kitchen countertop removal

What type is it?
Typically if it is laminant the sub straight is screwed or stapled down, laminant is then glued on.
If it is solid surface it will be glued down with silicone.
When I have removed both of my counter tops, i simply set my circular saw to make shallow cuts, cut the counter top, and pryed them up and carried them out in pieces. No damage.

I would strongly suggest you contact Georgie Boy to see what they say. I am sure there is as many tie downs and screwed/glued combinations as the mind can imagine.

donn0128 wrote:
What type is it?
Typically if it is laminant the sub straight is screwed or stapled down, laminant is then glued on.
If it is solid surface it will be glued down with silicone.
When I have removed both of my counter tops, i simply set my circular saw to make shallow cuts, cut the counter top, and pryed them up and carried them out in pieces. No damage.

The existing is laminate and I was hoping you wouldn't say "laminate is then glued on". But that is a good suggestion to remove it by cutting shallow cuts. Thanks

Artum Snowbird wrote:
I would strongly suggest you contact Georgie Boy to see what they say. I am sure there is as many tie downs and screwed/glued combinations as the mind can imagine.

GB was bought by Coachman and I have sent them an email. Hopefully somebody is still around that remembers. Thanks

Have no idea how they build those units, but laminate is normally glued onto a substrate like MDF. Then the MDF is typically screwed into from below. I doubt the substrate would be glued down. Just look from underneath to see if there's screws. The laminate/substrate counter top will come out together as an assembly.

There should be caulking all around the countertop perimeter which will need to be cut to break the seal, then completely removed before installing new caulking. (If it's silicone, silicone will not adhere to cured silicone.)

When it comes to RVs, not much is straight, plumb, level or square as it should be. You should carefully check before cutting a new counter top. A template may help. If there is a wall at left and right hand sides of the top, you do NOT want to cut wrong or too short... The back wall may not be straight either - so check with a straightedge.

Remove any drawers. It will probably help to remove cabinet doors (by undoing screws in hinges). If a range in there too, you should pull that out - but do NOT forget to reconnect the propane properly.

Are you getting a new top pre-cut to size or buying an over-sized piece and trimming it?

This^^, but my experience says the counter from manufacturers is usually cheaper particle board verses the better MDF. Either way removal is the same. I installed counters for years and some got glued down but most were just screwed down, but after the laminate had been pre-applied. I wouldn't be surprised though if an RV top was Glued and Screwed.

Edit: if glued, a crowbar or wrecking bar can pry up the countertop from the cabinet but be sure to pry overtop of the vertical frame pieces and not on the cross bars that go over drawers or cabinet openings. They could be popped out of alignment. Best would also be to do this from inside the cabinet as to not ruin the outer finish.

Good luck.

rekoj71 wrote:
This^^, but my experience says the counter from manufacturers is usually cheaper particle board verses the better MDF. Either way removal is the same. I installed counters for years and some got glued down but most were just screwed down, but after the laminate had been pre-applied. I wouldn't be surprised though if an RV top was Glued and Screwed.

Edit: if glued, a crowbar or wrecking bar can pry up the countertop from the cabinet but be sure to pry overtop of the vertical frame pieces and not on the cross bars that go over drawers or cabinet openings. They could be popped out of alignment. Best would also be to do this from inside the cabinet as to not ruin the outer finish.

Good luck.

I will go 3X to this as, unlike a house they have the complete counter top pre-made and screwed in from the underside.

I am having a solid surface countertop company come to the mh and make a template. For the removal of the existing, my biggest concern is that the particle board is screwed down to the tops of the cabinetry first and then the laminate glued in place. So, I pulled out some drawers and took off a cabinet door to really look inside to see how it was constructed. There are no real cabinets, only frames w/ drawers and a door along the front. Inside the space is all open. Hard to explain. But I did see cleats all around the inside perimeter with screws going into the top from the bottom and screws going into the frames from the back. All the screws should be fairly easy to remove once I pull the stove and sink. Thanks for the suggestions and insight

If properly prepared, formica/laminate can be glued right on top of another stable formica/laminate surface. I have done it before with good results. No need to tear up the cabinet tops.

I've seen a granit type material that is thinner than normal and made to be glued over laminate. The edge is attached to you don't see any of the old top unless you are looking up from the floor.