Kitchen Cabinet Removal Guide

If you are looking to remodel your kitchen with a kitchen cabinet upgrade but have a strict budget to stick to, then we have a tip to reduce the bill: remove the cabinets yourself. Even if you have just enough to have the cabinets removed as well, you can remove the cabinets yourself and reallocate that expense to upgrade your new cabinets one notch further. In this article brought to you by Starr Dumpsters, we will go over how to remove those kitchen cabinets. Before jumping in, you should determine what you are going to do with the old cabinets. You can sell, donate, or trash them. If you need help disposing of the remainders, feel free to call Starr Dumpsters in DC to speak with a friendly professional.

Gather Your Tools and Prepare the Area

The process of removing cabinets is not necessarily difficult. Still, it does require some specific tools and a couple of days of work. Let’s get started by gathering the necessary tools and preparing the work area. You will need:

• Pry bar
• Putty knives
• Utility knife
• Hammer
• Drill
• Screwdriver
• Measuring Tape
• Wrench
• Reciprocating Saw
• Step Ladder
• Tarps
• Spare 2x4s

Most importantly, you should keep your safety in mind and have gloves and goggles ready. Before going into demolition mode, we should get the area ready. Start by emptying out your cabinets and clear everything from the countertops. Shut off the electricity and water to the kitchen and cover the floor and countertops with tarps.

Disassemble Fixtures, Trims, and Seals

Once you have the area prepared, you can get started on taking apart the fixtures, trims, and seals. Unscrew the doors from the cabinet body so that the hinge remains with the door. Then, lift out the shelves and drawers without removing the brackets unless necessary. 

Next, remove the pieces of wood framing that connect the cabinets with the floor or wall. Use a utility knife to separate the caulk from cabinet and other surfaces. Then, use a hammer to wedge a pry bar behind the trim and pull it away.

Remove the Cabinets

Finally, let’s get started on the heavy work. Start by preparing your supports. Measure the space between the countertops and the bottom of the top cabinets. Then, cut the 2x4s into four pieces at that length. Place the supports under each corner of the cabinet. It’s even better to have a second or third pair of hands to keep cabinets from falling.

Look at where the cabinets connect to one another and check to see if there are any fasteners. Unscrew the fasteners to separate the cabinets from each other. Similarly, remove the screws that attach the cabinet to the wall. If the cabinet is connected with glue, then use a hammer to wedge the pry bar between the cabinet and the wall.

Once you have detached the cabinets from each other and from the wall, gently lift the cabinet upwards and away from the wall. Do this carefully as you may have missed a screw or spot of glue. Do you need dumpster rental for your kitchen remoding project? Call Starr Dumpsters now.