How to Lift the Top Off of a Coffee Table

Coffee tabletops come in wood, glass, metal and other materials. The coffee table's surface can become marred with scratches, stains, chips, cracks and other damage. You might take the table apart to refinish the tabletop, or replace it. Disassembling the coffee table makes moving easier. If you tried to lift the tabletop and couldn't, rest assured, this isn't difficult. Learning how to remove the tabletop allows you to re-create the coffee table--whether to refurbish it or replace the tabletop. With hand tools and a few minutes of your time, you can part the tabletop from its legs or frame.

Screwdriver, wrench or pliers
Small bowl or other container for hardware

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the coffee table upside down onto a soft surface (carpet or blanket) to protect it from scratches.
- 2
  Locate the coffee table's assembly hardware. It's usually at the top of the legs or in the frame directly under the tabletop. Find the screws or bolts and that hold the tabletop onto the legs or frame. Bolts will have nuts or wingnuts.
- 3
  Unscrew the screws or use a wrench to remove the nuts and bolts. Use pliers on tight wingnuts. Remove all the hardware holding the tabletop on. Put the hardware in a bowl or other container. If the coffee table has individual legs, take the legs off one at a time and place them on a soft surface. If the tabletop is attached to a frame, lift the frame off of the tabletop once you have removed all the hardware. If the frame is heavy, have an assistant help. Move the frame clear of the tabletop and set it down.
- 4
  You can now lift the coffee table's top.

How to Remove Glass Rings From Furniture

How Can I Get Burns Out of a Wood Table?

Tables