Removing a single kitchen cupboard under the counter

[Raju88]

I need help from the fine people of PH

I’m taking out a kitchen cabinet to install a dishwasher and what I thought would be a simple job has me scratching my head.

Taken out screws along the top into the counter, removed the screws into the behind the service panel but could find any screws going into the end panel on the right. Now there is some slight wiggle at the top and the left but the right side is solid. I checked each and every hole for a possible screw (even pulled out my inspection camera to check each and every existing hole on the right side of the cabinet). Also loosened all the feet and the cabinet is now floating without any support from the feet.

Looking into the adjacent cabinet on the right (after the end panel) I located 2 screws going into end panel and removed them, I note that they are not long enough to go through 3 18mm panels, so it can’t be securing the cupboard I’m trying to take out. I’m guessing when installed, the end panel was screwed into the cupboard, then the adjacent cupboard on the right fitted and hiding the screw heads on the face of the actual end panel, which I can’t access without taking the whole run of cabinets out.

Wondering how best to go about this. Happy to take it apart with my multitool but the panel on the side will stay secured given it’s screwed into from the other side of the end panel.

Also wondering as I’ve loosened the end panel from the right side cabinet, could I just slide out the cabinet and the end panel?

Any guidance appreciated!

[LordLoveLength]

Are the hinges on the right unit adjacent to the unit you are trying to remove?
There could be screws beneath them

[Raju88]

LordLoveLength said:

Are the hinges on the right unit adjacent to the unit you are trying to remove?
There could be screws beneath them

Thanks that’s a good call. Found two screws hidden underneath here. Again those screws were only fixed into the end panel and weren’t long enough to secure 3 18mm boards together. In total found 4 screws on the cupboard under the sink and zero in the cupboard I want to take out. Hasn’t changed anything in terms of moving the unit out though

[sherman]

Is the unit glued to the underside of the worktop so no matter what you unscrew its not going to come out?

[Raju88]

sherman said:

Is the unit glued to the underside of the worktop so no matter what you unscrew its not going to come out?

I don’t think so, the unit on the left hand side has visibly dropped after taking off the top screws and loosening the feet. The right side is still the same level.

[AndySpecC]

If you're not worried about rescuing that unit, remove the kickboard and send a jigsaw down the middle of the base of the unit you're trying to remove and get it out piece by piece.

[OutInTheShed]

You could try loosening the feet of the adjacent cupboard, that might tell you whether the one you want to remove is fixed to that or to the work top.

The panel between the two base units is 'non standard'? Why is it there?

There are few limits to what people do to kitchen stuff, I once struggled to remove an oven, before finding someone had screwed a shelf bracket right through a cabinet side and into the metal skin of the oven.

[Raju88]

AndySpecC said:

If you're not worried about rescuing that unit, remove the kickboard and send a jigsaw down the middle of the base of the unit you're trying to remove and get it out piece by piece.

This sounds like the only way I’m going to get this out. Still concerned that the right side of the cabinet won’t come out because it’s fixed to the end panel by a number of screws, and the screw heads are wedged between a cupboard I don’t want to take out.

[Raju88]

OutInTheShed said:

You could try loosening the feet of the adjacent cupboard, that might tell you whether the one you want to remove is fixed to that or to the work top.

The panel between the two base units is 'non standard'? Why is it there?

There are few limits to what people do to kitchen stuff, I once struggled to remove an oven, before finding someone had screwed a shelf bracket right through a cabinet side and into the metal skin of the oven.

It was designed by Howdens. I’m guessing it was to reduce the gap we had at the end of the run towards the right. Either than or an upsell of something we were told we needed!

Thanks I’ll try loosening the feet of the cabinet under the sink to see how it behaves. I’ve accepted that there’s no way to release the right side from the end panel without taking out the full run but hoping this might give me a way to slide it out with the end panel.

[Raju88]

Sharing an update on this. I cut the bottom out and as I had released the end panel from the sink side, I was able to move the end panel over and access the screw heads to release the right side of the cabinet from the end panel. Carcass out (although in pieces) and dishwasher installation in progress! Thanks to those who gave helpful suggestions!