It seems that the main drawback for tiling under the cabinets would be wasted material. I see the benefits as having everything at the same base height and if there happens to be a leak behind the fridge, it would spill out evenly, and you would notice sooner, rather than having it pool in the recessed area. I see J Scott is a 'cabinets first' believer.
Thoughts on this?
J Scott here...
In general, yes, I am a "cabinets first" believer, but I know LOTS of rehabbers/builders who go the other way (flooring first), and their rationale is just as valid as mine (there are certainly some cases where I'll go that route as well). Keep in mind that as a rehabber, my goal is to turn out a quality product as efficiently as possible. By putting in the cabinets first, we can gain in two major areas of efficiency:
1. Cost - It's generally less expensive to put the cabinets in first, as you save more on material than the extra you'll spend on labor;
2. Time - Granite countertops can't be measured until the cabinets are in, and once they're measured, they take 1-2 weeks to be fabricated/delivered/installed. Worse yet, until the cabinets are in, plumbing can't be finished at the kitchen sink. By getting the cabinets in first, you don't lose 1-3 weeks on countertops, plumbing and final inspections.
That said, I'm in the process of building my personal residence, and I'll likely put the hardwood in prior to the cabinets. But, I won't finish the hardwoods until the very, very end. That way, I don't have to worry about contractors and tools messing up my nice new hardwoods.