Question
How do you install an island over tile without destroying the tile? The customers do not want me to drill or remove anything. Can I glue it down? If I was to glue it down, what could I use?
Forum Responses
(Cabinet and Millwork Installation Forum)
From contributor D:
If you can't drill through the tile maybe you could drill into a grout line at a place where four tiles come together, then anchor some blocking to screw the cabinet to. Some liquid nails under the blocking would also help.
Make sure it's ok to do this with local codes also. In my state any island which is secured must have electrical supply on it which would obviously mean drilling holes in the tiles.
Other ways it's been done in clude:
1. Casters with locks (no fastener method).
2. Install 3-4 threaded pins in the grout line on one side (depending on size of island); drill a corresponding hole in the bottom of the island, and set in place.
3. Weighted base (no fastener method) - fabricate a separate to-kick box (complete box), which can have weights added to it on each corner, then attach rubber bumpers to the bottom, which won't slide on the tile. Position where the island will go, fill the box with weights (as much as you want, but be sure to secure whatever weights you use to the bottom or side of the toe-kick box), close the top (it's a box remember), then attached the island cabinet to the top of the toe-kick box. Attach finished kick material leaving a 1/6'-1/8" gap. The combination of the weights, bumpers, cabinet and countertop, along with the contents of the island and it's not going anywhere. Just make sure you charge for this.
There are other ways, but you get the picture. Personally, I would sell her on the idea of blocking screwed through the grout line. If she doesn't warm to that idea, propose the other alternatives above, at a premium, and she'll come around.
