How to Install a New Floor Under the Kitchen Sink

Removal Process

• 1

  Place a thin pry bar underneath any shoe or wall molding attached to the cabinets. Pull the pry bar back to remove the molding.

• 2

  Turn off the water supply. Twist the stop valves under the sink so no water goes to the sink. Disconnect any pipes or hoses that connect to the plumbing or dishwasher. Place the pry bar under the lip of the sink, and remove the sink.

• 3

  Remove all appliances in the area where you plan to install your new flooring.

• 4

  Remove the doors or drawers. With a drill or screwdriver, take out any screws inside the cabinet that attach it to the countertop. Hit the countertop from inside the cabinet to gently pop it out of place. Remove the countertop.

• 5

  Inspect the inside of your cabinets for any screws that connect them together. Take out the screws with a screwdriver. Remove any remaining screws that connect the cabinets to the walls or floors. Carry the cabinets out of the kitchen.

Preparing the Floor

• 6

  Remove any existing flooring under your sink. Place a chisel underneath the tile, wood or laminate flooring to pry one piece of flooring away. Repeat the process until you've removed all the flooring.

• 7

  Clean your floor with a broom and dust pan to ensure that you have a clean and level surface to work with.

• 8

  Measure the length and width of the area under the kitchen sink and adjacent cabinets where you are installing the flooring. You must install the flooring under the other cabinets so that your countertops will be on a level surface.

Tile Flooring

• 9

  Cut out a piece of backer board equal to the length and width of the area you need to cover. If the area is larger than a sheet of backer board, cut multiple pieces of backer board until you have enough sheets to cover the area. Use a jigsaw with a carbide blade to make the cut.

• 10

  Mix thin-set mortar according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place a trowel in the mortar container. Spread a 1/4-inch thick layer of the mortar over a portion of the subfloor with a trowel. Cover an area large enough to place a piece of backer board.

• 11

  Place a piece of backer board over the mortar. Walk on the board to secure it to the mortar. Screw 2-inch-long, cement backer board screws into the backer board every 6 to 8 inches with a drill. Screw them into the floor joists whenever possible.

• 12

  Add mesh tape to the seams between the backer board. Apply a coating of thin-set mortar on top of the seams and tape.

• 13

  Snap a chalk line to lay out the pattern for your tile. Apply a layer of thin-set mortar to the backer board. When you add the depth of the mortar layer and the depth of your tile, it should equal the existing depth of the adjoining floor.

• 14

  Place your tiles onto the mortar. Place a spacer between each tile so they are equally spaced. Continue to add mortar and tiles to the floor until the area is covered with tiles.

Laminate Flooring

• 15

  Install the underlayment according to your laminate flooring manufacturer's instructions. Lay out multiple pieces of underlayment until the desired area is covered. The edges should not overlap, and you might need to tape the pieces together.

• 16

  Cut off the planks' tongues, and place them parallel to the wall. Lay a plank down on the left corner of the area you are covering. Insert one end of the plank into the end of another plank at an angle. Press down on the plank to snap the subsequent plank into place.

• 17

  Measure the necessary length for the last plank of the row. Cut the plank to size with a table saw.

• 18

  Cut a plank for the next row, and lay it in place. Lift up the previous row of planks to fit the new planks into place. Press the new planks into place with a hard thrust of your hand. Press them down into the floor to adhere. Continue the process until all of the subfloor is covered.