Whether you are building a kitchen with an island or taking one apart, it can be helpful to know how it is attached to your floor.
Although the island may look like it is just heavy and stays in place from the weight, it is very likely attached to your floor.
Knowing how it is attached can make removal and installation much more manageable.
Let’s look at exactly how a kitchen island is attached to the floor.
How Is a Kitchen Island Attached to the Floor?
A kitchen island is attached to the floor by screwing the island’s base into a piece of wood attached to the floor.
Depending on what type of a floor you have, this project can vary in difficulty.
When you look at a typical kitchen island, you will see that the island is built on a cabinet base.
This base will be very similar to the other cabinets in your kitchen, and it is what is used to secure the island to the floor.
Before that base is put in place, there are usually two pieces of two-by-four lumber that are screwed to the floor underneath.
If you have a tile floor, you will need to be careful doing this and use a drill bit that is designed to work with tile.
The pieces of wood will be secured to the tile or wood floor.
Then the kitchen island is lifted up and slid into place so that the sides of the unit rest against these supports.
Once it is in place, the bottom of the island is then screwed to the supports.
Those holes will likely be filled with a wood putty, and then they will be painted or finished so that they are no longer visible.
Many people think that their kitchen island is not attached to the floor in any way because it is not generally easy to see how it is attached.
Even with large, heavy countertops on kitchen islands, they need to be supported by a base so that they don’t move or slide.
When you are removing a kitchen island, you will need to look for these supports and make sure they are removed before you can completely remove the island.
Sometimes you can see the supports from the inside of the cabinet if there is a way to remove the unit’s lower shelf.
Can a Kitchen Island Be Moved?
When planning a kitchen renovation, sometimes it is essential to think about rearranging.
If you want to move your island to another location, there is a chance that you can do so.
However, there are a few things that you will need to consider before doing this.
To start out, you much consider what you have as part of the island.
If there is a sink or a stovetop on your island, then you are going to have to move plumbing and/or electricity to get this to work.
However, if your kitchen island is used purely for storage, the move will be much easier.
Remember that we mentioned most kitchen islands are secured to the ground using supports.
Those supports are typically screwed into the ground.
If they have damaged your flooring in any way, the kitchen may have a spot of floor that needs to be repaired.
Moving an island is certainly possible, but make sure you think about the potential implications before you simply start taking your kitchen apart.
We highly recommend having a professional come in to make sure your kitchen renovation project will be achievable.
How Much Do Kitchen Islands Cost?
A kitchen island can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to ten thousand or more.
The pricing of your island will have quite a bit to do with the size, the features, and the materials used.
For instance, there are some portable lower priced islands made from a wood-based product with a wood top on them.
These are excellent choices for those who do not have a lot of space (or counter space) and need more of a prep area when cooking.
Something like this can be purchased pre-assembled and simply installed.
If you are installing an island in a luxury kitchen, chances are the island is going to take up a large portion of the kitchen.
From one end of the kitchen to the other, there could be sinks, cooktops, and other electrical hookups through the kitchen island.
These types of islands often have lots of storage space and sometimes even a bar area as well.
Depending on how complicated you want to get with your island, the pricing will change considerably.
On average, we would say that you are probably going to be looking at spending anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 on a new island for your kitchen.
What Are the Positives to Installing a Kitchen Island?
If you are thinking of installing a kitchen island, there are some really great benefits to consider.
1. Storage
Kitchen islands give homeowners another opportunity for storage.
You can store large things inside your island, like pots and pans and even small appliances.
You can also build drawers and pull-out cabinets which give you very easy access all in the center of your kitchen.
Many homeowners with islands will admit that they would have nowhere to store all of their kitchen gear without an island.
2. Break Up Space
If you have a large kitchen, it may not look complete without an island.
An island helps to break up space and make it flow much better overall.
The kitchen island is an excellent choice because, not only does it make the entire kitchen look much better, but it is also very functional.
Most people would admit that, with a large kitchen, they would much rather look at a large island in the middle than a wide-open space.
3. Food Prep
If you do a lot of cooking, you know that food prep takes quite a bit of time and space.
You will often have several different dishes going at once, and it takes counter space to complete these projects.
Food prep is one of the most popular reasons to install an island in a kitchen.
Also, keep in mind that a kitchen island is a great place to display food in addition to prep.
If you are having friends and family over and you need to put out a spread for a buffet, a kitchen island is a perfect spot.
4. Appliances
Kitchen islands can also be great spots to hide appliances.
Sometimes kitchen appliance placement can be a bit difficult.
You may find that you need an island as a place to put a dishwasher or even a cooktop.
An island is a great way to take an appliance off of another wall and move it into the center of the kitchen.
5. Gathering Space
Kitchen islands can serve as a perfect gathering space for friends and family.
If you happen to have a large island, you may even be able to put in some counter height stools and make it another area to eat in the kitchen.
We all know that the kitchen ends up being the heart of the home.
Since people like to gather in this area, we may as well give them ample space to do so.
What Are the Negatives to Installing a Kitchen Island?
As you can see, there are lots of great things about installing a kitchen island.
The negatives are not really as strong as the positives, but they should likely be considered before you commit to a new kitchen island.
1. Increased Cost
Installing an island in your kitchen is an added expense.
The cost of a kitchen renovation or remodel is very expensive.
You will end up spending tens of thousands of dollars to get what you want.
The kitchen island is going to make up a good portion of what you spend.
Some people opt for the island for this reason.
They feel that, with the added cost, they will be able put upgrades into the kitchen in other areas if they leave the island out.
The only thing to remember when doing something like this is the resale value of your home.
If you plan on selling your house, make sure you are carefully adding projects that make sense to your kitchen.
People, in general, are going to like kitchen islands and look for them in the houses that they purchase.
Although you may spend a little extra right now, someday you could get that money and more back.
2. Can Be Too Tight
If you don’t measure correctly or are trying to squeeze an island into a tight spot, the kitchen can look too tight.
There is nothing worse than trying to work in a kitchen and feeling like you are constantly bumping into everything.
Sometimes when an island is too tight, you will continually bump into the cabinets and not be able to move around the kitchen naturally.
If you like the look of wide-open rooms and space, go for a kitchen without an island.
3. Could Have Issues with Plumbing/Electric
Before you get your hopes up about installing a kitchen island, you must make sure that it is feasible.
Of course, if you are planning on having a cabinet with a simple countertop, the island should not cause any problems.
However, if you plan to add plumbing and electricity, you will need to make sure that your island has the necessary hookups.
This is likely going to require the work of several subcontractors and potentially a general contractor.
As you can very likely imagine, the pricing for that will be quite a bit higher than you may like.
Sometimes it will not be feasible to have gas and electric or water hookups on your island.
If this is your main reason for putting one in, chances are you may have to reconsider your choice and decide on another layout for the kitchen.
Although many kitchens today have an island, it is not necessarily a standard or required in a new home build.
There are lots of choices out there for kitchen design, and you can usually find something that will work to get the job done.
Conclusion
Now that you have seen how a kitchen island is attached to the floor, you can move forward with whatever your kitchen renovation project is.
Don’t try to get away with leaving the island free standing.
Over time, it could slide and cause damage.
When you start adding heavy things inside the cabinets and a granite top, you will find that a stable base is essential.
Attaching the island to the floor is not a long or difficult project, and it is one that should hold up just as long as the island does.
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