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new cabinets under existing counters

7 years ago

I did remodeling on our rental house in 2013 including new kitchen appliances and new quartz counters. We've decided to move there in our retirement since it has a master on the main. I'd like to install new cabinets. I will keep the same layout. I asked the counter installers to use minimal adhesive. How feasible is it to demo the cabinets and install new cabinets while saving the counters for re-use?




Comments (17)

  • 7 years ago

    Not very. You have to design and install to the very same dimensions. Especially with the sink cut out dimension. And then you have the issue of damaging the countertop during removal or reinstallation. You also have to find a fabricator/installer willing to take on the risk of damaging the countertop.

    Give yourself the opportunity to improve your kitchen with an updated layout. Let go of the countertop you installed for the rental. Now it can reflect your personality in a way you couldn’t when it was a rental.

    Karin B thanked mainenell
  • 7 years ago

    The cabinets appear to be in good shape. What don’t you like about them? How would you change them? How much did you spend on the counter top when you installed it? Think this through. Perhaps you can keep your current cabinets...re staining, painting, or refacing them. Add to the tops of the cabinets for more storage? Change your hardware? Price out those options. Consider the price of a new counter to what you spent for this one. Just some questions to think about.

    Karin B thanked ptreckel
  • 7 years ago

    From the Net:

    When a granite (or quartz) fabricator gets a call from a customer inquiring if their granite can be removed and re-installed, here’s what the fabricator has to do.

    •Ensure that the sink, disposer, faucet and dishwasher have all been disconnected/removed

    •Send out a team of installers (who would otherwise be installing new counters)

    •Using wedges and prybars, gently try to break the backsplash free from the wall.

    •Using the same tools, try to gently pry the slabs free from the cabinets.

    •Hope the joints break cleanly at the epoxy line

    •If all goes well and the slabs don’t snap, they are carried off and set somewhere out-of-the-way. (At least as out-of the way as 1500 lbs of rock can be)

    •Come back after a few weeks when the old cabinets have been removed, and any flooring, drywall and plumbing has been completed and the new cabinets are in place.

    •Scrape any residual adhesive off the old slabs, grind any old epoxy from the seam line and reinstall. If the new cabinets have the exact same dimensions as the old and have been installed precisely the same way, the counters should have the same overhang and stop cleanly at the cabinet edge next to the range and the refrigerator.

    If not, well… A fabricator is going to have to price this as 2 trips and really can’t estimate how long removal will take, so will probably have to charge hourly for the team of 4. In addition, they can’t be held responsible if the slabs break, so you’ll be asked to sign a release before the work begins.

    Obviously, this type of work isn’t a money-maker for a busy countertop shop. There is an exception – and I have done this myself. If the granite is a basic rectangle without any cutouts and is installed on a desk or an island. It is much more feasible to remove and reinstall this slab. It’s still a little nerve-wracking as you try to pry the top free, but the chances of it breaking are much less than on a full run of kitchen counters. Of course, even with this you would need 2 visits, one to remove and to reinstall.

    Karin B thanked shirlpp
  • 7 years ago

    My sister did exactly what you want to do. Her cabinets were falling apart so she had the granite company remove and then replace her existing granite.

    Karin B thanked Karen
  • 7 years ago

    Have you ever cooked in this kitchen? Asking because that stove being buried in the corner would drive me up a wall.


    So I would forget trying to re-use the counters and focus on improving the floorplan.

    Karin B thanked ci_lantro
  • 7 years ago

    You would need to have the counters carefully removed first to demo the old cabinets, and the new cabinets must exactly fit the old footprint. If the counter installers actually used less-than-usual adhesive, it should not be a problem. Keep the sink if it is in good condition because it already fits the counter. Treat yourselves to a new faucet and control set.
    Go for it!

    Karin B thanked felizlady
  • 7 years ago

    I think your cost for saving the countertops won’t make sense. I’d reconsider the whole room and remodel when you can afford countertops and cabinets at the same time.
    Or, reface/repaint these as has been suggested.

    Karin B thanked RedRyder
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Fix the layout and get new counters in the long run probably save money.

    Karin B thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I've done this job several times. No, I am not responsible for any breakage; you'll pay me to fix it if I break it. Success depends mostly on the layout.

    Karin B thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    That is a serously bad layout. Fix that and don’t sweat the stone tops not fitting the new. They won’t likely survive removal intact.

    Karin B thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Let me ask you a question. This is your retirement house but the layout of the kitchen is totally dysfunctional in that you can't even put dishes in the dishwasher without turning 90 degrees every time you want to put something in and that's assuming you're thin. If you're not, it will mean moving out of the way first before putting stuff in the dishwasher. Not a good thing if you're aging in place.

    Additionally, the opening of the stove interferes with the opening of the dishwasher and visa versa.

    Before you consider redoing the cabinets, I'd seriously reconsider the floor plan.

    Karin B thanked cpartist
  • 7 years ago

    Redo it.. it was a rental .you made money. A new kitchen is probably largely paid for already then. It's okay to accept a bit of remorse about the counters but look at the big picture. important reasons to redo things and you should.

    Karin B thanked herbflavor
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you to ALL-for the time and thoughtful ideas ❤!

  • 7 years ago

    AND sorry I didn't answer sooner. Houzz didn't notify me that I had responses. Just checked and look what I found. Lots of helpful, detailed responses.

  • 7 years ago

    The countertop material is quite pretty. Perhaps you could salvage some of it and use it in bathroom vanities, if you rework the kitchen to a better plan?

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    NO would be the simple answer and IMO that kitchen needs a rework anyway to function properly.