How to Handle Ceramic Tile Floor Transitions under a Dishwasher

By Mark J. Donovan

Question: Could you please tell us how to handle tiling under a dishwasher to keep from making it too high to go back under the cabinets? With the backerboard and then the tile, it has too much height. What are our options?

Answer: First, most kitchen appliances have adjustable legs that can be rotated to raise or lower the appliance. You may want to see if you can adjust the legs of the dishwasher to lower it such that you can install the backerboard and ceramic tile underneath it and clear the underside of the countertops. Also, you may altogether want to remove the adjustable legs to maximize the clearance.

Second, most dishwasher legs sit back a couple of inches from the front of the appliance. You could consider only tiling up to the edge of the dishwasher legs.