These days, it seems like everyone is trying to save money any way they can. That is why so many people are asking the question, “can you move and reuse kitchen cabinets?” The short answer to this question is a simple yes.
However, some kitchen cabinets are easier to dismount and reuse than others. There are also certain thing you should know before you get your cabinet recycling project underway. In the following article, we are going to be talking about kitchen cabinets and how you might remove and repurpose them. Let’s get started.
Which Kitchen Cabinets Can Be Removed and Reused
While some contractors may tell you that all kitchen cabinets can be reused, they are usually speaking from the standpoint of decades of renovation experience. You might not have the experience, tools or expertise to pull off what a seasoned contractor can.
This begs the question, “which kind of kitchen cabinets can be reasonably reused?” If you are tackling the project yourself (again, possibly to save some money) it would be a good idea for you to first identify what kind of cabinets you are working with. In general, you will probably facing 2 categories of kitchen cabinets:
- Unitized Cabinets – Unitized cabinets are more common in older houses. They are built using the wall as their backing. In other words, if you take them down, they will have no back part of their own. Nails or commercial adhesives are usually used to secure these types of cabinets to the wall.
- Prefabricated Cabinets – Prefabricated cabinets come as a complete unit. They have their own back and are usually secure to the wall with screws.
Can you guess which type of cabinet is best for reuse? If you guess the prefabricated kind then you are correct. Removing unitized cabinets is a huge chore because the adhesive is a nightmare to work with and the nails can make it very difficult to reuse this kind of cabinet.
On the other hand, prefabricated cabinets can be taken down one by one and used as needed. The screws are easy to reverse and can even be reused. Prefabricated cabinets are often combined to make an entire set so they are easier to separate as needed.
Now that you know which types of cabinets will be best for reuse, it’s time to get to work. Take a look at the following guide on how to remove kitchen cabinets.
Removing Kitchen Cabinets for Reuse
Whether you are undertaking a remodeling project on your own or you just want to make some slight adjustments in your kitchen, you should know the best way to remove kitchen cabinets. Here is a simple guide:
- Empty the Cabinets – Of course, the first thing you should do is remove all the contents from the cabinets that you are planning to repurpose. Set them safely aside for later storage.
- Remove the Doors – Removing the cabinet doors will make the cabinets lighter once they are actually dislodged. It will also make them easier to work with. The screws for the door are usually facing the outside of the cabinet. Using a drill or a screwdriver, carefully remove the screws that hold the door to the cabinet.
- Remove Individual Cabinets – If you are working with prefabricated cabinets then they will be attached to each other in two places: on the wall of the kitchen and the interior wall of the cabinet. Remove the screws that connect the cabinets on the inside wall first. Then carefully remove the screws that secure the cabinet to the wall in the rear.
- Support the Cabinet – This is where the project becomes a 2-person job. There will be a final screw in the bottom rear of the cabinet that attaches it to the rear wall. However, before you remove this screw, you will need someone to hold the cabinet so it doesn’t fall once it is completely detached. Have someone hold the cabinet in place while you remove this final rear screw that connects the cabinet to the wall.
Parting Words
It should be noted that using a drill with the proper bit will make this project a lot easier. You should also cover your counter tops to keep them from getting damaged during removal. Once you have dislodges your cabinets, they are ready for reuse in another room or simply another section of your kitchen. Remember to be safe and handle your kitchen cabinets with care!
