Kitchen islands are great additions to kitchens because they provide extra counter space and storage options for kitchen utensils and other items. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to remove a kitchen island. If you want to get a new kitchen island or add a new feature to your current one, then you should probably remove the old one first. Removing a kitchen island does not require much effort at all, although it can take a bit of time if you don’t have the right tools.
Removing an existing kitchen island with the demolition part is relatively easy, but there are precautions to take if the island has power, water, and/or gas to it. These tips for removing a kitchen island will help you do the work effectively and safely.
There are a variety of ways to remove an old kitchen island, depending on the material itself. For example, removing wood kitchen islands usually requires hand saws and drills, whereas removing old granite countertops or marble kitchen islands might require chisels and power tools.
Table of Contents
Materials and tools needed for removing a kitchen island
Kitchen islands are great, but they can be difficult to remove. This guide will help you get your kitchen island out of the way and back into its original place.
If you are planning to remove your kitchen island, there is some preparation work that needs to be done. The first thing that you need to do is to get the tools and materials ready. If you have already purchased these items, then it’s time to prepare for the project. If you haven’t yet bought the equipment, then you should start looking around for the things that you need. Here are some of the most important supplies:
Labor :
I’d suggest getting a couple of friends together and hiring them to do it. You’ll save yourself the hassle of trying to figure out how to do it yourself, and you won’t have to worry about screwing something up. Also, if you want to make sure the job gets done properly, you’ll need at least three people.
A hammer:
A good hammer is essential when you want to remove any object from the wall. You can find hammers at home improvement stores, hardware stores, and even online.
A drill:
A drill is also very useful when you want to remove anything from the wall. Make sure that you buy a drill that is appropriate for the task at hand. For example, if you are going to remove a large piece of wood, then you should get a drill with a larger motor. If you are only drilling holes for screws, then a smaller motor would be sufficient.
Screwdrivers:
Screwdrivers come in many sizes and shapes. I designed some screwdrivers for certain types of screws. For example, Phillips had screws that required a special type of screwdriver.
Pliers:
Pliers are used for gripping small objects. We usually make them from metal, so make sure that you choose pliers that are strong enough to handle the job.
Saw :
When you are removing something from the wall, you may need to cut off pieces of the material. In order to do this, you will need a saw. Choose a saw with a blade that is sharp enough to cut through the material without damaging the surrounding area.
Drill Bits:
Drill bits are the components that fit onto the ends of drills. These are available in many sizes and designs. Choose a drill bit that fits the diameter of the drill that you are using.
Jigsaw:
Jigsaws are like circular saws. We used them for cutting wood and other materials. To use them effectively, you will need to know how to operate them properly.
Safety Equipment:
Safety goggles are one of the most important safety devices that you can use during a DIY project. I recommend you wear eye protection when working on projects like this.
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Move items around the island.
Now that you’ve disconnected the island from any utilities, it’s time to clear it of all items. You don’t want to move the island with dishes and glassware on it or in it—that would be disastrous!
To begin, take all the items off of the island and place them somewhere out of the way. After finishing, give your island a thorough inspection to make sure you missed nothing. Be sure to check under the island as well; sometimes jars or other minor items get pushed underneath and forgotten about until we move something.
Roll up the rug.
Roll up the rug in order to get better access to your kitchen island.
You can also consider moving it to another room, where you get better access. Ensure that we do not damage the island when removing it from its original location. You may decide to move it from one corner of the room to another if you want a fresh look or style. If your kitchen island is very light, you can simply roll it up and use it in another room.
Turn off the power and water supply.
To start, make sure we turn the power and water off. You should always do this when working on any project around the house that involves plumbing lines, gas lines, or electrical wiring. For the power, turn off the power at the breaker panel and cover the electrical outlet. If you don’t know how to do this, consult a professional electrician to show you what to do in person. With the water lines, there may be one or more valves under your sink that will cut off the flow of water from your pipes. The valve is often a small knob that you turn 1/4 turn to turn the water on or off, along an angled pipe leading from your wall into your kitchen sink (you may have another location; if so, contact a plumber).
Now that you’ve shut off all utilities going into your kitchen island, you can remove it safely!
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Disconnect the pipes.
Unscrew the faucet from the basin. Then, you can disconnect it from the kitchen countertop using a wrench or pliers. Remember to turn off the water supply first so that you don’t get sprayed in the face when you detach these pipes.
Disconnect any other pipes that may still be connected to your kitchen island. Don’t forget any dishwashers or garbage disposals!
Shut off the valve and turn off the water.
Before you begin, make sure you turn off the water to the island if it is plumbing-equipped. Locate your water shut-off valve and turn it counterclockwise. This will stop the flow of water to your kitchen island. If you can’t find this valve, turn off the main water supply in your home. You’ll need a wrench or pliers to do this.
Remove all the cabinets from the kitchen island to make it easier to remove and install.
To remove your kitchen island cabinets, start by removing all the drawers and cabinet doors. It’s probably advisable to remove the cabinets and drawers one by one. What is the best way to get rid of an island that has appliances like cookware, a dishwasher, and connections? Getting rid of this type of island is like getting rid of the last one. However, turn off all power in the area, especially if we connected the island to the main power supply. After that, remove any screws or nails, keeping the cabinets in place. Finally, raise the cabinets off their bases to gain access to the plumbing beneath the island.
7 easy steps:
- The old sink must be removed first by unscrewing the four screws holding it in place. Lift the sink out, being careful not to drop any parts on the floor. Disconnect the sink’s pipes and drain lines. Finally, remove the sink from the wall.
- Remove the island’s cabinet doors and drawers. You can pry them open with a pry bar, but some require an electric screwdriver. Keep note of all screws so you can replace the island with ease.
- After removing the cabinets, you can begin removing the island. To begin, base. Remove the leg bolts. Remove the bottom of each leg. Save the legs until later.
- Dismantling the rest of the island comes next. Remove the island’s top. Several little components must be lifted and slid before fastening. The sides can be removed after the top. Side panels are made of plywood or sheet metal. Easy-to-remove plywood Break the tabs and remove them. Take caution removing sheet metal. Screws and nails held them in place. Hammer and nail pound them out.
- After removing the sides, work on the island’s center. The center is a big stone or concrete slab. Cut it out with a circular saw. Avoid cutting into the island’s edges.
- After cutting, remove the island’s top. Remove the three bolts that hold the lid to the island. Lift the lid forward.
- Finally, remove the remaining bits of the island. Make sure no loose pieces fall on the floor. Replace the sink, cabinet doors, and drawer fronts. Reattach the legs and the base. Enjoy your new island!
How to Remove the Kitchen Island Top
Well, we’re here to show you how it’s done.
- First, you need to find the screws that are holding it in place. There are usually two. One will be on either side of the island where it meets the wall. You should be able to see them if you look closely at the side railings of the island.
- After you’ve found the screws, use a screwdriver to remove them. Be sure to hold the screwdriver straight and steady so as not to damage the wood underneath. Once both screws are out, gently lift one end of the island and move it away from the wall a little until you can easily pull it back or push it forward again later.
- After removing it from the wall, flip the countertop over to view its underside. If you still have any drawers or cabinets attached to your kitchen island, remove those screws or nails and then raise one cabinet and place it back over the place where the island once was, or wherever you need it.
- After rearranging everything, you’ll see an opening in the island’s top where the island countertop used to be. If you don’t want that hole to be open, cover it with plywood. Just make sure to seal the plywood to the countertop so water doesn’t get trapped under it.
- Once you’ve got the plywood in place, just slide the countertop back down and reattach any other items that were previously connected to the island.
- After removing the top, the sides can also remove. Begin by removing each side panel’s bottom corner. To release the screws keeping the panels together, use a flathead screwdriver to pry them apart. To remove the panel, first, loosen the screws. After removing the top, remove the central section.
Removing the hardware from the kitchen island
Put all the kitchen hardware in a plastic bag labeled “Kitchen Hardware.” Remove the screws holding the handles and put them in the bag.
Remove all the hardware from the underside of each cabinet before bagging it. All screws that go into wall studs, hinges, and drawer tracks should be included. Anything that attaches to wood should also go into your bags marked “kitchen hardware.” We suggest items like cabinet pulls and knobs, hinges, cabinet handles, and doorknobs. The list goes on!
If you have a lot of small parts, consider putting them in separate zip-lock bags. This will help keep things organized for when you’re ready to install them.
Removing the walls that hold up your kitchen island top
I hate to break it to you, but there’s no getting around this one: You’re going to have to remove the walls that are holding up your kitchen island top.
This isn’t as simple as it sounds, of course, because even though you may have removed the cabinets and kitchen countertops, the walls that support the top are likely still in place. And it’s not like you can just buy some new walls with the same dimensions and swap them out—unless you want to pay a lot of money.
Being the smart cookie that you are (we’ve got our eye on you), though, I’m sure you’ve already thought of a few creative solutions to this problem:
- You could build new walls with the same dimensions using all-new construction materials, but that would be really expensive and time-consuming! For example, if you needed three walls that were about five feet tall, it would take about 30 hours for two people to complete those tasks. And there’s no guarantee your walls would look exactly like your old ones did.
- You could buy replacements from another company, but these are pretty expensive, too. If all three walls were five feet tall and we made each from the quality materials (like wood or steel),
- You could use a jigsaw to cut away the existing walls and then replace them with new ones. While this might work, it’s probably best to leave the job to someone who knows what they’re doing. Cutting through solid material isn’t easy, so unless you know how to do it right, you’ll end up making more of a mess than you started with.
Remove the kitchen island legs if you have them.
Removing the kitchen island legs is easier than you think if you have them. Remove the legs from both sides, and then use a sledgehammer to remove the middle (where it connects to the table). If there aren’t any legs, then move the island over to the side of your house (you’ll be working with two people for this part), and then one person should hold it in place while the other person uses a saw to cut through the concrete. Then use a sledgehammer to smash through the concrete until it breaks apart.
Once that’s done, you can either put in new concrete or simply fill the hole with dirt. It’s up to you.
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How many does it cost to remove a kitchen island?
You should get rid of the kitchen cabinets in your house because they cost too much money. Your average cost for removing kitchen cabinets is $17.50. This means you’ll spend an average of $17.50 for each cabinet removed. The price depends on the size of the cabinet and whether it has drawers or shelves inside.
If you need to remove kitchen islands, the average cost is $20.00. This includes labor costs, which range between $10.00 and $30.00 per hour. However, if you hire a professional, they will charge you anywhere from $40.00 to $80.00 per hour.
Conclusion:
A kitchen island is an expensive addition that adds to the overall value of a home. While it’s hard to say goodbye to the aesthetic appeal of this fixture, there are tools that make both removing the island and its installation easier. You can get overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done, forcing you to never take the plunge and remove it. And while removing an existing kitchen island will most likely require some sort of remodeling help, there are ways to make the work easier on yourself. Let’s look at some removal tools and considerations to help you plan out the project before taking any action.
