When it comes to how to remove kitchen cabinets there are several steps you’ll need to take in order to ensure the job is a complete success – while you might think it is just a case of taking a crowbar to your old units and tearing them out, taking this kind of gung-ho approach could, in fact, cause unnecessary damage to the space as a whole, add to your overall costs and cause frustrating delays to the project.
While fitting a new kitchen is often a job undertaken by keen DIYers, in many cases the removal of the old one and the importance of getting this step right, is overlooked – yet, with the right planning and a sound knowledge of the process, this stage can be carried out without any drama.
We asked some kitchen experts for the five things you should always check before ripping out kitchen cabinets for a safe and smooth-running project.
1. What they have been concealing
If you are renovating a kitchen and were not the owner of the house when the existing kitchen was installed then you may well be totally unaware of what is going on behind them.
“One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make before removing an existing kitchen is assuming the cabinets are simply furniture that can be lifted out without consequence,” picks up Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport. “In reality, they often conceal far more than just storage.
“We regularly uncover plumbing, electrics and uneven floors that have been hidden behind units for years, particularly in older homes where services were added gradually rather than planned as a whole,” continues Richard. “Understanding what sits behind the cabinetry before work begins allows you to budget properly and avoids the disruption of having to pause a project while unexpected remedial work is carried out.”
Richard Davonport is a luxury cabinetmaker, designer and the founder and Managing Director of kitchen specialists, Davonport. The company designs and makes bespoke kitchens from its workshop in the heart of East Anglia. He has a vast wealth of experience in kitchen design, layout and creating beautiful kitchens for all type of homes.
2. Whether or not they are holding up your worktops
Before you go pulling out your old kitchen units to make way for new you need to be absolutely certain of what else they are holding up – just as you would’t go knocking down a wall without first investigating what it was supporting.
“Worktops deserve particular care when taking out kitchen cabinets – especially stone or composite surfaces,” warns Richard Davonport. “These are frequently supported not only by the cabinets beneath them but also by timber rails, steel brackets or fixings which will be bonded into the wall.
“Removing base units without first understanding how the load of the work surfaces is distributed can cause cracking due to sudden movement. Even if you are replacing kitchen worktops, damage to walls, floors or adjacent finishes can quickly escalate costs. Taking the time to assess how the worktop is fixed and supported ensures it can be removed safely and without compromising the fabric of the room.”
3. How they are attached to the wall
There are lots of different ways to secure kitchen cabinets to the wall and the methods most often used these days will not necessarily be the same as those employed by the previous owners of a house – in short, if you are renovating a house expect to be surprised at what you may find.
“It is really important to look closely at how cabinets are attached to the wall, as this often determines the condition of the wall space behind once they are gone,” explains Richard Davonport. “You will often find that older kitchens have been screwed directly through plaster into masonry or studwork, leaving walls that need extensive making good before a new kitchen can be installed.
“Knowing this upfront helps create a realistic schedule of works, allowing for stripping out, preparation and refitting to flow smoothly rather than becoming a series of reactive fixes once the kitchen is already dismantled.”
5. What the floor is like underneath them
When it comes to the commonly-asked question, ‘should you put flooring under kitchen cabinets?‘ there is no clear-cut answer, meaning you might not be completely certain what you are going to find under your units once they are gone.
The general advice these days says that, if it is a streamlined, polished look you are after and a simple installation process, it makes sense to continue your kitchen flooring beneath you units, fitting them on top. The only time this is not such a good idea is if you are laying a floating floor, such as LVT which needs to be able to freely expand and contract.
Basically, expect the worse. Be prepared to find unfinished floors beneath old kitchen cabinets and you won’t find yourself having to hunt down matching kitchen flooring or specifying an entirely new floor at the last minute.
4. Their current condition
In addition to considering what you might discover behind or beneath your kitchen cabinets, it is well worth looking at what you already have before you rush in and rip them out. You might just find you could save a little money by reusing what you have, such as carcasses in sound condition.
“Before you begin spending too much money, be sure to check if the cupboards are in good shape and worthy of a do-up,” suggests Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens. “I would begin with the kitchen worktops, as these are the most prominent part of a kitchen. If they are wood, get them sanded back and re-oiled, and they will be as good as new. Don’t forget, when deciding on your worktops, to also look at your taps. If you decide to choose something different, they may need a different cutout in the worktop.
“If the cabinets are not in too bad condition, I would look at the knobs and handles next,” continues Helen. “Really beautiful hardware makes an enormous difference to the finished look of a kitchen. Quality is more expensive, but it also makes an average kitchen suddenly feel much more bespoke. These three jobs could be enough to give your kitchen a completely new lease of life without ripping out all the cabinets.”
Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL Kitchens, is the visionary behind the brand’s timeless aesthetic, award-winning designs, and iconic pieces like the Sebastian Cox Kitchen and the Curiosity Cupboard.
FAQs
How do you remove kitchen cabinets?
The removal of old kitchen cabinets is a task often undertaken on a DIY basis in order to save on the cost of a new kitchen – although the job is best carried out by two people. Work should be undertaken in the following order:
- Disconnect services to kitchen appliances that are being removed or repositioned.
- Take out appliances, including the sink.
- Remove worktops (they will usually be fixed from beneath).
- Take off cabinet doors and remove drawers and any shelves.
- Unscrew fixings from the back of base units and any that are holding units together. They should pull out easily.
- Take off wall units by unscrewing them at the brackets and removing fittings holding double units together. They should then lift out and up off the brackets.
Before you tear out your old cabinets it is important that you have already started to look into designing a kitchen – ideally, you will have a firm plan in place and have ordered your new fixtures and fittings. This way there will be no delays meaning you won’t need to put up with a temporary kitchen for too long.
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