the cover at the foot of the bed.
  • Lay the comforter on top of the duvet cover.
  • Starting at the headboard, grab the duvet cover and comforter and roll them all the way down to the foot of the bed.
  • Open up the duvet cover and stuff in the comforter; what you’re doing is basically turning the roll inside out.
  • Now unroll the duvet cover and the comforter will be inside. 

Watch: How to Put a Comforter Inside a Duvet Cover

Question of the Week

Q: “When we redid our kitchen, the floors were laid first, then cabinets over them. Is there any way to change the flooring without tearing out the cabinets?”

A: Floor replacement is possible, but it depends on the floor. You can score ceramic tiles, for instance, right at the kickboard and break them out of there. Your cabinets will still be sitting on top of the old flooring, but you would place your new flooring around them.

For vinyl floor, you may be able to leave it where it is and lay new flooring on top.

Listen to the show for more thoughts on this topic!

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