Kitchen flooring in Mountain View, CA

Material options

Porcelain tile handles water and wear. Luxury vinyl plank is waterproof and quiet. Engineered wood can continue from adjoining rooms if spills are wiped up quickly. Polished or sealed concrete suits some slab-on-grade mid-century houses.

Slab or wood subfloor

Over a concrete slab, moisture testing and leveling come first. Over a wood subfloor, stiffness matters, because tile cracks on a floor that flexes. Houses with radiant heat in the slab need flooring rated for it.

Under or around the cabinets

Running the floor under the cabinets keeps options open for a future layout. Stopping at the cabinet base uses less material. Either way, leave enough height for the dishwasher to slide out.

Flooring terms

Underlayment: the layer between subfloor and finish floor. Self-leveler: a pourable compound that flattens a slab. Transition strip: trim where two floor types meet. Click-lock: planks that snap together without glue. Expansion gap: space left at the walls so the floor can move.

Permits in Mountain View

Mountain View requires a building permit, issued before construction starts, for any kitchen remodel that replaces the cabinets. Replacing countertops or refacing the existing cabinets does not need one.
Depending on the scope, separate electrical or plumbing permits may apply, and replacing a range hood that vents outdoors needs a mechanical permit. The application includes an 11-by-17-inch plan of the existing and proposed kitchen and an electrical load calculation.
If the remodel changes the outside of the house, the Planning Division reviews it before the building submittal. The City lists about 5 business days to receive a permit for a like-for-like replacement and 2 to 3 months for a renovation that removes walls.

City of Mountain View Building Division · 500 Castro Street, (650) 903-6313

Common questions

Can tile go over a radiant-heated slab?

Generally yes; tile and stone work well over radiant heat. The installer should confirm the slab is sound and use setting materials suited to heat.

Does new kitchen flooring need a permit in Mountain View?

The City lists carpeting, tiling and similar finish work as exempt, but not when the work is part of a kitchen remodel. Ask the Building Division if the floor is part of a larger project.