Unit 04 / Replacement
Cabinet replacement sounds simple: old cabinets out, new ones in. In practice the tear-out exposes walls that were never meant to be seen, plumbing that has been weeping for years and floors that stop where the old cabinets used to sit.
Move the slider to compare the room before and after the work.
Cabinets911 handles cabinet replacement as a full job: removal, assessment of what is behind the old boxes, new cabinetry and installation. We plan for what the tear-out usually reveals, so the project does not stall when the wall is open.
Dispatch log
Replacement is not always the answer. These are the signs it usually is.
Swollen particleboard does not shrink back. It has to come out.
Cabinets that have pulled away from the wall or out of square.
New doors on a bad layout leave the real problem in place.
The material around the screws has failed, not just the hinge.
Peeling thermofoil or worn paint across most doors and boxes.
The moment the tops come off is the moment to decide about the boxes.
Brief 01
Before anything comes out, we protect the floors and any finishes that are staying. Water and power to the area get shut off and capped. Countertops come off first, then upper cabinets, then base cabinets.
With the wall open, we check for the things the old cabinets were hiding: water staining, soft drywall, old patches, missing blocking and how far the floor and walls are out of level. Those findings go into the install plan before the new cabinets arrive.
Brief 02
Many kitchens have flooring that was laid around the old cabinets, so there is no floor under them. New cabinets of a different size leave exposed subfloor. That needs a plan before the new layout is final.
The wall behind the old cabinets often needs patching, and the backsplash usually comes off with the tops. We tell you what to expect from the other trades so nothing surprises you mid-project.
Brief 03
Not everything has to go. Appliances usually come back after the new cabinets are in, as long as the new openings are drawn to their exact sizes. The sink and faucet can sometimes be reused, though an undermount sink is tied to the countertop and comes out with it.
Countertops are the hardest call. Laminate tops rarely survive removal. Stone tops can sometimes be lifted and reset, but they crack easily and new cabinets almost never match the old dimensions exactly. We look at the top, the seams and the sink cutout before recommending either way.
Hardware is easy to reuse if you like it, but new doors often need different hole spacing. If you plan to keep pulls, bring one to the design stage so the drawings account for it.
Gallery
G-01 Tear-out with floors protected
G-02 Wall exposed after removal
G-03 New cabinetry set and aligned
G-04 Replacement in the same footprint
Specification
| Repair | New doors and hardware | Full replacement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixes | Isolated damage, hinges, slides | Dated look on sound boxes | Damaged boxes, bad layout |
| Box condition needed | Mostly sound | Sound and square | Any |
| Layout change | No | No | Yes |
| Countertops | Usually stay | Usually stay | Usually replaced |
| Disruption | Low | Moderate | Highest |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
Routing
IfOne or two cabinets are damaged
ThenAsk about repair first. Replacing a whole kitchen for one sink base is rarely necessary.
IfThe boxes are sound but dated
ThenAsk whether new doors and hardware are an option for your cabinets.
IfThe damage or layout is the problem
ThenPlan a full replacement and use it to fix the layout too.
IfThere is an active leak
ThenStop the water first. Call a plumber, then call us.
Call transcript
Often, yes. Standard sizes usually fit an existing layout, though older kitchens sometimes have sizes that are no longer made. We measure and tell you where fillers or custom sizes are needed.
We protect the floor during tear-out. The bigger question is whether there is flooring under the old cabinets at all. We check that early.
That depends on lead times, the other trades and what the tear-out reveals. We give you a realistic schedule once the scope is confirmed.
Open a case / U04
Send photos of the damage or the room. We will tell you whether this is a repair or a replacement.
Accessibility / Language
