how hard is it to replace kitchen cabinets only?

[Anonymous]

We bought a house a year ago and the owners updated the kitchen appliances and put in granite countertops (which I love). They left the original 1970s cabinets, though. So is it possible to replace cabinets but leave the counters? I like the footprint of the kitchen as is, but the cabinets are in very poor condition and are not attractive.

Also, any tips on where to shop for cabinets and quality installation?

[Anonymous]

It would be virtually impossible to just replace the cabinets. You could reface them.

[Anonymous]

http://www.kitchensaver.com/

[Anonymous]

I would talk to a granite fabricator to see if they could be removed and put back

[Anonymous]

Removing/returning the granite is possible, but you run a big risk of it breaking in the process. (The removing is the hard part.)

It is theoretically possible, but incredibly difficult, to replace cabinets while the granite stays in place. You basically have to remove/replace each cabinet one by one, leaving others in place so you still have enough support for the granite. This is really hard because the cabinets are usually bolted together through the sides. Plus, everything is caulked to the countertop. Knocking all this apart puts great strain on the granite and there's a good chance it might crack.

Putting new ones in is really hard because things don't fit perfectly and no house is level. When you put cabinets in from scratch, you futz with the fronts to get them lined up, and shim the whole set level. You have no flexibility to do this if you're trying to squeeze things in under a piece of granite. It's also going to be impossible to get a sink cabinet put it while the sink is still hanging down from the counter (where it's attached). You would have to remove the back of the sink cabinet to even have a chance, which eliminates the stability of that cabinet.

So, if you really love your granite, I would freshen the existing cabinets in some way. You can reface, buy new doors, paint or restain the current ones. Something like that until you're ready to redo the entire kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Removing/returning the granite is possible, but you run a big risk of it breaking in the process. (The removing is the hard part.)

It is theoretically possible, but incredibly difficult, to replace cabinets while the granite stays in place. You basically have to remove/replace each cabinet one by one, leaving others in place so you still have enough support for the granite. This is really hard because the cabinets are usually bolted together through the sides. Plus, everything is caulked to the countertop. Knocking all this apart puts great strain on the granite and there's a good chance it might crack.

Putting new ones in is really hard because things don't fit perfectly and no house is level. When you put cabinets in from scratch, you futz with the fronts to get them lined up, and shim the whole set level. You have no flexibility to do this if you're trying to squeeze things in under a piece of granite. It's also going to be impossible to get a sink cabinet put it while the sink is still hanging down from the counter (where it's attached). You would have to remove the back of the sink cabinet to even have a chance, which eliminates the stability of that cabinet.

So, if you really love your granite, I would freshen the existing cabinets in some way. You can reface, buy new doors, paint or restain the current ones. Something like that until you're ready to redo the entire kitchen.

I'm not the OP, but I just wanted to say that this is a wonderfully informative post. I appreciate your taking the time to provide such a detailed answer, PP.

[Anonymous]

PP is right.

Refacing cabinets is a completely viable option, where you remove all of the doors and drawers or drawer fronts, refinish those or paint them, and then have the bases refinished and painted as well (in place). It takes a bit of time and the doors and drawers will need to be done off-site so that they can cure (if done right), but it allows you to keep counters in place and it much less expensive. You could also just replace the doors and drawers with newer ones, and refinish/paint the bases to match; depending on your existing cabinets, these could be stock or might have to be made custom (less likely).

Of course, you can also drill new holes for new hardware and update that look as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the OP, but I just wanted to say that this is a wonderfully informative post. I appreciate your taking the time to provide such a detailed answer, PP.

+1

[Anonymous]

We had our old granite counters popped off and recut for other uses. So it's definitely possible to save big chunks, but you will have to be prepared to replace some if it doesn't come off easily. In fact you may spend more trying to save the existing granite than getting new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought a house a year ago and the owners updated the kitchen appliances and put in granite countertops (which I love). They left the original 1970s cabinets, though. So is it possible to replace cabinets but leave the counters? I like the footprint of the kitchen as is, but the cabinets are in very poor condition and are not attractive.

Also, any tips on where to shop for cabinets and quality installation?

What do you mean by very poor condition? Frames collapsing or knicks and drawer slides? If frames you have a problem. If the frames were not sturdy a stone installer would not have put on the granite. Imagine that stuff crashing like a boulder on a mudslide. If the doors are solid wood and the frames are sturdy they can easily be sanded and painted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would talk to a granite fabricator to see if they could be removed and put back

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Removing/returning the granite is possible, but you run a big risk of it breaking in the process. (The removing is the hard part.)

It is theoretically possible, but incredibly difficult, to replace cabinets while the granite stays in place. You basically have to remove/replace each cabinet one by one, leaving others in place so you still have enough support for the granite. This is really hard because the cabinets are usually bolted together through the sides. Plus, everything is caulked to the countertop. Knocking all this apart puts great strain on the granite and there's a good chance it might crack.

Putting new ones in is really hard because things don't fit perfectly and no house is level. When you put cabinets in from scratch, you futz with the fronts to get them lined up, and shim the whole set level. You have no flexibility to do this if you're trying to squeeze things in under a piece of granite. It's also going to be impossible to get a sink cabinet put it while the sink is still hanging down from the counter (where it's attached). You would have to remove the back of the sink cabinet to even have a chance, which eliminates the stability of that cabinet.

So, if you really love your granite, I would freshen the existing cabinets in some way. You can reface, buy new doors, paint or restain the current ones. Something like that until you're ready to redo the entire kitchen.

Good information, but you would need to take the granite up vs. trying to fit new cabinet under a suspended hunk of stone.

[Anonymous]

we were in the same situation, bought a house 1 year ago, with new granite countertops and appliances, but old, honey-brown cabinets from the 80s that looked dated. We had them spray painted white and added brushed nickel handles. The kitchen looks newand fresh, and guests cannot tell they have been spray painted.

[Anonymous]

We're in the same situation except the idiots painted the cabinets white (very poorly). We are either going to sand and repaint or just get new doors and repaint the cabinet boxes. It's going to cost $$$$!!!