The Spruce / Margot Cavin
With a fullkitchen remodel, you’ll need to know how to removekitchen cabinets.
Safety Considerations
Work with a capable assistant, since kitchen cabinets are heavy and awkward to move.
Never remove a cabinet that has unsecured doors, as it can tip forward.
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
All contents should first be removed.
Wall cabinets are screwed to wall studs with four or more screws per cabinet.
Adjacent cabinets will be screwed side-to-side with short screws.
Remove Appliances
Unplug and remove small appliances like microwaves.
Remove the Shelves
Lift shelves off of the shelf pins and set the shelves aside.
The pins can stay in place.
Remove the Doors
Unscrew the door hinge screws to remove the doors from the cabinets.
It’s not common to caulk or paint against kitchen cabinets, but sometimes you will find this.
Unscrew the Side Screws
Use theelectric drillto turn out screws on the interior side of the cabinet.
You will find side screws only if there are adjacent wall cabinets.
Typically, there will be four screws with washers per cabinet box.
Lay a towel below the wall cabinet to protect the countertop.
It’s helpful to be able to first lower the cabinet to the countertop.
The assistant should take the other side of the cabinet.
Lower the cabinet to the countertop.
Then, pick up the cabinet and move it to the floor.
How to Remove Kitchen Base Cabinets
Base cabinetsrest on the floor.
Four or more screws per cabinet are driven through the back of the cabinet frame.
Adjacent cabinets are attached side-to-side with short screws.
Remove the Shelves and Drawers
Lift shelves off of the pins and set them aside.
Pull out all the drawers.
Uninstall the Dishwasher
Remove the dishwasher by first shutting off the circuit breaker to the dishwasher.
Unscrew the brackets below the countertop that attach the dishwasher to the countertop.
Turn off and detach the water supply line in the base cabinet, below the sink.
Slide the dishwasher forward.
Either remove some of the flooring in front of the dishwasher or remove the countertop.
Detach the Sink
Turn off the two water supply lines in the sink base cabinet.
Unscrew the water supply lines with pliers or by hand.
Unscrew the drain pipes by hand.
Unplug the garbage disposal.
It’s safest to remove the sink from the countertop.
But if the sink and countertop are light enough, you might lift both out together.
Rest the countertop on sawhorses to prevent damage to the sink.
Cut Away the Caulk
Cut away any caulk along the back of the countertop.
This caulk may be in place to seal the countertop to the backsplash on the back wall.
Sometimes, the backsplash and countertop may be a unified piece.
In this case, cut the caulk attaching the top of the backsplash to the wall.
This prevents damage to the toe kick plate.
Unscrew these screws with the electric drill.
Lift the Cabinets Out
With an assistant, lift the base cabinets out.
Place the cabinets on towels or on hand trucks to remove them from the house.
you might remove kitchen cabinets yourself, depending on your strength.
