Kitchen worktop is it screwed in or glued

Jabbah

Hello

Extreme novice here asking for advice.

I have to replace a couple of appliances and the sink in my kitchen and I would like to replace my laminate kitchen worktop (with another laminate) at the same time but do not want to replace the cabinets as there is nothing wrong with them. I've searched the forum and read about screws being in brackets and I've looked underneath inside the cabinets and I can see a few screws in the corner cabinet but no other screws or what I can identify as a bracket anywhere at all. I'm worried as the joiner who came to do an estimate didn't look into the cabinets and just said they'd be screwed in as it's standard. But I have discovered quite a few nonstandard things in this house so I am not as sure. From what I've read removing cabinets which are glued in could possibly lead to irreparable damage to the cabinets which would be a disaster.

Is this true? How do I tell if the worktop is screwed in or fully glued?

Thank you

grumbler

I've never seen laminated worktops glued, but you can expect everything from UK cowboys. The screws are usually visible and accessible from underneath, and very few are needed to hold a heavy worktop in place.

rob7475

Usually they'd be screwed in place. If the base units have a top rail, I'd usually screw through the top rail up into the worktop. A good fitter would countersink the screws so you woultn't see them until you get your head inside the base unit.

 Brackets are an alternative but only if no other option.

Jabbah

Thank you so much

GDB2222

Even if glued, I wouldn't expect it to be a disaster. Ungluing might cause a little bit of damage to the cabinets, but it would all be hidden under the worktop. 

I've replaced a couple of worktops, and I was surprised how easy it was. 

Jabbah

Thank you, a great relief to read that.

plumb1_2

They’ll be screwed through the front rail of the units, open the doors and look underneath