Ripping Out A Kitchen

[hope90]

I'm having a nightmare trying to rip out my kitchen units. I have watched the videos on u tube, which make it look so easy, but all the nail heads are either caked in paint or plaster, screwed in too tightly or just turning but not coming out. Will it just be a case of using a crowbar and group force, or does any one have any tips? I should point out i'm not very strong :-(

[Old_Geezer]

I'd just rip things out then make good. From experience pussyfooting around often takes longer, is more labour intensive and often fails anyway. Try it nicely first, but know when enough is enough.

[KARL]

Unfortunately not everyone designs or installs with maintenance and/or removal in mind. O_G's advice is sound.

[woofgang]

Get a metal drill bit about the same size as the screw and drill into the screw to drill the head off. This works dranatically well, make sure that the cupboard is supported/restrained as required first...also that you know where the pipes and cables are!

[hope90]

i think youre right too og, i just hope i'm strong enough too.

@woofgang, do you mean a drill bit thats used to make the hole?

[hope90]

arr,just thought about it and of course it is. Thats such a good idea, ill give that a go and if that fails it'll be time to get the sledge hammer out lol

[TonyV]

hope whatever you need to do without creating to much damage.

[TonyV]

hope cannot you take cabinets apart before you release them from the wall?

[soxmis_sid]

Try screwing the screws tighter before trying to undo them

[The Builder]

The reason they make it look so easy, is that they know how these things are put together in the first place.
You can't be expected to do as they do.

Drilling off screw and nail heads can help, but it usually comes down to a bit of this...............

https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-utility-bar-24/9626v

You don't necessarily need a lot of strength. Just pivot the bar in the right place and heave.
Things tend to come away without too much drama.
Don't make the rookie mistake of whacking with a sledge hammer though. It just makes things worse.

[Khandro]

Fixtures often have to come out sideways, so drilling off screw-heads won't necessarily get you anywhere. Get one of Builder's wrecking bars, it sometimes helps to place a short end of wood under its heel for more leverage.

[hope90]

Hi Guys,
I've managed to rip out just over half the kitchen, and i'm feeling so proud of myself :-) The crowbar tip was by far the best advice. Drilling the screw heads off may have helped, but they were wedged in by grout and they had used some kind of no more nails on the back of them.
@ tony, i think your idea may help me finish the kitchen quicker. The cabinets were built using Allen key screws and the side ones can be removed really easily as they haven't been painted over/ covered in grout ect. I only realised at the end of the day when i was flat packing all the units i had taken down.
Dont worry builder, i left my sledge hammer in the tool box,

[albaqwerty]

I would think the chances of hope90 being in Sacramento to be on the high side.

[TonyV]

alba where did Sacramento come from?

[woofgang]

glad to hear it. :)

[albaqwerty]

Tony, it was in the answer removed.
A starting helpful sentence then a link to the best kitchen fitters in that city :-)

(answer removed as I pressed answer. Nice to see a mod is awake this evening :-D )

[TonyV]

Ok alba I was trying to report the spam aswell