Removing worktops stuck down with no more nails

hayday75

The work tops have been in place 10 years ,any ideas how to get them off without damaging the kitchen cuboards ?

oldskoo1

So they are definitely glued on and not bolted at the joints and screwed in?

If so I've never come across this before - I assume you would just take a Stanley knife and carefully run it along the join between it and the carcasses. Pop the silicone at the back too and unbolt any joins to give you more control over each piece

hayday75

It is no more nailed on ,this was hubby's first attempt at fitting a kitchen :rotfl::rotfl:
Thanks

oldskoo1

Right ok

well if you have to resort to bruit force you maybe lucky and find that the glue pulls off just the top layer of laminate on the carcasses assuming they are laminated!

googler

My solution would essentially involve cutting away the worktop where it doesn't meet the cabinetry, using a jigsaw or similar, leaving a thin strip of worktop about 15-20mm wide on top of each carcase wall. I wouldn't try and take the whole worktop off in one go.

Then work down with some kind of cutting tool to take the 15-20 mm strip away until you reach the top of the carcase. I haven't decided yet what tool would be appropriate, that'll depend on if you have solid-wood worktops, or particle covered in laminate.

This WILL be time-consuming, there's no doubt.

tony6403

One of these will certainly assist. It is a cheap Aldi multitool. I don't own one but I have used one. Really good for tight spaces. You would need to direct the cut into the worktop and not the carcase. A scraper blade is included .

bluesnake

I'd use a screw driver/scraper for leverage and a heat gun, or carefully use a blowtorch, probably best not use it close to the gas pipes and joints

if you want to be more gentle with the heat, then use a hair dryer

Jaynne

One of those multi tools that have a sander/cuter might work. The blade has nothing to foul it above so you could run it all around the top of the cabinets. With some patience you would be able to get it off with not too much damage so the cabinets could be used again.

http://www.skiltools.com/Tools/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?model=1400-02

Ruski

stiff filler knife and hammer between the 'joint' you'll find its fairly brittle by now and with little adhesion on the melamine surfaces will come away from carcasses quite well.

He's not the only one to have done it, I've come across this before!!

hth

Russ