topic Re: Preparation for new counter top installation in Kitchen

Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:10:03 GMT

I’m getting a new counter top and backsplash next week, which brings me here to ask:

What is the best way to prepare for the removal of the old counter top? My inclination is to remove drawers and empty the bottom cabinets; however, our designer said that isn’t necessary. Her advice was to just cover the drawer contents with towels. What say y’all?
I would very much like to keep my new counter top as clear of paraphernalia as possible. How on earth do you accomplish that feat?

Any wisdom you care to share will be appreciated.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

meem120 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:27:42 GMT

No need to empty cabinets at all. Towel covering drawers is a great tip.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

GCR18 — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:29:45 GMT

In my last house, I had new countertops installed and didn't remove anything. No issues. I think if I had something special that couldn't be replaced, I'd remove it. That's just me, overly cautious.

I don't keep anything on the countertops that isn't used at least a couple times a week. I have a medium sized pantry where everything is stored.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

JeanLouiseFinch — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:44:16 GMT

Do you have an older laminate countertop now? You and Mr. G could remove yourselves and save some $$$. It's pretty easy. We did ours when we replaced it this past spring.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

Allegheny — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:30:45 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
Do you have an older laminate countertop now? You and Mr. G could remove yourselves and save some $$$. It's pretty easy. We did ours when we replaced it this past spring.

You were lucky your's came off so easily. When our kitchen was redone I watched the removal of the countertops. The original installer nailed and glued them down and they were a real "b" to remove. If we weren't planning on repurposing the old base cabinets, I am sure they could have taken a sledge hammer and sawzall to the countertops.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:16:16 GMT

Thank you all for your advice. I am surprised you agree with our designer about not needing to empty things out, but am glad as you've saved me quite a bit of work.

Speaking of which, JeanLouiseFinch, your suggestion to take off the old counter top ourselves to save the labor charges is a good one. We got lucky, though, in that our jobber includes removal and disposal as part of their work.

Argh! I just remembered I still have to schedule a plumber to install the faucet and disposal. Wow, even a kitchen upgrade (as opposed to a complete tear out and remodel), is much more involved than I ever expected. When does it become fun?

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

Sooner — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 22:32:00 GMT

I wouldn't think about having the tops replaced without removing the contents. It will get some dirt in the area, and taking towels off would create more dirt falling down. Why not see it as a chance to get rid of things you don't need, find things you'd looked for and just cleaning and getting things in great shape, which you have to do anyway?

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

sfnative — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 04:00:42 GMT

@IamMrsG wrote:
Thank you all for your advice. I am surprised you agree with our designer about not needing to empty things out, but am glad as you've saved me quite a bit of work.

Speaking of which, JeanLouiseFinch, your suggestion to take off the old counter top ourselves to save the labor charges is a good one. We got lucky, though, in that our jobber includes removal and disposal as part of their work.

Argh! I just remembered I still have to schedule a plumber to install the faucet and disposal. Wow, even a kitchen upgrade (as opposed to a complete tear out and remodel), is much more involved than I ever expected. When does it become fun?

Oh, geez! Too bad we don't live close to you. My husband does faucets and disposals for friends all the time.

Hope everything turns our well and looks beautiful!

(We're moving on Thursday and will have the laminate counter for a while, as we just had to replace every single appliance in the house. Please let us know how you like your new countertop.)

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

tansy — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 04:08:14 GMT

We've made all of the decisions now regarding the sink and faucet. The template still needs to be made and then the kitchen nightmare will be over

I can't wait to not be searching HOUZZ 24/7.

Let us know how it goes, @IamMrsG.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

violann — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:22:26 GMT

We are in the early stages of planning a multistage switcheroo (professional term meaning "OMG will this ever be over?") which may or may not involve actually moving to a totally new house, staying where we are with MAJOR changes, or just sitting on the curb and waving to passersby for the rest of our lives.

I take my hat off to ou and salute you, MrsG, because you are so much farther along in the process than we are.

We have "stick built" cabinets, and the last time we did new countertops we didn't move anything, and everything that was stored turned out just fine.

The towels sound lke a good idea to me, too.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

violann — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:28:01 GMT

I always post a "plug" for WILSONART LAMINATE COUNTERS.

We've had ours for at least 4 or 5 years, and with no special caution, they're still just about perfect.

The pattern/color we've had happens to look great with our retro kitchen.

Just something to think about if you happen to be looking for a bargain or temporary fix, or both. I LOVE mine!

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 16:04:20 GMT

Violann, you're absolutely right about laminate. As they say, "You've come a long way, Baby."

I've said for a very long time that I did not want granite. Everybody 'n her sister has it. So I was searching for something "different."

Our problem, if you want to call it that, is the copious amount of sunlight our kitchen and breakfast room get. We have a Southern exposure, and the south wall is 99.9% window glass. When the sunlight hit the 'sparkles' in the laminate samples we tried, they mirrored / flashed. So, I moved to quartz, but had the same problem because of the mica in quartz. The glare was almost painful.

In my heart of hearts, I really wanted soapstone anyway. Everyone tried to talk me out of it because it is such a soft stone. But it has a matte finish, so that was my argument for it.

We eventually found a designer to work with. She shot down the soapstone right away because of the configuration of our counter top. Soapstone sheets tend to run smaller, so it would have involved too many seams.

She told me about leathered granite. It has a matte finish, soft texture (as soft as granite can be, anyway) and we found it the same color family as soapstone.

Our granite is called Steel Gray Leather. We are over the moon happy with it.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 16:23:34 GMT

I got so busy bragging about my new counter tops, , I forgot to address one of my own questions that started this thread.

I took the easy route, and just covered the contents of the drawers with towels. It turned out to be a moot point, though, because the first thing the installers did was to remove all the drawers. DUH.

The only debris had I to contend with was under the sink from the drilling of the holes for the faucet and soap dispenser. A quick vacuuming took care of that.

The installation of the back splash takes place tomorrow. I'm both excited and nervous about our selection of it. It's steel gray metallic Formica, with a texture that resembles rain running down a window (to go with the glass in our upper cabinets). It's one of those things that will either look fantastic or horrible.

Thank you, All, for your advice and good wishes. Here in the Kitchen/Recipe forums, y'all have always been supportive and of good will. It's appreciated beyond my limited ability to express.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

embgm — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 16:35:22 GMT

I have been without a kitchen for three weeks. My husband's and sons gutted it before the contractor came to save money. So many decisions to make about this kitchen I had no idea. Right now all but one cabinet is installed and my backsplash is not installed yet. On Friday my sink was finally hooked up and my microwave was installed but an electrical problem has suddenly appeared. An electrician is coming on Monday. My countertop is a Wilsonart laminate and its beautiful. I love it. It was installed very quickly no problems. We have come along way. I even had a new window installed but all this takes time.Hopefully just another couple of days to complete.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

sfnative — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:29:40 GMT

@IamMrsG wrote:
I got so busy bragging about my new counter tops, , I forgot to address one of my own questions that started this thread.

I took the easy route, and just covered the contents of the drawers with towels. It turned out to be a moot point, though, because the first thing the installers did was to remove all the drawers. DUH.

The only debris had I to contend with was under the sink from the drilling of the holes for the faucet and soap dispenser. A quick vacuuming took care of that.

The installation of the back splash takes place tomorrow. I'm both excited and nervous about our selection of it. It's steel gray metallic Formica, with a texture that resembles rain running down a window (to go with the glass in our upper cabinets). It's one of those things that will either look fantastic or horrible.

Thank you, All, for your advice and good wishes. Here in the Kitchen/Recipe forums, y'all have always been supportive and of good will. It's appreciated beyond my limited ability to express.

Hi IamMrsG!

I'm so glad for you that things are progressing and that you can see light at the end of the tunnel.

I read with interest your piece about the reflectivity of the various countertop surfaces. Wow! I'm so glad you brought that up, because our new kitchen and breakfast room is BRIGHT and has a humongous window as well. However, it is not one homogeneous space: the kitchen is "U" shaped, with the entrance to it facing the hall, and the breakfast room on the other side of the "sink" wing of the "U." Hope I'm not being too obtuse. Anyway, given that we have this "U," I really think we can do soapstone, based on what you had indicated a month or two or three ago.

Am very greatful for this information. ~Rebecca

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

embgm — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 18:45:04 GMT

Iammrsg, I share your excitement and trepidation concerning the new backsplash. Mine will be installed this week also. So far I have loved everything installed and am hoping that's the same for the backsplash. Em

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 19:24:21 GMT

@embgm: Thank you for your empathy. I had a minor panic attack this morning, suddenly deciding I hate the soon-to-be-permanently installed backsplash. Out of nowhere, it looked hideously ugly to me. Mind you, this is the same backsplash I have carried a sample around with me for at least a month. But, this morning, it was the last possible thing I would have ever chosen. <VBS> This too shall pass, this too shall pass. Breathe in, breathe out.

I have to tell you I gasped for you when I read you've been kitchen-less for three weeks. I've been without one only since Friday, and feel I've endured, suffered, miserably. (just kidding--kinda)

I also agree whole-heartedly with you about the overwhelming choices there have been to make. I foolishly went into this expecting it to be fun. NOT. Can somebody tell me when the fun begins??

Best of luck to you, Emalyn. Please keep us posted of your progress. And remember: breathe in, breathe out.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

IamMrsG — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 19:31:55 GMT

@sfnative Hi, Rebecca! I've been thinking about you, Move Day and your new house. I've said it before, but I sincerely pray it turns out to be a huge blessing for you and Mr. Sfnative.

I've come to think of the purpose of my wanting soapstone to be of service for you in a, "Works in mysterious ways" kind of path. I'm happy for you that it's going to work out in your kitchen. I'd love to see it, but will settle for a happy, glowing report once it's in your kitchen. Deal?

Our countertops (3 segments) each turned out to be seamless, and I am estatic about it. See? All things work out for the good.

Take care and please keep in touch. --Mrs. G.

Re: Preparation for new counter top installation

embgm — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 00:18:32 GMT

I had a discussion with my contractor about seams in my countertop too. I also had 3segments and no seams. We are living parallel lives IamMrs.g.! We just finished our pizza. Hopefully I will be using my new kitchen by the end of the week. Em