An off-the-wall way to save some cash
Whether cutting cabinet installation costs or trimming the cost of painting cabinets, learning how to remove kitchen cabinets yourself can save money and doesn't require years of skills training. However, doing the job yourself comes with some safety risks as cabinets are heavy, bulky items. Learn how to uninstall kitchen cabinets safely and easily to make room for the next phase of your project.
Preparing to remove your kitchen cabinets requires a bit of planning. Cabinets can be heavy, so having a partner to lend a hand when necessary is a good idea. Also, if protecting the floor is your goal, lay down a drop cloth or two onto the floor. However, use caution when walking on the cloth to avoid slipping.
It’s also helpful to cut a pair of scrap lumber boards to equal the length from the floor to the bottom of the upper wall cabinets and set them aside until you're ready for them later in the steps.
Preparing the cabinets consists of a couple of steps. First, remove everything from inside the cabinets and store it somewhere well out of the way. Next, remove the cabinet-mounted microwave if you have a model that isn't hardwired but has a plug instead. Unplug the appliance and, with a helper holding the unit up, unscrew the two screws in the cabinet above. You can now lower the front of the microwave and pull it off the wall bracket. Contact a local electrician to help with a hardwired microwave or stove hood.
Using your drill or power screwdriver, remove the screws that secure the cabinet side of the door hinges to each cabinet. Set the doors aside and out of the way. Next, remove the drawers from the base cabinets and set them aside.
If you're an experienced DIYer, you may have the skills necessary to turn off and disconnect the plumbing to the kitchen sink and dishwasher. However, we recommend hiring a professional plumber to take care of the task. If electrical devices or wires are present, you may need to have an electrician disconnect those items and get the wires out of your way. At the very least, turn off the electrical circuit to the kitchen outlets at the breaker panel.
With a combination of a hammer, putty knife, and pry bar, put on safety glasses and remove any crown molding trim at the top of the wall cabinets. Repeat the process for the trim boards or quarter-round trim where the base cabinets meet the floor.
Unscrew the retaining clips underneath the lip of the sink or where an undermount sink connects to the countertop. Use a utility knife to cut the silicone sealant from around the top of the undermount sink while supporting the sink's weight with your other hand. The unit should come free, but you may need some gentle prying with a putty knife or a pry bar.
For other sinks, wedge a putty knife under the sink's lip and gently pry up the edges to remove. The sink should come straight up and out of the hole. However, you may need to cut some sealant away with a utility knife.
Countertops generally connect to the base cabinets with a few screws and adhesive underneath the counter. Unscrew the screws with your drill or power screwdriver from below the counter. From below, use your pry bar to wedge into gaps between the countertop and the cabinets. Gently pry in several locations until the countertop comes loose. Remove the countertops with a helper and set them safely aside.
Base cabinets join together at the front frames and to the wall with screws. Find the frame screws between the door or drawer stiles. They may be hiding under wood fill or stickers. Remove the screws and then remove the screws holding the cabinets to the wall. Pull each base cabinet free from the rest one at a time as you go and set each aside.
Wall cabinets also connect at the frame stiles and to the wall. However, their attachments to the wall vary. If you don't have a helper to hold the wall cabinets as you remove them, stand your two scrap lumber pieces from earlier under each cabinet resting on the floor and against the wall. This setup will provide some safety by propping up each cabinet briefly until you have both hands free to lift the cabinet off the wall.
One upper cabinet at a time, remove the frame stile screws only from the cabinet you're currently removing. If screws attach the cabinet to the wall, remove them while you, your helper, or your temporary supports hold the cabinet in place. Pull the cabinet straight out from the wall to remove it. If no screws are present going into the wall, lift the cabinet off of its support rail located behind it. Or, if there's no support rail either, the unit is likely glued to the wall, in which case, pry it loose from the wall and remove it.
While you don’t need many supplies to remove kitchen cabinets yourself, you may need to spend some money hiring professionals to disconnect and reconnect wires and pipes for you. The project requires patience, and although you won't need years of experience to do it, having some knowledge of how cabinets attach to the wall and each other will help.
However, if you'd prefer to have a professional tackle this task, a cabinet repair professional near you can perform the work for you. Expect the cost of kitchen demolition to hover around $800 on average. You can also consult your cabinet repair pro to determine the cost of only removing the cabinets.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriorsMy kitchen cabinets look brand new thanks to Custom Paint Jobs LLC. Their refinishing is exceptional.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCIf I could give 10 stars for Kitchen Tune Up, I would. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Kitchen Tune Up and the entire team involved in the process of my kitchen project. They went above and beyond as far as service and quality with my cabinets, paint, countertops, and...
We live in a condo and had space to add a tall cabinet. The problem was the space was already occupied by our catsâ litter box. We needed to still keep the litter box in that same corner. Beiler Custom Cabinets was able to work with our need and design request. What was created was an...
Beiler Custom Cabinets, LTDAbsolutely amazing, Rob and his team are extremely efficient and professional. Pink Dumpster Rentals, Demolition, And Hauling is a go to for getting my property cleared up so we can pursue the upgrades we want to make on our home.
Pink Dumpster Rentals, Demolition, And HaulingThey work that 360 did on my kitchen cabinets is nothing short of amazing. I still cannot believe the difference from before and after. Jon and Jeff were both so incredibly professional throughout the whole process and their communications with me were constant and consistent. These guys...
360 Painting ColumbusI had a variety of projects around my house. The work was done quickly and correctly. I was kept informed of every step during the projects and they followed up with me to make sure it was all good.
House DoctorsPhil understood the style I wanted and suggested options for materials (unlike the standard kitchen folks who kept pushing the same cabinets everyone buys). He stepped through all the decisions about the details with me, using his computer program to show the differences between the choices....
Baker Group RemodelingI had a great experience with this company. They installed a small TV on the wall of my kitchen between two cabinets. Team came out and did a very thorough inspection and quote. The rep who installed the TV had to do some extra work to snake the cords behind the wall from the top cabinets...
The Theater PeopleI couldn't be more pleased with the job Ryan and his team did! My old oak kitchen cabinets now look like brand new white ones. They were able to provide an estimate based on my photos that was far below other companies I checked with, and that was the final price too. They were able to come...
Rhino Painting & Color Consulting LLCFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Your cabinet removal cost will depend on kitchen size and labor expenses. Find out what your budget could look like.
The cost to demo a kitchen depends on its size, construction complexity, materials, and whether you DIY the job or not. This guide will help you budget better.
The cost to replace the bottom of kitchen cabinets often isn’t too high, but depending on the damage, a full cabinet replacement can cost thousands.
Discover how to remove lower kitchen cabinets without damage to maintain their integrity for repainting, reuse, or resale.
Kitchen cabinets can get grimy and dirty with everyday use. Learn how to clean kitchen cabinets to keep your kitchen looking great.
Refacing or remodeling your kitchen cabinets can give a whole new look to one of the most-used rooms in your home. Read on to learn at least 10 different ways to update or upgrade your budget kitchen cabinets without breaking the bank.
