How to remove countertops that are glued down. If you have decided to go ahead and hire a countertop installer then that could end up being one of your most expensive decisions made throughout the whole renovation process, but it’s important not to let this put you off.
Many people choose this route because they are advised by professionals that their counters are beyond repair and have to be replaced, which tends to cost a lot more money.
The task of removing countertops can be very difficult. It requires patience, skill, and some elbow grease, but it can be done at home provided you know what you’re doing.
You will need some tools, an extra pair of hands, and most importantly some good advice before going ahead with this project.
How to remove countertops that are glued down
Remove countertops that are bolted down, Prepare your workspace. Disconnect any of your water or power supply that is connected to the old countertops. Remove your plumbing and fixtures.
Loosen the adhesive. With a pry bar, unscrew the countertops from the cabinets and also lift them up if you will be reinstalling new ones in their place. Pry the countertops up with a flat screwdriver and as you do this remove them.
An important tip before starting
Sometimes your new kitchen countertop is not attached to your cabinets. That can be a difficult job if you’re going to install them yourself, but you need to make sure that the top is correctly mounted. Ensure that it is glued on.
Use a pencil and rub on the surface horizontally above all of the cabinets in order to check whether it’s even. Some people like replacing their countertops themselves.
This could mean the frames or corners may not be perfectly aligned. If your top appears uneven when rotated in either direction, it needs to be readjusted before installation.
The equipment you’ll need
Although there are many of these sites in existence, we’re ensuring you have top-quality advice and this article will tell you everything you need to know about removing a glued-on countertop.
Do not worry, you don’t have to have a lot of supplies for this venture all you’ll require is a screwdriver, a putty knife which is also known as a scraper, and a utility knife (which can come in handy for slicing underneath the glue in order to get it off) and finally but most importantly, some elbow grease.
Clear out all appliances
Remove any items that are sitting on your countertop before you rip them out. In order to avoid causing additional damage, remove everything from the area. This will give you more space and time.
Take off the caulk
You can remove all of the caulk between your backsplash and wall by using a utility knife. Slide your putty knife between the wall and backsplash, wiggling it to create a little space to maneuver.
To avoid hitting any pipes or wires behind the countertop, use a pry bar to gently pull up the countertop.
Pushing too hard can damage studs, but keep as much weight as possible distributed across useful areas of your countertop (for example, not on one corner of your sink). Your backsplash will remain safe this way.
Removing all screws
Despite some countertops being glued down, there may also be screws used to hold the countertop in place. You will have an easier time removing your countertop if it is not attached with glue.
Taking care not to damage the cabinets, you simply need to unscrew the screws, lift the old counter and remove it gently.
Final Step
Before you remove the countertops, find another person to help you. Lifting up heavy cabinets can be done on your own, but this will greatly decrease the chances of them being damaged in the removal process.
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