Don't try this at home children

[Dave]

Having just discovered that I've cocked-up, I'll expose my error in the hope that someone is saved from doing the same thing. I'm just refitting the kitchen and set the carcass tops at the standard height recommended by the supplier of the carcasses (Homebase). Everything was fine until today when I installed the dishwasher (which only just fitted under the worktop); as I was doing this a little light glimmered between the ears - what about the flooring? You'll have guessed by now - once the flooring is down it's not going to be possible to get the dishwasher out! I suppose I could remove the worktops, plumbing and hob so I can get to the screws fixing the carcasses to the walls and then adjust all the carcass legs, but my inclination at the moment is to leave it and deal with it if the dishwasher fails before we move house - it's new so the odds might be in my favour ;-)

On a related note: the Homebase carcasses are pretty poor quality and I wouldn't recommend them; the doors and "luxury drawers" are excellent though.

Dave

[Peter Andrews]

You are not the first - I was called out to a friends DW, fortunatly it was a programmer fault which I was able to change from the front:-) There was no way the DW was coming out without destroying the worktop or the laminate floor.

Peter

[Andrew Gabriel]

When I do a kitchen, I put all the flooring down, wall to wall, before the cabinets go in.

Perhaps if I was using some low grade plastic floor which I didn't expect to last the life of the cabinets, then I would fit it after the cabinets so it could easily be replaced.

[ben]

[snip]

Dont dishwashers have adjustable feet? mine has for uneven floors. Same as fridges,washing machines, ect.

[Arthur]

If dishwasher feet don't act as vibration absorbers cut the things off and place a a piece of very thick (abount 0.25") vinyl flooring under it.

Arthur

[John Rumm]

You could add a packing piece on top of the cabinets before you fit the worktop...

[rrh]

Any chance that the appliance has a removeable worktop? My dishwasher has and it saves 2-3cm of height if necessary. Or maybe it could just live without the top panel of its case, if that's how it's made.

[Vaci]

In my experience of making similar c*ck-ups, I think you're better off doing the hard work to fix the problem now. Then at least once it's done, you'll bask in the warm glow of satisfaction of a job done properly, rather than suffer that nagging twinge of regret and doubt every time you force the dishwasher door open.... :)

[Dave]

An interesting idea but it would leave an awkward gap between the door and the worksurface, also quite a lot of work to make it look good. I've decided to bite the bullet and fix it properly!

Dave

[Dave]

A good thought but unfortunately not, it's a s/s box.

Dave

[Dave]

The door opens and looks fine it's just that once the flooring is down it will be tough to get the D/W out. However, you've pricked my conscience and told me what my inner self had nagged about all night, so I've started to refit it all 10mm higher. I wonder if there's a "smiley" for £$%^&*^&*&£*!! ;-)

Dave

[Ian Stirling]

If It Was Me. I'd be tempted to get enough spare flooring to replace the area in front of the dishwasher several times.

[John Rumm]

Depends on how thick your flooring will be I guess. The doors usually allow some adjustment up and down.

Probably best ;-)

(having said that, the appliances in my kitchen fit under the worktop with about an inch to spare - so even adding thicker flooring does not make that much difference)

[RedOnRed]

My brother in law recently moved to a house where he inherited this problem off the predecessors. I suppose it explained why they were willing to leave the appliance behind.

In this case, it was the washing machine that failed and had been floor tiled in. I believe they managed to get it out by some-how hack sawing the legs off.

[Dave]

Well, I jacked everything up by 10mm, changed the plumbing and the hob feed, and there's now about 10mm available for flooring. It took about 4 hours once I'd stopped moaning about what an awful job it was going to be - not too bad really.

Dave