How to disassemble your kitchen for relocation

Hiring movers to help you out with your relocation is a smart move. Everything is easier when it’s done by a professional. Before you start packing, it is imperative to take apart all the appliances and furniture. It makes packing and logistics much easier. However, it is not a simple task to perform. Dismantling and packing a kitchen is one of the most challenging parts of every move. If you are preparing to disassemble your kitchen for relocation, make sure you do it correctly. Maybe the best option for you would be to hire professional residential movers to help you. Damaging any of the appliances or cabinets only means you’ll have to spend more money to buy them. And when you are in the middle of something as challenging as relocation, you really want to decide on the moving budget, and stick to it. With that in mind, let’s look at what is the best approach when you wish to disassemble your kitchen for relocation.

Make a plan on how you’ll disassemble your kitchen for relocation

Before you start any work around the kitchen, you should plan it out. The key to a smooth moving day is careful planning. Think about everything that will need to be dismantled, how are you going to do it, and which tool you are going to need. Also, take time into the account. Timing is crucial when dissembling a kitchen because you’re going to need some of your dishes and appliances up until the last days at your old home. So you have to make sure not to start packing and dismantling too soon. The best way is to stick to a schedule so everything goes smoothly for your relocation.

Discuss it with your movers

Hiring a reputable moving company to assist may be the best option for your relocation. If you ever wondered what the sign you hired quality movers is, here is the best way to find out. Talk to your coordinator or a salesperson about the disassembly and reassembly of appliances. Every moving company has a list of what will they take apart and put together, so check if any of the kitchen appliances are on it. It would be best to leave that to the pros since they are experienced with these tasks. However, this service will add to your moving costs. Precisely because of that is why we are talking about how to disassemble your kitchen for relocation. If you learn how to do it yourself, you are taking things into your hands. It is easier to cut costs down since you won’t have to pay for additional services.

Ask a friend or a family member for help

Moving alone can be especially exhausting. While it can be done, disassembling a kitchen is a serious task. If you want to DIY it and decide not to hire movers you can still get help from friends. Do not hesitate to ask a friend or a family member to help you out. A lot of kitchen equipment requires two pairs of hands to dismantle. Having help will not only make the process quicker but also less stressful because you will have someone helping you out.

Do the inventory of kitchen equipment before relocation

Before you start to disassemble your kitchen for relocation, you must do the inventory of the kitchen equipment. This will help you get a clear picture of everything that needs to be done. Create a checklist, and write down notes as you are taking things apart. It is the best way to keep track of what you did. Most kitchens usually have:

• electronic appliances
• base cabinets
• mounted cabinets
• countertops
• the sink
• tables and chairs
• drawers
• cupboards

Of course, there are plenty more kitchen utensils, but we are discussing only those you’ll have to take apart for the move. Once you have everything on paper, you can start to disassemble and pack.

The required set of tools

When you are disassembling and packing your kitchen for relocation it is important to have high-quality tools. Using cheaper supplies may seem like a good way to cut costs but you’re risking damaging you appliances or hurting yourself. That could cost you more at the end of your move. Dismantling wooden closets and cabinets is not that hard, you will only need a good set of tools. It includes Philips, flat-head, and square-bit screwdrivers for cabinets, a ladder, a flat pry bar to lift countertops, a hammer, wrenches and slip-joint pliers to disassemble the sink. Additionally, it is smart to have a jigsaw, a utility knife, and an electric drill. If you are unfamiliar with using these tools Master Moving Guide professional movers can move your kitchen for you. Also, don’t forget to wear rubber gloves when handling wooden and metal surfaces. It takes only a moment of negligence, and you’ll hurt yourself.

How to disassemble your kitchen for relocation

Once you have the inventory of your kitchen equipment, and you’ve acquired all the necessary tools, you can start the disassembly process. However, before you start taking apart the cabinets, you will need to prepare your kitchen. You should start by cleaning your kitchen to avoid any dust and dirt scratching your appliances. Also, empty all of your shelves and drawers and cabinets before dismantling them. After that, you have to shut off the electricity in the kitchen at the breaker box. Remember that safety comes first. Once you are sure the electricity is off, you need to remove all electronic appliances from the kitchen. Pack all foods and liquids and store them safely for the move.

Protect your floors when you disassemble your kitchen

An important thing to do before dismantling your kitchen for relocation is to protect your floors. This is something that people seem to forget but it is incredibly important. You don’t want to risk damaging your floors. The best way to protect them is to layer plastic sheets on your floor. Make sure that everything is covered because dust can make your dismantling a lot trickier.

Disassembly of mounted cabinets

The first step to removing your wall-mounted cabinets is to find out what type of cabinets you have. Most of the old homes have unitized cabinets. They are built in place using the wall as the back. Newer homes have prefabricated cabinets with their own back. Usually, there are more individual units screwed together to make a whole cabinet set. So, open the cabinets and check if they have their own back or not.

Once you empty the cabinets, it is advised to remove the doors first, and then proceed with taking them off the wall. Always have a zip-lock bag for the screws, you don’t need the hassle of losing them and having to buy new ones. Also, make sure you separate cabinets from each other and remove any drawers or unattached parts.

If there is any caulk or molding use a utility knife and a hammer to remove them. Before you start taking the screws out, make sure you have someone helping out. Put pieces of wood below to hold the cabinets, to protect them from falling. When removing screws, do the lower ones first, and work your way up. Place all hinges, screws and small parts in a plastic bag as discussed earlier, and label them so you know where to put them back. You can tape the bag tightly to one of the interior cabinet walls, but make sure it is secured so it doesn’t wall off.

Nevertheless, if at any moment you feel like this is hard and it takes too much time, you can always hire handyman services while moving.

Removing base cabinets

When removing base cabinets, you have to start with the countertop. Check if it’s connected with any screws, usually from the lower side. Crawl in the cabinets and remove any you find. Cut caulk or paint with a utility knife. Have in mind that some countertops have multiple sections glued together. Use a flat pry bar to lift them up, and take them outside.

Once the countertop is off, take out the drawers and remove the screws from the back. Next, proceed with removing the doors, and separating units one from another in the same manner as you did with the wall cabinets.

As you can see, it is quite easy to prepare your moving budget if you learn how to disassemble your kitchen for relocation. Save the money that would otherwise go to your movers.

How to dismantle your oven, hob, and hood

When you are trying to dismantle your oven, hob and hood the best thing to do would be to find a manual that came with them and follow the instructions. If you can’t get a hold of it, try searching online. These items are not the easiest to handle so if you’re unsure hire last minute movers to handle your relocation for you!

How to remove benchtops and splashback

To remove benchtops you should first remove the screws that are holding them into place. They may be heavy so avoid lifting them on your own to not injure yourself. You could use a pry to help you lift it, or you could ask for help to have an extra set of hands. When removing splashback from your kitchen make sure to protect yourself from the glass. You could use a clean PCV self-adhesive film for protection. Also, use a pry to remove it from the wall as carefully as possible.

Dismantling your plumed appliances

First of all, you need to shut off your utilities to safely remove your appliances. If you are removing plumbed appliances make sure to have someone help you keep water outlets upright. The main goal when you’re disassembling plumbed appliances is to prevent water from spilling around and potentially damaging the rest of your kitchen.

Make sure to disassemble your kitchen table and chairs for relocation

This part is maybe easier as there isn’t water and electricity to take into consideration. If you have chairs or a table you are going to want to unscrew the legs from the rest of the chair or table. With some chairs and tables, this is easier said than done. If you want to avoid possibly damaging your belongings professional furniture movers will transport them for you.

Removing the sink

Before you remove the sink, make sure you close the water valve. Detach the drain pipe and the garbage disposal if you have one, and take care of all the plumbing first. Unscrewing the sink is not that different from the cabinets. You should cut through the caulk, remove the screws and lift the sink from its place once disconnected.

Label moving boxes correctly

When you’re disassembling your kitchen for moving, it is advised to the packing alongside. This will help you save time when relocating. You’re going to be placing pieces of your kitchen items in different moving boxes. Now is the time to consider that everything you take apart will have to be reassembled once you arrive in your new home. To make this process easier make sure to label all of your boxes accordingly.

The rest of your kitchen equipment

This guide covered removing base and wall cabinets and unhooking the sink. If you know how to deal with these tasks, you will easily disassemble your kitchen for relocation. If you have any cupboards or china cabinets, they are removed in the same manner. Learning this principle is important, as you can apply it to anything else. The more stuff you know how to do yourself, the cheaper your relocation is! The key to a smooth move is to be patient and careful when dismantling your kitchen. Make sure to always put safety first. This includes ensuring the safety of your belongings and avoiding injuries during heavy lifting. If you follow this guide hopefully you will be able to properly move your kitchen without any obstacles along the way. Have a successful and exciting move and enjoy your new home!