I want to install granite countertops in my kitchen. However, removing the existing countertop poses a challenge. The existing countertop is tile, with two 3/4″ plywood and one 1/2″ durock underlayments. All underlayers were glued and screwed to cabinets and each adjacent layer. Can anyone offer any suggestions to remove the existing countertop and underlayments without damaging the base cainets?
Steven F
Replies
take it off in the reverse order it was installed
tile
top layer 3/4
bottom layer 3/4
yeah, i no
easier to say than do
Yeah, shoot whoever glued them down to the cabs in the first place! Must have been pretty sure of his work and the style. No need EVER to want to change them out.
I've fought a couple lam counters that they glued down this year. I used the whole arsenal.
Sawzall with metal blade to cut through the nails and glue-and some screws.
Multimaster to trim off the latent underlay/glue from the tops of the cabs.
Thin prybars to work it up slowly.
cutting up in smaller pcs. Cutting about 6 inches from backsplash with a circular saw to make a front and rear panel-easier to remove the back once the front is dealt with-and cutting into shorter width segments. Use one to pry against the other.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I've done this, biggest problem is the mess. Tarps everywhere, and packing blankets where pieces might hit the floor (assuming that you're keeping that). Breaking tile flies places you wouldn't expect. A GOOD shop vac will be your friend
Best way I found was taking all substates and tile out in bite-size chunks. Decide where you want to cut top and break tile out including egde. what you want is a path for jigsaw or sawsall, I've also used skilsaw on thinner buildups. When you get to face frame, cut vertical so you don't damage frame. A multimaster works good at back of cab if you have one, can be done with sawzall.
With luck the screws into cabs are few and short so you can lever 'em out with your arsenal of prybars and imagination. Might be able to cut some with sawsall and I've used a single ended hacksaw, too. If they happen to be drywall screws, (common), they're brittle which you can sometimes use to advantage with a sideways whack to middle and break them.
You'll likely break some tops of cab panels if they're particle board, but most will be unseen once new top is on.
Plan on doing some patching on wall, how nice depends on what you're putting up there. I'd also figure on trimming top of face frame with a little molding for two reasons. First you'll likely have gaps with the new granite if it's 3 cm and no overhang, also it will cover any boogerin' that you happen to get in demo.
You'll cuss the original installer, and learn patience. It's not a quick procedure, and not for the faint-of-heart.
Don't mean to sound snide, but it's not a cakewalk, in my experience.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
You'll cuss the original installer
with words he didn't even know existed.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
"Best way I found was taking all substates and tile out in bite-size chunks. (PeterJ)"
I've run into this before, once when a customer wanted a different style and once when the installer did a cruppy job (albeit a solid one) and I was called to "fix" it. Both times I removed the tile with a rotary hammer and wide chissel bit, then cut the double layer plywood into square foot sections. Small pieces are easy to remove, and circular saw blades are cheap. Use a recip. saw to get close to the wall.
Have Fun! :)
See my work at TedsCarpentry.com
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Edited 11/15/2008 10:17 pm by Ted W.
You must really love your old cabinets. - lol
You're in for a messy, difficult, PITA job and it's an even money bet that you'll get some damage (maybe a lot) on the cabinets - more if they're veneered particle board.
I've seen a few people do this and - after the new countertops are in - kick themselves for not getting new cabs. The old cabs look................old! - lol