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ethridge_laura

Lowered Cabinet Fix

4 years ago

We’re looking to purchase a condo but the previous owner has lowered the base cabinets. Does anyone know how hard of a fix would this be to get bases back to standard height? Or should we walk away?

Comments (5)

  • 4 years ago

    It would be a lot of work. Those are for seated access more or less, and even lower than "universal access". Looks to be about 30" instead of 36".

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    It isn't all that. One good guy and two days probably, if you're not crazy fussy.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    It wouldn't be that hard. Fabricate a foot for it and pick them up.

    The biggest cost will be replacing or modifying the current countertops to work(they'll have to come off and be trimmed at minimum IF you can get them without breaking them). Also you have the plumbing and range top to deal with.

    The biggest PITA will be finding someone who is skilled and competent enough to do it well but also willing to dinker around with a small job like this. People who have considerable experience with custom cabinet fabrication would rather be putting $50,000 of new cabinets in your kitchen then making a new foot for you.

  • 4 years ago

    It wouldn't be too hard to do, but need to expect you would need to replace the countertop most likely as it has chances of breaking and it would also need to be re-cut to fit and line up to the left side countertop. Likely would be hard to find someone to do though as most that would be qualified likely won't want to do it. If I bought the condo I would just budget in that I would get new countertops and new base cabinets. I would go with a similar style, but a different color and make the update look intentional. Finding someone to do this would be easier.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    First thing that I would do is make sure the wall cabinets on the right side are the same height as the wall cabinets on the left.

    In the photo, the right side cabinets appear to be taller than left side ones.

    If so, this is a big wrinkle. Because raising the bottom cabinets will result in reduced space between counter top & bottom of cabinet. (You want/ minimum of 16" between; more is ideal.) The what will be reduced space between the cooktop & what looks like a microwave is another potential problem.

    Raising the low base cabinets will result in unequal toe kick heights in the kitchen. And obviously the too short base cabinets have considerably less storage space than standard height ones would.

    Check that all of the wall outlets are the same height. The ones on the right side may have been set lower and would need to be raised. Not a big deal but one. more. thing. to deal with.

    Then there is the problem of finding someone who WILL do this and do it well. In the current climate, no sure thing. Along with the cost & is this cost plus pain plus time reflected in the selling price?