Chances are, you know someone who’s learned a few hard lessons during a DIY kitchen demolition project. Swinging a hammer isn’t too hard and sweeping up debris isn’t much of a challenge for anyone trying to save a few bucks on a new kitchen cabinet installation. But stories of past kitchen demo experiences will prove to you that this type of overhaul isn’t for everyone. Mistakes, unexpected costs, and extended deadlines can turn any dream kitchen renovation into a complete nightmare.

If new kitchen cabinetry is next on your home renovation plans, and you’re daring enough to tackle the kitchen demo yourself, having a Kitchen Demolition Checklist on hand could be the most important tool to have on hand. It’ll help you avoid those common, costly mistakes that are the root of so many kitchen renovation nightmares.

Before you ever swing a sledgehammer, stop and know what you’re getting yourself into. Watch some How-to videos online or do a search for instructions for a DIY Kitchen Demo. Then, once you’re feeling confident about your skills and abilities, be sure to follow this helpful checklist.

5 Handy Kitchen Demolition Checklist Tips Before Your New Kitchen Cabinet Installation

• Always think ‘Safety First’– Turn off your electricity to specific outlets and pay attention to where electrical wires run through the walls. Watch for pipes and be careful not to cut through them unless you are positive that it is safe to do so. Turn off the water before removing the sink, faucets, or dishwasher. Ask an architect or contractor about which walls or ceiling beams might be load-bearing. Cutting into or removing these elements could bring devastating results and be quite costly to repair or replace.
• Remove the moldings and trim and save it if possible. This is especially important if you’re looking to save a little extra on your kitchen remodel. The baseboard trim, kickboards and molding is often in good condition and can be incorporated back into the kitchen with the new remodel.
• Protect the items you want to keep. Do you plan to keep your current kitchen flooring? Will your ceiling fan or light fixture work well in the renovated space? Be sure to cover any items up or take them down if possible to make sure they are protected from flying debris, dust and tools that might cause damage.
• Remove any fixtures that you want to salvage, keep, sell or donate. Removing old cabinetry is messy and can be a bit chaotic. Do you want to sell your old appliances to make room for new ones that match your new cabinets? Pull out that refrigerator or oven before ripping out the surrounding countertops and cabinets. This goes for the sink, door handles and drawer pulls as well. Don’t take any permanent demolition steps until valuable items are removed from the space.
• Seal off your kitchen space if possible. Even though you’re ripping out the top and bottom cabinets in the kitchen, the debris and dust won’t promise to stay there. Use plastic and painters tape to seal off any areas that would be exposed to these elements during demolition. Look for any heating and AC vents and place some poly sheeting between the vent cover and the wall to prevent anything from getting into the vents. Exposed drains and other pipes can be temporarily capped off or sealed in a variety of ways to prevent anything from getting lodged inside, AND to keep potential fumes from seeping into your kitchen while you work. Be sure to seal off your light switches, too. This isn’t essential for a standard light switch, but if your kitchen features slider dimmer switches, they could end up permanently ruined by plaster dust inside the glide.

Once you’ve got everything out of the kitchen that you plan on keeping and you’ve identified all of the potential dangers of the project, you can prepare to start swinging, hammering, and sawing away at your old cabinets. The process won’t be too difficult if you’re careful and pay attention. Good luck!

If replacing your old kitchen cabinets with an updated style with more functional space is next on your home improvement project list, don’t hesitate to call Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork today. Our Conestoga RTA cabinets offer the perfect combination of beauty, function, and dependability to turn your kitchen into one of your dreams.