Remove kitchen counters first?

Dolby

Dolby

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If I wanted to redo my kitchen in two steps - would it be possible to start by changing the counters & then redoing cupboards at a later stage?

There’d be no changing of the floor plan - literal swap for what I have currently.

I’m asking because someone told me that if I redo the cupboards at a later stage, it could mean removing the new counters & ultimately double work … which makes no sense to me.
 
Dolby said:
If I wanted to redo my kitchen in two steps - would it be possible to start by changing the counters & then redoing cupboards at a later stage?

There’d be no changing of the floor plan - literal swap for what I have currently.

I’m asking because someone told me that if I redo the cupboards at a later stage, it could mean removing the new counters & ultimately double work … which makes no sense to me.
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Why re-do it in 2 steps?

Counters are glued to and resting on top of the frame of the cabinets.
 
If they are Formica counters they may well be screwed to your existing cupboards.. they may also be glued, or glued and screwed.. then there's also the splashback to consider.. are they on top or behind the existing countertop and would you cause damage by removing the countertop if it is only screwed down..

If they are a stone based countertop, definitely glued and there's no way you are replacing just the counters without damaging the cupboards..

There are too many unknowns replacing the countertops first and later only the cupboards, especially since you can definitely damage the cupboards.. if anything, you would have better luck replacing the cupboards first and the countertops later(but you still have potential damage to the splashback to think about)..

In any case, it doesn't really make sense doing one thing at a time when it comes to a kitchen..

Doing it all at once is the only thing that makes sense...
 
TheMightyQuin said:
Why re-do it in 2 steps?

Counters are glued to and resting on top of the frame of the cabinets.
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To split the cost.

I didn’t budget for it now - but my stove is giving in & will need to be replaced. I thought I could do stove + counters - and then the cupboards to split the cost.
 
Dolby said:
To split the cost.

I didn’t budget for it now - but my stove is giving in & will need to be replaced. I thought I could do stove + counters - and then the cupboards to split the cost.
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Fair enough. Yeah that sucks...and kitchens are the most expensive room in the house...although bathrooms always fight for that #1 spot.
 
TheMightyQuin said:
Fair enough. Yeah that sucks...and kitchens are the most expensive room in the house...although bathrooms always fight for that #1 spot.
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Yea if the stove wasn’t going, I could do the kitchen & stove in one go later this year.

And I don’t want to put the new stove into the old counters now - and then have them remove it again & risk damaging it when I redo it later.

But that sounds like the only option
 
Dolby said:
To split the cost.

I didn’t budget for it now - but my stove is giving in & will need to be replaced. I thought I could do stove + counters - and then the cupboards to split the cost.
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Is it one long cupboard?

If separate, maybe do the top and bottom of the one with oven.
 
You could easily use silicone to fix the top to the old carcass - this makes removal of the top easier at a later stage. Not ideal, but makes it both temporary and secure at the same time. Rather plan for splash backs when the carcass is replaced due to possible height deviations.
 
Dolby said:
Yea if the stove wasn’t going, I could do the kitchen & stove in one go later this year.

And I don’t want to put the new stove into the old counters now - and then have them remove it again & risk damaging it when I redo it later.

But that sounds like the only option
Click to expand...

You could consider doing the cabinet "carcasses" and counter tops and live without the doors for a while.
 
I replaced tops with ones that I made from kiaat, shell and doors were still good. (maybe will repaint them at later stage)
Originals were screwed so it was easy to remove.
 
It seems the best method is just to wait until I can do tops, cupbards and oven all at once

Thanks for the replies!
 
Dolby said:
It seems the best method is just to wait until I can do tops, cupbards and oven all at once

Thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...
Not necessary, to remove and install new tops was a breeze. Only complication was corner with wash bowl.
Nothing glued. I did it maybe 6-7 years ago. No complaints from wife.
My new tops were from kiaat so this would not work for granite.

Let me step back, if you are paying somebody to do all this for you then yes do it in one go.
If you are DIY guy and top is wood then I see no problem doing it incrementally.
With DIY route I buy tools for price difference that serve me on other projects.
 
A stove just slides into the cabinet and is held by 4 tiny screws. Just replace it now and refit it later when you have new cabinets. Nothing will be damaged if you careful. You can do it yourself(incl wiring), its not rocket science and the stove is not heavy. You or with someone helping can put it in and out easily.
 
Do you have pics of the current setup ? That would help .​
  • Is the carcuses in good shape ?
  • What type of wood is the outersurfces (White or some coloured wood)
  • Is the carcases built on the floor or legs
  • What type of oven you putting in ( freestanding or Built in)

Carcuses are normally built in sections so maybe you coud just remove the tops then dismantel the parts next to the stove and then redo those carcuses to fit the new stove. and tops. You could also just replace the doors all round and spray the outsides of the carcuses.and use the saved money and change the back splash to compliment to new tops
 
Jean Claude Vaaldamme said:
A stove just slides into the cabinet and is held by 4 tiny screws. Just replace it now and refit it later when you have new cabinets. Nothing will be damaged if you careful. You can do it yourself(incl wiring), its not rocket science and the stove is not heavy. You or with someone helping can put it in and out easily.
Click to expand...
I was about to mention this as well, it’s about the easiest thing to fit in a cupboard build.
 
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