Base Cabinets Step 1 Remove all drawers and empty the cabinets. Usually just dabs in spots. Cabinet refacing to the rescue! First, make sure that the main water valve is turned off and that all the water has been drained from the pipes. Remove all doors and drawers from cabinets to protect them. in Home Improvements, Kitchen Projects on 03/23/17. Now it slides right under the countertop overhang. Unscrew the cabinet unit from the soffit and remove the cabinets. You will need prybars, thin knives/putty knifes, rubber mallet, possibly wood shims. Removing a laminate kitchen countertop is relatively easy because it’s held onto the cabinets with a combination of adhesive and screws. Every situation will present its own set of difficulties. Most granite slabs are held in place using silicone to the cabinet. Look underneath inside the cabinets to locate any gap between the cabinet and the granite. The cabinet is likely also screwed (or nailed) to its neighbor (or its neighbors to it) near the top and bottom backs. Since the top overhangs the top rail of the face frame, I cut a 1" cut from the bottom perimeter of the new base cabinet. Most laminate countertops use silicone adhesive. Start by removing the drawers and clear out all the cabinets to avoid filling them with dust and debris. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we earn a small percentage of each sale. Screws are sometimes hidden under the hinges, so take the hinges off of the cabinet you want to remove, but also the cabinets next to it to search for hidden screws. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some countertop installations, such as granite, will use an epoxy or construction adhesive like liquid nails. Some situations will allow you to remove the cabinets in whole sections and others scenarios will require that you knock the boxes apart and remove them in pieces. If there is a window above the countertop, it may be necessary to remove the window casing and stops around the window in order to pull out the old backsplash. Can't save any of the cabinets, of course, but it allows you to remove large chunks from the lower part to make it easier to remove the rest without damage.

Finally, the cabinet is screwed (or nailed) into the wall. You CAN have the cabinets refaced. In most installations, these are located in the front and rear corners on the underside of the counter. This method gives cabinets a brand new look, just without the brand new price tag. Work the putty knife around the edge of the countertop, breaking any adhesive seal that exists between the countertop and the base cabinets. Braces should be at least1/8" to 1/4" taller so you can slip the new cabinet in. Label the backs of each, so if you are reusing them, you will know where they belong. If those are old, built in place cabinets, one of the most useful tools for removing them is the chainsaw. There are several companies that will replace doors and drawer fronts and place a veneer over remaining cabinet surfaces. Tape the screws to the hinges.

Then, disconnect the plumbing from the faucet and sink using a wrench or pliers to turn the nuts on the lines and piping until they come loose. Cut the existing cabinets in half or thirds, up and down, remove each part, putting in the braces for the countertop. You can't physically remove the cabinets without removing the counter top. Remove the cabinet doors and drawers. How to Remove Laminate Countertop & Backsplash Without Damaging Cabinets. Step 4 Position an auto jack alongside the counter. Once you have removed everything you can from your base cabinets, you can take out the sink. Failing to do this before removing the counter may damage the wall. Tape the cabinet doors shut. I have never actually done this, but it is supposed to have the appearance of completely new cabinets at a fraction of the cost. The cabinet guys tried to remove the bases with the tops in place, but succeeded in changing the level sufficiently for the seam to separate. Yes, you may axe me how do I know that. Without ever disturbing the countertop, I break out the old base cabinet two at a time but always leaving support for the top. Instead trying to break the countertop seal and removing the existing cabinets in one piece.