Gary, Flooring Guy, or anyone who knows what to do in this situation please advise us on what to do.

We are ordering a modular home manufactured by Champion. We have instructed them to install a stringer for the steps so that we can install the hardwood and to leave the floors in the foyer, living room, dining room, kitchen, and hallways unfinished and prepared for hardwood.

However, the cabinets will already be installed when we get the house. Our solid, prefinished floors are 3/4" thick. Should we ask the company if they can put our cabinets on a 3/4" platform or do we just install the floors right up against the cabinets?


Also, I am concerned about the thickness of our subfloors. I'm almost certain that I read somewhere around here that modular homes often do not have a thick enough sub floor for a hardwood install. Exactly how thick do they need to be so that we can ask our manfacturer what the thickness is and whether or not they need to upgrade the subfloors?

Thanks so much for all of your help so far! This site has been a God send

BTW, I figure I should have mentioned that this is an off frame modular home that will arrive in 4 sections and be set with a crane.

You can install your prefinished flooring around the cabinets with them elevated or not. It will only matter when it comes to your basebaords and the profile, and or you dishwasher. Most cabinets will still have clearance for the DW to be installed and removed without a problem. I have seen it done both ways many times 6 in 1 Half dozen the other.

As too the thickness of your subfloor. NOFMA requires 3/4" OSB or 1/2" plywood. If your home will be below the minimum OSB requirement then I would add plywood over it before laying the hardwood.

Minimum requirement for a single layer plywood subfloor is 5/8 thick.

Opps. Thanks for the correction Jerry.