Vinyl Flooring Or Cabinets First . Whether you go with hardwood, tile or vinyl, having a wide open room allows for more full pieces of flooring to be installed. The first type of vinyl plank flooring is called “floating.” Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring Under from nivafloors.com The floating floor allows the pieces to move more freely as they expand and contract. Cabinets, especially with heavy stone countertops, could damage your floating floors. Cabinets can be installed first if you’re placing delicate tiles that might get damaged during cabinetry or appliance installation.