Many people are intent on ripping out their kitchens and starting again. And that’s fine. But before you cause a lot of damage, it’s worth understanding of what you’re about to do. That’s where this guide can help. It runs through everything you need to know about ripping out a kitchen before you take the plunge and start removing cabinets and cutting through worktops.
Get Your Game Plan Ready
The first step is to ensure your game plan is ready to go. You don’t want to rip out a kitchen on a whim and then wonder what you’re doing halfway through. Usually, this means going to a professional designer. But, of course, you don’t have to do that. Simply having a plan or process in place can be tremendously beneficial.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
Turn Off All Utilities First
You should also turn off all utilities before ripping out the kitchen. You don’t want water or gas pouring into the room (that’s no fun!). You should be able to find the utility shut-off valves somewhere in your home, usually by the front door or in a dedicated utility room. Check these are all off by turning on appliances in your home and seeing whether the meter readings change. (If they don’t and you can’t smell or see anything, you’re usually safe).
Be Mindful of Wiring
You should also be mindful of plumbing and wiring when ripping out a kitchen. Almost always, you will have integrated fittings. I like to call an electrician near me whenever I do this sort of work. It’s mainly for peace of mind. That’s because if you do wind up damaging the electricals, you might not be able to put them right yourself. The same goes for plumbing. Damaging the faucets or the lines running from the rear of the dishwasher can be fatal.
Photo by Kindel Media
Prepare For Surprises
You should also prepare for surprises when ripping out a kitchen. You might have the idea in your mind that once you remove the kitchen, everything will be ready to go for your next installation. But that’s not always how it works in practice. Often, you will find problems. Sure, issues like mold, damp, and outdated parts don’t always occur, but they can. So consider yourself warned!
Use The Right Tools
You should also commit to using the right tools when ripping out a kitchen. It’s not just a matter of smashing everything to pieces with a sledgehammer. That can do more harm than good.
Ideally, you want a:
Pry bar
Utility knife
Hammer
Drill
Aim to remove items carefully. (You might be able to sell them afterward).
Protect Adjacent Spaces
Lastly, focus on protecting adjacent spaces when ripping out a kitchen. While damage to the kitchen itself doesn’t matter, harm to nearby rooms can increase costs significantly. For example, make sure you put down rags so you can carry items out of the kitchen without damaging other rooms. Also, you can put sheets over furniture to reduce dust.
Many people are intent on ripping out their kitchens and starting again. And that’s fine. But before you cause a lot of damage, it’s worth understanding of what you’re about to do. That’s where this guide can help. It runs through everything you need to know about ripping out a kitchen before you take the plunge and start removing cabinets and cutting through worktops.
Get Your Game Plan Ready
The first step is to ensure your game plan is ready to go. You don’t want to rip out a kitchen on a whim and then wonder what you’re doing halfway through. Usually, this means going to a professional designer. But, of course, you don’t have to do that. Simply having a plan or process in place can be tremendously beneficial.
Turn Off All Utilities First
You should also turn off all utilities before ripping out the kitchen. You don’t want water or gas pouring into the room (that’s no fun!). You should be able to find the utility shut-off valves somewhere in your home, usually by the front door or in a dedicated utility room. Check these are all off by turning on appliances in your home and seeing whether the meter readings change. (If they don’t and you can’t smell or see anything, you’re usually safe).
Be Mindful of Wiring
You should also be mindful of plumbing and wiring when ripping out a kitchen. Almost always, you will have integrated fittings. I like to call an electrician near me whenever I do this sort of work. It’s mainly for peace of mind. That’s because if you do wind up damaging the electricals, you might not be able to put them right yourself. The same goes for plumbing. Damaging the faucets or the lines running from the rear of the dishwasher can be fatal.
Prepare For Surprises
You should also prepare for surprises when ripping out a kitchen. You might have the idea in your mind that once you remove the kitchen, everything will be ready to go for your next installation. But that’s not always how it works in practice. Often, you will find problems. Sure, issues like mold, damp, and outdated parts don’t always occur, but they can. So consider yourself warned!
Use The Right Tools
You should also commit to using the right tools when ripping out a kitchen. It’s not just a matter of smashing everything to pieces with a sledgehammer. That can do more harm than good.
Ideally, you want a:
Aim to remove items carefully. (You might be able to sell them afterward).
Protect Adjacent Spaces
Lastly, focus on protecting adjacent spaces when ripping out a kitchen. While damage to the kitchen itself doesn’t matter, harm to nearby rooms can increase costs significantly. For example, make sure you put down rags so you can carry items out of the kitchen without damaging other rooms. Also, you can put sheets over furniture to reduce dust.
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