Replies

1. 
   Jerry_Wilson | Apr 22, 1999 08:38am | #1

   *
   Does any one out there have any experiance removing a Corian counter top without destroying the material.

   The question is, "how did you cut through the Silicon that was used to adhere the countertop in place ?"

   The installation is typical, ie. "L" shaped counter surface, 1/2 Corian, 1 inch bullnose cap, and silicon beads to hold the stuff down.

   Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

   Thanks, Jerry

2. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 1999 03:35am | #2

   *
   Jerry:

   Oh boy. Normally, the stuff is installed over stretchers, that you could sawzall through sideways.

   Assuming its installed over a solid substrate (ply or particle board), I don't have a lot of easy answers, except perhaps to use a lightweight trimsaw (like a PC Trimsaw), and cut out small sections from underneath, pull them off, and then go for the sawzall.

   That's the only idea I have.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 1999 04:15am | #3

   *I happened to meet an installer today at a walk-through. He says Corian recommends attaching with only a dab of silicone cement only every 24" but some people install a continuous bead.He recommends cutting through with a knife or sharp putty knife. He also recommends spraying a little WD-40 lubricant on it to keep the blade from "sticking" to the sealant.If that doesn't work, I was thinking there are various X-acto blades that might help get you around a corner. Some of those "break-off" type blades can get into tight cracks if you are gentle. You might even consider something thin and flexible with a sawtooth edge.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 1999 04:37am | #4

   *Use a carbide toothed blade on a panel saw to cut the bull nose cap off. This gets you access to underneath the countertop. Use any tool that may work for you to unbond the surface from the substrate. A hacksaw blade, a mortise chisel, a hot wire; any thing that will work. Corian will flex a bit, so you can "peel" a section at a time, working your way from the cap to the wall. Be careful not to scar the walls as you work.When ready to reuse the corian, simply get a new edge strip for new bullnose. The cut line from when you ripped the bullnose off may need to be planed straight and true.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 23, 1999 06:15am | #5

   *Jerry, we just did this.Worse than silicone, 75% of the Corian was attached with Phenoseal or a similar product. Attachment was completely around the perimeter of the cabinet tops. The silicone part was easy; the Pheonoseal part was a bear, and included the front edge. Was able to save the Corian (and the cabinet bases) by using a hammer on a narrow flat scraper (like a stiff putty knife) and breaking through an inch or so at a time. This chewed up the cabinet top edges, but not so badly that a new top couldn't be fitted.It took two men working in turns over a full day to break loose 18-20 ft of top. Our Corian installers took the tops to their shop, cleaned off the adhesive residue, and recycled the old tops for our client's "party kitchen". Turned out to look like new. Patience was the key to the successful removal.I like the WD-40 idea, and wish we had thought of it.Good luck, Steve

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 24, 1999 11:21am | #7

   *Just a thought. There are these cable-type saws for cutting PVC, etc. Perhaps this could be snaked through and sawed back and forth??Heck, i don't know...

3. 
   Jerry_Wilson | Apr 24, 1999 11:21am | #6

   *
   Does any one out there have any experiance removing a Corian counter top without destroying the material.

   The question is, "how did you cut through the Silicon that was used to adhere the countertop in place ?"

   The installation is typical, ie. "L" shaped counter surface, 1/2 Corian, 1 inch bullnose cap, and silicon beads to hold the stuff down.

   Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

   Thanks,
   Jerry