topic Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters in Home

Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

geegerbee — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 21:18:02 GMT

I was thinking of either painting or buying new kitchen cupboards. Even if I paint them, I have off-set hinges which no one uses anymore, so they can't be replaced... I looked at new cupboards but am told it is impossible to remove my 7 yr old granite countertops which I don't want to do since it would be $4000 to replace them. One contractor says he can do it, but be prepared to pay extra if they crack. Has anyone had this done?

As I said, the hinges cannot be replaced as they don't make them anymore. They show and are not hidden on the inside of the doors.They are on the outside of the cupboards. So painting the cupboards white for thousands of dollars and still having dull bronze hinges and handles won't look right. See my dilemma?

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

BadWolf — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 20:54:25 GMT

Have your cabinets refaced. No need to remove the counter top.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

Janey2 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 20:58:50 GMT

@geegerbee I wanted to replace my kitchen cabinets. I have a granite countertop. Not one person would guarantee that the countertop would not crack when replacing the cabinets. I did not want to take the chance as the countertop was very costly and is in perfect condition. What I did was reface the cabinets. I was very happy with the outcome.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

Mindy D — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 21:51:01 GMT

@geegerbee wrote:
I was thinking of either painting or buying new kitchen cupboards. Even if I paint them, I have off-set hinges which no one uses anymore, so they can't be replaced... I looked at new cupboards but am told it is impossible to remove my 7 yr old granite countertops which I don't want to do since it would be $4000 to replace them. One contractor says he can do it, but be prepared to pay extra if they crack. Has anyone had this done?

As I said, the hinges cannot be replaced as they don't make them anymore. They show and are not hidden on the inside of the doors.They are on the outside of the cupboards. So painting the cupboards white for thousands of dollars and still having dull bronze hinges and handles won't look right. See my dilemma?

@geegerbee The hinges can be painted the same color as the cabinets. A special primer and paint is used.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

Snowpuppy — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 23:40:15 GMT

Are your hinges bronze that developed patina or brass that's just dirty? If they're brass you can use Brasso to clean them.

Looking to replace them I would shop eBay or do a search for replacements. You can find restoration items like brass switch plates, glass doorknobs and drawer pulls that are original or reproduction.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

bargainsgirl — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 23:49:13 GMT

I have granite as well with a Silpate sink. The sink is only 4 years old but it showing pitting. (2 friends have the same sink and no pitting!) I got a lemon. I called the installer for my countertop to see if the sink could be replaced down the road. He said yes BUT he cannot guarantee the granite won't crack. So...no sink replacement. Hoping the sink company comes up with a sealer or something because I have read LOTS of complaints from others with the same problem.

i say resurface your cupboards or maybe just replace the upper ones. So many looks are in vogue now!

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

DecorDiva — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 11:41:36 GMT

@geegerbee - I had a similar situation. I had the old, copper, hammered look hinges on the outside of my cabinet doors. I had an expert carpenter replace them with hinges that showed the barrel part of the hinges on the outside, and the remainder of the hinges on the inside. In order to do this he had to reduce the width of the cabinet doors. Before he reinstalled I painted the cupboards. I have a lot of cabinets so replacement was not an option. I was very happy with the results.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

gneegirl — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 12:53:00 GMT

Oh so happy to see this topic - I have the same problem. I didn't change cabinets when I had the granite and new appliances installed because the cabinets (here when I move in) were expensive custom. It was cost prohibitve to replace them at the time. I look at them now and wonder what I was thinking back then. I should have just replaced them. Thanks for posting this question - good to see these options.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

Still Raining — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 17:32:51 GMT

If painting is your option, couldn't the holes be filled in and painted over? Then you could start fresh with your choice of hinges.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

geegerbee — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 18:43:34 GMT

The problem is that the hinges are showing on the outside of the cabinet doors. You can't just remove them and put the hinges inside. As a poster just said, her cupboard doors had to be made smaller and the hinges specially made to fit since you can't buy outside hinges anymore. That sounds costly---handmaking hinges for my 18 cubpoards if I could even find someone to do that.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

Carmie — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 00:01:14 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
If painting is your option, couldn't the holes be filled in and painted over? Then you could start fresh with your choice of hinges.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You are correct, this works. My sister had hammered black outside hinges on her knotty pine cupboards.

We removed the doors and filled in the holes on the cabinet doors and on the cabinets with wood putty, sanded and painted the cupboards white. New hidden hinges were added and you can't even tell the hardware was replaced.

No professional needed. I did the putty work, my DH painted.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

DecorDiva — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 00:07:47 GMT

@geegerbee - the hinges were stock hinges, but the doors had to be reduced in size in order to install the hinges so that they would close properly. Also, my cabinets were made, they were not stock, so that may be why the doors had to be adjusted. Maybe with stock cabinets you could just fill in the holes and add inside hinges.

Re: Have you ever successfully removed granite counters

gardenman — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:50:02 GMT

Offset hinges are still made in an astounding variety of sizes, shapes and materials. I'd be very surprised if you couldn't find identical new hinges through one source or another. There's a site called cabinetparts.com that has a large variety. (They call them semi concealed hinges.) Home Depot and Lowes sell some. There are hinge only websites that sell thousands of different hinges. I'd be very surprised if you couldn't find a suitable replacement hinge. There's also the option of having the old hinges plated or replated. It would be expensive, but it's doable.