How to Remove Wall Cabinets

Remodeling that home or office space may inevitably require you to remove out of style or old wall hanging cabinets. The cabinets may still have some life to them and can be recycled for the garage or sent to a restoration second hand store for resale. Reselling those old wall cabinets will not only keep the wooden structures out of landfills but also put a few dollars in your pocket by selling them.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver (Philips or slotted) Small plastic baggie Tape measure Pencil Circular saw 2x4s (used as cabinet jacks) Hammer Flat pry bar

Instructions

1. Remove the doors on the wall cabinets by unscrewing the door hinges from the side styles of the cabinets. With the doors removed, the upper wall cabinets will be lighter and easier to handle. You may require the use of another person to help you hold the door in place while removing the screws.

2. Place all the screws that you remove in the plastic baggie and keep the baggie in an easy to reach location. Those screws maybe required at the resale shop.

3. Measure the distance between the floor and the lower side of the wall cabinet.

4. Add ½ inch to the above measurement and mark one of the 2x4s to this length with the pencil.

5. Cut the 2x4, with the circular saw, to the length you marked.

6. Fit the 2x4 length ways under the front edge of the cabinet and use the hammer to gently tap the 2x4 vertically into place. This will cinch the board to a tight fit and add stability to maneuvering the wall cabinet once you break it loose from the wall.

7. Use either the screwdriver, if the cabinet is screwed into the wall, or the pry bar, if it is nailed on to the wall, and remove the fasteners.

8. Ask the other person to help support the cabinet when you pull that last fastener. The 2x4 boards will aid in keeping the cabinet supported, but the wall cabinet will want to push upwards when the last fastener is removed.

9. Carefully lower the cabinet to the floor and remove the unit out of your way.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever using a pry bar against another flat surface it may be a good idea to use another board under the bar to keep it from marring or breaking the wallboard. A piece of large cardboard can be employed on the flooring to keep scratches and dents from occurring by an accidentally dropped tool or cabinet.