Step 4. Remove & Install

how to remove your kitchen

Removing your old kitchen can be a liberating experience!
Follow our guide to make sure you do it right.

tip: how to live without your kitchen
To make things easy, create a make-shift kitchen with your microwave and fridge in another space like your dining room or garage. Do some meal prep (before you remove your kitchen), then simply heat in your microwave. You could also use your BBQ, buy prepackaged meals and make use of other rooms that still have running water, like your laundry. Easy!

pre-demolition

safety
Prepping correctly and keeping a clean workspace is really important to avoid tripping or slipping over. You also need to be safe when handling heavy tools and equipment, ask for help if lifting heavy items. Make sure you use the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and if there is something you aren’t sure about, call in the professionals!

empty your kitchen
Store and label all your kitchen items so they are easy to find when your new kitchen is built.

call in the professionals
You’ll need a qualified tradesperson to turn off your electricity, water and gas. An electrician will be required to turn off your electricity, remove or relocate
powerpoints and ensure all cables are safe. Call in a plumber to turn off your water supply and install stop valves for your existing kitchen taps so you can access water throughout the rest of the house. Your plumber will also need to make sure your gas is turned off and disconnected from any gas appliances.

protect your floors
Cover your floors with hardboard or a drop cloth to prevent scratches, dents and other damage to your floors. Trust us, you’ll drop something heavy or drag
something sharp at some stage!

take down art, fixtures and fittings
Want to keep your artwork, light fittings and handles safe? Remove them, label them and store them away from the demolition area. A qualified electrician will
assist with any light fittings that need to be removed.

seal off your space
If practical, try to seal off your work zone to help keep dust and dirt out of the rest of your home.

use the right tools
Do some research and speak to the right people about what tools to use. It will keep you safer, keep your demolition cleaner and best of all will make your life
easier! Suggested tools might be a drill, hammer, pry bar or crowbar, scraper, Stanley knife and a circular saw.

hire a skip bin
Don’t forget to hire a skip or a rubbish trailer before you start demolition. There are plenty of local skip companies who will offer competitive quotes. Building
materials cannot be placed in your regular rubbish collection and you don’t want building materials lying around your home – it’s asking for trouble.

By taking your time with demolition you’ll keep your work zone safe, minimise damage to your home and save preparation time when it comes to installing your new kitchen.

remember, you’ll always need licenced professionals for any gas, plumbing and
electrical works.

demolition

PPE
Get your personal protective equipment on before you start any demolition. Make sure you’re wearing appropriate footwear such as steel capped boots,
ensure you have eye protection and wear safety gloves.

sink
Carefully cut the silicone bead with a Stanley knife then use a pry bar and hammer to help lift it out. Once you have an edge out you could also use wooden planks to help leverage the sink out of place.

wall cabinets
Remove your wall cabinets before any base cabinets so that you can use the existing base cabinets as a resting point. It’s best to use at least two pairs of hands here, or a cabinet support if you have one. Firstly, locate which screws are holding your cabinet to the wall. Then start by removing the screws holding your cabinets together. After you’ve done that, carefully remove the screws that hold the cabinets to the wall and bring them to the ground. Save and label any parts for recycling or throw the old kitchen straight in the skip bin as mentioned above.

benchtops and splashbacks
Remove any screws that are holding benchtops in place. If you can lift the benchtop off then do so, otherwise you may need a pry bar to help you out. If the benchtop is too heavy for one person and you don’t have a second pair of hands to help then you could cut the benchtop into more manageable pieces.
If you have a glass splashback, we recommend using a clear PVC self adhesive film to protect yourself from the glass. Pry your splashback off the wall carefully and try to avoid any sharp shards as much as you can.

base cabinets
First, remove drawers, doors and shelves, then remove any screws that are fixing the cabinets to the walls. If the cabinets are stuck on the wall, you may need to use a pry bar to remove them. Once they are free from the wall then remove any screws that are attaching the cabinets together. Finally, take the carcass apart and store out of your work zone or throw straight in the skip bin. If the kitchen is going to be used by someone else for a second life then help them out by bagging the screws and labelling the parts as you go along.

appliances
Use a voltage tester to ensure there is no power going through any appliances before you remove them. Remember, you’ll need a licenced professional to turn
off your electricity, water and gas before taking any appliances out.

what to do with your old kitchen

out with the old

Renovating your kitchen means you’ll have old cabinets, benchtops, tiles and appliances on your hands. It’s damaging to send these items straight to landfill and there’s plenty of options for upcycling. Here are our tips for disposing of old kitchen goods responsibly.

If your kitchen cabinets, doors and benchtops are in a reasonable condition, you can either donate, sell or reuse them within your home.

sell
Try to sell your old kitchen online through marketplaces such as eBay, Gumtree or Facebook. You can also repurpose different cabinets across the home for items like TV units, home offices or garage storage.

donate
GIVIT is a national online charity which matches generosity with genuine need. They work with over 4000 charities and support organisations across Australia to ensure people and communities get what they need, when they need it. To donate, visit givit.org.au.

Or, talk to your local council and research local businesses that support communities rebuilding after recent fires and floods. A working kitchen, even if it’s outdated, would certainly be put to good use.

appliances
Fridges, freezers, microwaves, ovens, stovetops, dishwashers and other appliances can be reused or recycled. Your first option should be to check if a
second-hand dealer or local charity will accept your old appliances, or you could sell them online yourself through marketplaces such as eBay, Gumtree or Facebook.

If you have no luck with upcycling, then ensure you dispose of your old appliances through metal recycling programs, where they are shredded and
their metal is recovered. For second-hand dealers, charities and recycling options for appliances, visit recyclingnearyou.com.au/whitegoods.

tip: responsibly remove your old fridge and freezer
It’s really important to ensure old fridges and freezers are disposed of correctly and degassed to avoid harmful greenhouse gasses leaching into the atmosphere. Check with your local council waste centre for degas services.

in with the new

As well as considering responsible disposal of your old items, it’s wise to carefully dispose of the packaging from your new kitchen build, whether it’s cardboard from cabinets, plastic from tools or foam from appliances.

Australasian recycling label
Used across Australia and New Zealand, the ARL label provides you with instructions on how to responsibly dispose of each component of your packaging. It removes confusion, saves you time and reduces waste going to landfill. For more information on the ARL label, visit arl.org.au.

cardboard
Most cardboard packaging can be recycled through your kerbside bin. Check for the ARL label or with your local council if you’re unsure.

soft plastics
Many soft plastics (like bubble wrap) can be collected in a large, plastic bag and placed in a REDcycle drop off bin at supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.

expanded polystyrene
EPS, which is often used in appliance packaging, can’t be collected in your council recycling service, however, there’s heaps of facilities that are capable of accepting all types of EPS. To find a collection facility in your state, visit www.epsa.org.au/where-can-i-recycle-eps

important
Do not place soft plastics such as bubble wrap or expanded polystyrene in your kerbside recycle bin. These items will upset the recycling process of the other
items in that bin.

For all other materials, checkout Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website, you can sort by material and location, it’s super helpful and easy to use.

installation timeline

Now that it’s time to install your kitchen, here’s a realistic timeframe for your renovation.

We suggest following the order below but you may need to be flexible as it will depend on the availability of your tradespeople. Keep in mind that the timeframes provided are averages only. Each step will depend on the extent of your renovation and a good rule of thumb is the bigger your kitchen, the more time you’ll need!

•  pre-assemble cabinets ready for installation - 2 days
• be prepared for your plumber and electrician to disconnect services. empty cabinets of all kitchenware, unload the dishwasher and find out where your mains water meter is located. if you’re paying by the hour you don’t want these trades waiting for you to get organised - time is money! – 1 day
• remove existing kitchen - 1 day
• plumber and electrician to rough in new outlet positions (if required) – 1 day(allow more time if you’re changing from electricity to gas or vice versa)
• install cabinets, doors and panels – 3-5 days
• install benchtop - 1 day
• plumber and electrician to fit off new appliances - ½ day
•  optional - plasterer, this will depend on the extent of your job - 1-2 days 
•  optional - tiler for splashback, this will depend on the extent of your job - 1-2 days
• optional - painter, this will depend on the extent of your job - 1-2 days

 approximate installation timeline – 11 – 17 days.

installation tips

keep a clean and clear working space
Ensure your new kitchen area is clear and as free of clutter as possible. There will be lots of items to unpack and assemble and you don’t want any confusion.

level your walls and cabinets.
Always remember to check your walls are level and even before you install your new kitchen. If your walls are not level, add filler panels or re-plaster to bring them to square, this will allow a plumb finish for your new kitchen cabinets. Most kitchen cabinets have adjustable footers which allow you to achieve a level finish on your base cabinets where your floor may be on a slight fall.

remove architraves
Where necessary to achieve a flush finish to your walls.

follow instructions
It sounds simple right? Instructions provide necessary safety guidelines which need to be followed. Following instructions will allow you to efficiently install your kitchen without unnecessary mistakes, costing you time and money.

use the correct tools
Here is a guide on what tools are generally required when installing a kitchen.

paint and plaster
Repair all plaster and paint your walls and ceiling before installing your new kitchen. It will be much easier to carry out these repairs in an empty room. Then, just touch up any extra spots as required.

check your water, power and gas services
You’ll need a qualified tradesperson to turn off your electricity, water and gas to your kitchen during the installation process.

seek assistance
When in doubt – seek further information from your kitchen provider’s website or call in a professional.