How to Rip Out Old Cabinets & Install New Ones

Removing Old Cabinets

• 1

  Take out the drawers and remove the cabinets doors from the cabinets by unscrewing them from the hinges.

• 2

  Pry off trim or molding from around the edges of the cabinets with the pry bar.

• 3

  Turn off the water supply valves underneath the sink. If there are no supply valves located there, turn off the main water supply coming into the house. Turn off the electricity to any lines that run underneath the cabinets.

• 4

  Disconnect the supply lines from the faucets and the drain from the bottom of the sink with a wrench.

• 5

  Remove the base (bottom) cabinets. Unscrew any screws that connect the cabinets to the wall, which can be found underneath the cabinets. If the cabinets are nailed to the wall, pry them away from the wall with a pry bar. If you're still having problems, smash them with a sledgehammer (it's crude, but effective). Slide the cabinets away from the wall.

• 6

  Unscrew or pry the upper cabinets off of the wall. Get someone to help you with this as the cabinets are heavy.

• 7

  Remove any remaining nails or screws from the wall and sand the wall down so the new cabinets will sit flush against the wall.

Installing New Cabinets

• 8

  Mark the location of the bottom of the new upper cabinets by adding the height of the new lower cabinets, the countertop and the distance between the bottom of the upper cabinets and the top of the countertop. Measure that distance from the floor up the wall and make marks once every foot on the wall. Connect the marks with a line.

• 9

  Find and mark the studs with a stud finder.

• 10

  Screw a 1-inch by 3-inch cleat to the wall along the bottom edge of the line. Drive 2 1/2-inch deck screws through the cleat and into the studs to hold the cleat in place.

• 11

  Remove the doors and drawers from the new cabinets if they are pre-installed. This will help make installation easier.

• 12

  Lift the first upper cabinet into position on top of the cleat (again, get someone to help you). Check the cabinet for level (horizontally straight) and plumb (vertically straight). If necessary, place shims between the cabinet and the wall to achieve level and plumb.

• 13

  Drive 2 1/2-inch deck screws through the back of the cabinet and into each stud behind the cabinet. Use one screw into the top and bottom corners, then one every 8 to 10 inches in between the corner screws.

• 14

  Lift the second cabinet on top of the cleat next to the first cabinet and position it so it is level and plumb. Clamp it to the first cabinet and attach it to the wall, using the same method you used for the first cabinet.

• 15

  Connect the two cabinets together by driving 1 1/4-inch drywall screws through each corner of the side panels of the cabinet, placing the screws an inch away from the edges. Continue installing the cabinets using this process until they have all been installed.

• 16

  Move the first lower cabinet into position. Check the cabinets for level and plumb, and place shims between the cabinet and the floor if needed. Adjust the shims until the cabinet is level and plumb, and trim away any part of the shim sticking out of the cabinet with a utility knife.

• 17

  Connect the cabinet to the wall through the studs with 2 1/2-inch deck screws. Drive the screws at the top and bottom of the cabinet and every 8 to 10 inches in between the screws on the end.

• 18

  Attach the cabinet to the floor by driving deck screws through the bottom of the cabinet and into the floor, using one screw an inch from the edges in each corner.

• 19

  Move the second cabinet into position next to the first one. Check it for plumb and level, then clamp the two cabinets together.

• 20

  Drive screws into the floor and wall, using the same method you used for the first cabinet. Connect the two cabinets together with 1 1/4-inch drywall screws through each corner of the side panels, an inch from the edges. Continue installing the cabinets using this process until they have all been installed.

• 21

  Install the shelves, drawers and doors on the cabinets.