When it comes to replacing parts of your kitchen, saving time and money is essential. But when you have ugly cabinets with beautiful countertops, it can complicate matters. So, can you replace cabinets without removing countertops?
The process of replacing cabinets and keeping countertops is doable. Reusing countertops involves taking the former countertops away and setting them aside. So while you will need to remove them, you don’t need to get rid of them.
If you were hoping to save labor, the quick answer is no. There is no way to prevent removing countertops. The cabinets are holding up the countertops. It would be tricky at the very least.
If you want to save labor, we will explore some other options below.
Options You Have When Replacing Cabinets and Keeping Countertops
Option One: Resurfacing
If you’ve ever heard of house flipping, you’ve probably heard the phrase that a house has “good bones.” If your cabinets are still in good condition, that’s the same idea. You don’t want to replace good quality material; you want to make it look good.
Resurfacing kitchens is a process of sanding down and replacing the outside surface. That way, the excellent quality materials stick around, but they look much better.
Option Two: Duplicating the Design
In some cases, it is impossible to replace cabinets without destroying countertops. Especially with granite countertops, breaking the sale can prevent it from being usable without significant work.
That’s why you might want to hire a designer that can emulate the appearance of your countertops. If you can’t keep the same ones, you might be able to duplicate the design.
This option is ideal if you want to replace your countertops with a material that is easier to manage. For example, suppose you have a beautiful laminate countertop. In that case, you could replace it with a solid surface countertop of a similar design and higher quality.
Option Three: Contact Paper Countertops
Option number three is using contact paper countertops. Contact paper is a relatively inexpensive material that covers the surface. You will likely need to caulk around the edges to keep the countertops connected.
While you don’t need to seal this material and it is inexpensive, it is almost always weaker than alternative options. It isn’t fragile, but damaging it will require you to rip off the entire piece.
Also, you run the risk of damaging the countertops underneath. So contact paper isn’t recommended as a long-term solution. This is especially true if the underlying countertops are still in good condition.
This process is only for situations where you don’t want to remove the countertops. Contact paper will do nothing for counters.
Wrap Up
When choosing to replace countertops, it’s always best to try and stick with a long-term solution. When replacing counters, stick with options you can use in the long term. If you have to remove the countertops, be sure to budget for replacing those just in case something goes wrong.
If you need help finding the right professionals to get your job done, contact our team at Parada Kitchens to get your project off on the right foot.