Removing Old Countertops (flooring, how much, granite, dishwasher)

[KarenG]

We are having new countertops installed and can save about $400 by removing the old countertops ourselves. The salesman told us it would not be difficult to remove the countertops. We have a smooth top slide-in stove, which does not look like it will be easy to move (it is snug against the cabinets). Is this a job we should attempt ourselves?

[birdrgal]

What kind of countertop is there now? I think that would make a big difference.

I'm interested in the answer to this question too because so many people have put granite counters in their kitchens, the odds are my next house will have that and I hate granite! I'd want either Silestone or Corian, depending on my budget. But I've been wondering how much of a problem/awful mess it would be to remove a granite countertop. Would it destroy the cabinets underneath?

[KarenG]

We have laminate countertops.

[Ponderosa]

It is usually an easy job. Sounds like you stove is a standard range? If so, just pull it straight out from the wall. Turn off the breaker first in case anything is loose back there. Stoves are not heavy. Watch that the feet don't tear up the flooring. If you have a dishwasher it is held in place by a couple screws at the top near the door opening. Remove them and pull out taking care the the plumbing comes along and that the floor doesn't get damaged by the feet. The tough part is the sink. You get on your back and look underneath for the clips holding it down and remove them. Disconnect all the water and sewer stuff and lift out. You may or may not be able to leave the sink and take it with the countertops depending on how the countertop was fastened. The countertops will have screws at various places underneath holding it to the cabinet tops - usually not a lot of them. Lift up on gently on the edges of the countertops to see what you are dealing with. Hunt down the screws and remove them. Lift off the tops. If you have a backsplash be careful where it touches the wall. They often put caulk in there and it can pull the drywall paper off. Cut along the joint with a box cutter if needed.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by birdrgal

But I've been wondering how much of a problem/awful mess it would be to remove a granite countertop. Would it destroy the cabinets underneath?

Removing a granite top could destroy the cabinets if it's done incorrectly. In most installations, the granite is either siliconed or epoxied to a plywood subtop that's screwed to the tops of the cabinets. Since it's screwed down from the top prior to the granite, it's impossible to remove the plywood/granite in one piece. In other installs, the granite slabs are adhered directly to the cab tops if you look up from the bottom and see the stone inside the cabs, there's no plywood subtop. You run the risk of wrecking the cabs in this instance as well if you don't take the tops apart properly.

Bob

[KarenG]

Ponderosa,

Thank you for your detailed response. It was very helpful.

[rnschmidt]

Removing formica countertops should be an easy task. They are almost always screwed in from under the cabinets, and you can simply unscrew the screws and lift the countertops off. They are light and usually break easily too.

Rob
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[cdelena]

From my experience the issues may be...
.. plumbing
.. separating top from cabinets
.. getting the top out and hauling them away

[desertsun41]

The OP is long long gone but since the subject and this thread has been revived, allow me to add for those wanting to tackle this task themselves.

No need to crawl inside the cabinets as some one suggested to unscrew the tops. The OP stated these were laminate tops. Laminate tops are 1/16th" laminate glued to 5/8" thick soft particle board. A partical board so soft that if you simply lifted the top with some some muscle the screws would pull right through. You can use a thin prybar if you feel better if you dont scratch the face frames. These tops can be removed without even using tools.

Once off you can get easy access to those screws to remove them.

I think the OP said it was a slide in range. I assume she does not mean a range top. A slide in range is not very common at all which Im surprised at because they are really nice with a clean look. They sit on top of a platform the same height as the toe kick. Then the top and the front has a half inch lip which overlaps the cabinet face frame and the countertop. In this case that stove has to come out. I assume it is an old model which means it has just 2 screws on the inside of the stove door jamb. The only hassle is the gas line and a power cord if it has electric.

[rubytue]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Laminate tops are 1/16th" laminate glued to 5/8" thick soft particle board. A partical board so soft that if you simply lifted the top with some some muscle the screws would pull right through.

Not always. We have laminate affixed to plywood. I know b/c there is a 18" section of edging that is missing (b/c we moved the peninsula 90 degrees)