Dismantling a cabinet: how to properly remove a wall-hung, pull-out, built-in cabinet and its elements?

Although disassembling a cabinet might seem difficult at first, it can be done easily with the correct method. Knowing the procedures for taking out a built-in, pull-out, or wall-hung cabinet will save you time and help to avoid damaging your walls and fixtures.

Every kind of cabinet has a unique set of difficulties. Handling wall-hung cabinets carefully is necessary to prevent wall damage. Pull-out cabinets are frequently seen in kitchens, and disassembling the sliding mechanisms requires a methodical process. The most difficult cabinets to install are built-in cabinets because they are integrated into the design of your house and frequently require intricate and safe fixings.

Prior to beginning, collect the required equipment, which should include a utility knife, a drill, and screwdrivers. Having a friend or family member help you is also beneficial, particularly for larger or heavier cabinets. Safety should always come first, so make sure you have a clear workspace and are wearing the proper protective gear.

Each type of cabinet will be easier to handle with the help of this guide, which will take you step-by-step through the process. You’ll be able to disassemble your cabinet quickly and painlessly by following these instructions.

How to remove a wall cabinet from the wall in the kitchen?

You must first ascertain the design of the unit that the furniture is attached to the wall before beginning to disassemble it.

1. Furniture hinge. The oldest method – however, this is precisely the case when outdated does not mean bad. Cabinets are hung on them where the walls are not level: this is not important for the hinge, the main thing is that the dowels screwed into the wall are level.
2. Hanging corner. A curved metal plate, one end of which is screwed to the cabinet, the other with a dowel to the wall. Also an old design with a rigid, reliable fastening, but without the possibility of adjustment: just as the corners were installed from the very beginning, so everything will be.
3. Guide strips (mounting rail). A metal strip with bent profiled edges screwed to the wall, on which a cabinet is hung with hooks. It is convenient because it is easy to change the position of individual furniture modules without adjusting hinges or drilling new holes. The plank is attached to the wall not at two, but at many points, the load is redistributed over a large area – this is convenient for walls made of cinder blocks or plasterboard.
4. IKEA canopies. Used for hanging cabinets manufactured by this company. Consist of a mounting unit mounted on the wall with self-tapping screws and a canopy with an oval hole, which is attached to the rear wall of the cabinet. Provides a firm fit but is barely adjustable.

Other, less typical kinds of fasteners exist.

The following procedures are involved in disassembling mounted modules:

1. First you need to empty the cabinet by removing the contents from it. Dismantle the doors so as not to damage them if something goes wrong and the cabinet falls.
2. Then you need to remove the screed with the adjacent section, if there is one. If, for greater rigidity and structural strength, sections of hanging furniture are pulled together, you need to unscrew the connecting bolts or loosen the tension of the clamps.
3. Carefully lift the body. IKEA furniture hinge or canopy comes off the fastening element.
4. If you use a corner, you must first unscrew the screw that secures the module to the wall.

From guide bars

If installation guide strips were used, the process for removing them is as follows:

1. The cabinet is emptied of dishes and other contents, the shelves are removed from it, and the door mounts are removed.
2. The cabinet is carefully lifted so that the teeth of the canopy come off the top edge of the guide bar.
3. The removed module is carefully placed on the floor.
4. Use a screwdriver or reverse screwdriver to unscrew the screws that secure the plank to the wall.
5. When the screws are unscrewed, the strip itself is removed.

It is not required to remove the guide bar if the cabinets are being taken out for remodeling. If plastering or tile finishing is to be done on the wall where it is located, or if you are moving, it must be disassembled. In the latter scenario, it must be removed because hanging cabinets in the new apartment will be impossible without it.

Retractable

Retractable shelves, bottle holders, and other structures are a common feature of modern kitchen sets. To take them apart, do the following:

1. The contents are removed from the drawer.
2. The drawer extends all the way.
3. Use a screwdriver to press out the guide clamps. If Blum brand elements are used, then to remove them it is enough to press the latch manually, disconnecting the box from the frame.
4. The box is removed from the guide bars.
5. Then you can disassemble the retractable element itself.

When disassembling a "carousel" style design, which has drawers that all roll out when the door is opened, the process is as follows:

1. Boxes are emptied of the cargo stored in them.
2. The fasteners are unscrewed.
3. Roller elements are removed from the guides.

The precise sequence of events will vary based on the locations where the structure is fastened; numerous options exist based on the design. But the fundamental idea remains constant.

Whether a cabinet is built-in, wall-hung, or pull-out, disassembling it safely and without damage demands certain procedures. This post walks you through every step of the procedure, from setting up your workspace and assembling the necessary equipment to meticulously taking away each component. You can easily disassemble your cabinet and steer clear of typical pitfalls by following these easy instructions, which will make the process simple and manageable.

Built-in

A built-in wardrobe’s ability to be precisely constructed to fit the dimensions of the space where it will eventually be installed is one of its distinguishing features. Consequently, disassembling it in order to move it makes no sense.

But during repairs, it might need to be disassembled. This is carried out in this manner:

1. The door is removed. Typically, such lockers are designed in the form of a compartment, the doors in them are sliding on rollers, and the support can be either the lower or the upper. To dismantle the door, you must carefully lift it so that the lower roller comes off the guides, then tilt it outward so that the upper roller comes off the rails. Then the door can simply be moved to the side.
2. The shelves and sides of the internal sections are removed.
3. If the remaining structure is light enough, it can be completely removed from the niche and pulled away (using rollers sold in hardware stores to move furniture or simply pieces of old thick wool fabric as a lining for a support so as not to scratch the floor). If it is still too heavy or you need to disassemble it alone, you need to continue dismantling.
4. The back wall is removed. It is usually made of plywood or fiberboard, and is attached to small furniture nails. To remove it, carefully pry it up with the tip of a flat screwdriver or chisel, then gently press it from the inside or lightly tap it with a mallet and separate it from the frame.
5. The frame itself is disassembled. It all depends on the design. If a tie was used on eccentrics, unscrew them, if the corners are used, unscrew the screws, if dowels, separate the elements by gently tapping.
6. Upon completion of disassembly, the fittings are collected in a separate bag, and the structural elements are marked so that when reassembling you know what is attached to what.

The process of taking apart a built-in wardrobe is demonstrated in the video:

Kitchen with closer

The kitchen module can have door closers in a variety of styles installed.

1. Built in loop.
2. Gas lift or oil lift (the latter is used for heavy elements).
3. End closer-shock absorber, etc. d.

This is how disassembly will appear depending on the design:

• If you are using a door closer built into the hinge, you need to unscrew the screws that secure the hinge to the door leaf.
• If it is a cabinet type, attached to the door and side of the cabinet, you need to unscrew the screws that secure it to the door.

Whether a cabinet is built-in, wall-hung, or pull-out, disassembling it can appear like an overwhelming undertaking, but with the correct techniques and equipment, it can be completed quickly and safely. Understanding each type of cabinet’s unique construction and mounting techniques is essential.

Make sure the wall-hung cabinet is correctly supported before unscrewing any screws or brackets. This stops any unintentional drops that might result in harm or damage. Pull-out cabinets can be disassembled with care by paying attention to the sliding mechanisms and removing the drawers first to reveal the interior structure. Because built-in cabinets are frequently integrated with the surrounding fixtures, they may require a bit more work. Find and remove each and every fastening point by taking your time.

In case you need to reinstall or repurpose any hardware, don’t forget to keep it all organized, including screws and brackets. Reassembling the cabinet or better comprehending its construction can both benefit from labeling and taking pictures of each step. Throughout the process, patience and cautious handling are essential to prevent damage to the cabinets and the surrounding areas.

These methods and advice will enable you to disassemble any kind of cabinet with ease. When remodeling, relocating, or just updating your area, understanding how to remove these fixtures correctly will make the process go more smoothly and manageably. Cheers to doing it yourself!

Video on the topic

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