Prepare Your Workspace

Before starting demolition, make sure to protect your floors, walls, and any appliances or fixtures near the cabinets. Lay down drop cloths, tape off areas, and remove any items that could get damaged. Clear the area of debris and have a garbage can ready for cabinet parts and hardware.

Remove Doors, Drawers, and Shelving

Start by emptying out the cabinets completely and removing any doors, drawers, shelves, and hardware. Unscrew hinges, handles, and slides. Pry off adjustable shelves carefully using a pry bar or hammer. Set hardware aside for potential reuse or salvage.

Detach from Wall Studs

Most metal cabinets are secured to wall studs with screws through the back panel or side gables. Locate all screw points and remove any visible screws. Use a stud finder to locate hidden screws or nails. You may need to cut away drywall or paneling to access hidden fasteners.

Break Apart Cabinet Box

With the cabinet emptied out and detached from the wall, you can start breaking it apart. Wedge a pry bar into seams and pry carefully to separate and spread the sides. Work methodically around the sides and corners. For stubborn fasteners, use a reciprocating saw with metal cutting blade to slice through.

Watch for Utilities

Be very careful when prying and cutting not to damage any hidden electrical, plumbing, or gas lines. This is a key reason to remove the entire cabinet box intact rather than demoing in place. Stop if you encounter any pipes or wires.

Remove Stubborn Anchors

Once the box is fully detached, any remaining drywall anchors or clips can be knocked out with a hammer and pry bar from the back side. Use a multi-tool or oscillating tool to easily slice through metal edge clips. Wear eye protection during demolition.

Salvage, Recycle, or Dispose of Remains

With the cabinets fully disassembled, sort materials. Metal cabinet boxes and hardware can often be recycled. Wood faced cabinets may be reusable or recyclable. Haul remains to the appropriate facility.

Clean Up and Prepare for New Cabinets

With old cabinets removed, thoroughly clean the empty space. Vacuum and sweep up all debris. Fill any holes or damage in drywall. Measure space and create a plan for your new kitchen layout.

Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Metal Kitchen Cabinets

How do you detach old metal cabinets from the wall?

Locate all screw points securing the cabinet to wall studs. Remove visible screws, then use a stud finder to locate any hidden fasteners behind drywall. Cut away paneling or drywall as needed to access and remove hidden screws or nails.

What tools do you need to take apart metal cabinets?

Useful tools include a pry bar, hammer, reciprocating saw, metal cutting blades, multi-tool, stud finder, eye protection, pry bar, and drop cloths. Have a vacuum, broom, plastic bags, and a large garbage can ready.

How do you remove old shelf clips?

Shelf clips can be pried out with a flat bar from the backside of the cabinet. For stubborn metal edge clips, slice through them easily with an oscillating multi-tool. Wear eye protection as metal pieces will likely fly.

What is the easiest way to remove cabinet doors?

Removing doors is easiest if you detach the whole door from the cabinet box. Simply unscrew door hinges from cabinet face frames to lift doors off intact. Number doors to keep them matched up with cabinet opening.

Can metal kitchen cabinets be recycled?

Many metal cabinet components and hardware can be recycled, including cabinet boxes, doors, drawers, and shelves. Remove non-metal components first. Take cleaned metal pieces to a metal recycling facility.

What do you do with old cabinet boxes?

If cabinet boxes are still sturdy, they could be repurposed for storage or workshops. Bend back any sharp metal edges first. Wood veneer boxes can potentially be recycled. Damaged boxes should be taken to metal recycling facilities if possible.

In Conclusion

Taking apart old metal kitchen cabinets takes time, effort, and the right tools. By detaching everything from the wall, breaking apart boxes methodically, removing anchors and hardware, and cleaning up debris thoroughly, you can completely remove metal cabinets for a fresh kitchen update. Take safety precautions, work carefully, and recycle components when possible.