I had a cabinet maker make new upper cabinets and he refaced the bottom cabinets. He put in new bottom drawers, pullouts for the cabinets, etc. I was thrilled to get a new kitchen without the risk of cracking the granite.

Do you even have to remove the countertop to reface cabinets?

I have been there and seen it happen; a kitchen-worth of blue pearl was removed intact, new cabinets installed (to the same exact layout) and the Blue Pearl set right back in place. I had been skeptical. It was part of a $875k remodeling we did, and it's not like new granite would have broken that family's bank.

sunsoleil - thanks for the input. I have a local cabinet maker that I plan to use too. When you say you put in new bottom drawers, did you have drawers there before? or did the cabinet maker build them for your space? I ask because I would love more drawers on the bottom cabinets but I have lots of doors, making large pans a pain to get out.

loonlakelaborcamp - if I reface the bottom cabinets then I don't have to remove the cabinets.

Sombreuil - OH MY - what I could design with 875k hehehehe... I'm surprised they didn't buy new slabs lol. But thanks for the input. I'm hopeful we can reuse the granite should we decide to get all new cabinets.

I have myself removed the granite from a kitchen and re-installed it in the home I was renovating, 52 miles away. We went very slowly and thoroughly in cutting the silicone caulk, and lifted very carefully in unison. It worked beautifully.

Thanks everyone - I'm feeling better about the possibility of reusing our granite.

I did a remodel on a flood damaged home for a family last year. I had to hire my granite fabricating company remove the tops and place them in a safe area...and then come back out several weeks later and reinstall it. The granite co. required the homeowner to sign a contract stating that if the top were damaged in any way, they were not held responsible during any part of the process: the removal, storage and re-installation. It was a risk the homeowners will willing to accept and it wasn't cheap. If I remember correctly, cost the homeowner over $1300. But it went smoothly and nothing was damaged.

He made new drawer boxes with high quality slides. I didn't ask for drawers at the time to replace cabinet doors (but I did have him put in pullouts in the cabinets.) i was just so happy to get new cabinets!

sunsoleil thanks for the update. I'd love to keep the existing lower cabinets if I could somehow make them more functional. It's annoying trying to get large pots and pans out but I've been doing it for 8+ years so if I have to keep doing it, I know I'll survive lol. I like the idea of pullouts in the cabinets like you mentioned. I don't know if it will work with my space though. I'm stuck with small doors right now. I also have exposed hinges which I might want to change if I do remodel and get new uppers.

I gave my cabinets and granite counter tops to my contractor. He had just purchased a new home and was starting to renovate his kitchen, too. He had his granite fabricator come to my house and removed the backsplashes and counter tops. He had them loaded onto his truck and hauled them to his new home himself. He said it cost him $250 for the service call. I watched and it was easier to pull out than I would have imagined. An exacto knife, a pry bar and a couple of strong men to pop and carry. I don't know what it cost him to have the material fabricated for his application. It was a small kitchen. I think he got plenty of material from my kitchen.

homechef59 - thank you! I think I can come up with an exacto knife, a pry bar and a couple of strong men :)

No experience with the granite, but we did turn the lower cabinets with drawers on each side of our range into two large wide drawers on each side. We were refinishing the cabinets and replacing all the doors. You may need to get someone to do the cabinetry work and then someone else to do the refacing if the refacing company cannot do the modifications. It can be done. Our cabinets are partial overlay the same as yours.

I'd have the cabinet maker come look at them. I know mine could do anything. He had to rebuild the insides of the lower cabinets to accommodate the sturdy pullouts he installed. I carefully removed the 4 inch backsplash and I did crack one piece. I don't think anyone will guarantee removal. There have been plenty of instances where granite has cracked upon installation. I would see what my options were before contemplating removal and reinstallation. Pretty granite!

I have done this job for clients many times from refabricating granite they've purchased on Craigslist to removing and storing the stone and reinstalling it on new cabinets. I've broken the tops and repaired the breaks; you'll agree in writing that I'm not responsible or I'm not coming. It depends on the configuration, the delicacy of the stone, and the fabrication and installation methods used as to breakage and/or how easy the job will be.

I just called my buddy's granite guy today to come check out our situation and prepare to refit the granite. We bought a demo sale kitchen which came with granite countertops. We broke one backsplash when removing it but got the big pieces and the other backsplash sections out without a problem.

I had two strong guys who both have lots of moving and construction experience and another helper and it was quite an adventure to get the largest piece of granite (3' x 7') down the porch steps and placed in the truck. Don't underestimate the weight or the difficulty of moving granite. Spend time making your plans and figuring out how and where you will move it before you get it halfway off the cabinets.