It is amazing. We've been looking for a way to remove the granite countertop so we can replace the sink but most people told us it is impossible without breaking the granite. Now we know it is doable. Thank you guys.
It’s not impossible. Just easier to destroy and put in new stuff. Could you imagine if everyone removed countertops this way? So much less waste and then everyone (even ppl in low income housing) would be able to have these natural stones in bathrooms or on tables instead of plastic. So many of these materials wasted when styles change and people do “updates”. Millions of them broken and taken to the dump. They should be put in public restrooms all the outdated natural stones.
I don't quite understand. I think I need you to come over to my house and show me in person. You have my permission to use my counter tops for the demonstration. LOL. I appreciate your video getting to the point instead of turning it into a long drawn process. It is easy to follow.🥰
Fantastic video. Bought a great house with phenomenal cabinets, but really bad black and orange granite, gonna do a little paint on my cabinets and replace with solid surface thanks to you!
Great video. I was searching for some info like this a few days ago and couldn't find anything and then today this popped up. 👍🏽👍🏽exactly what I was looking for!
Yes - there was typical silicon on top of the cabinets that the granite then sits on. All we had to do was cut between the two with a box cutter. It separates quite easily once it is cut. Thx for the question.
Hey Jeffrey Barlow, The goal is to use something sharp or a multi-tool oscillating saw where the glue / silicone is. You may have to work from inside the cabinet to gain access if the vanity is up against a side wall. Worst case scenario is it’s glued down with liquid nails. That stuff tends to be very hard. But typically, it will be silicone and once you break loose the front seam of silicone, the rest will slowly let go as you lift it at the front. Happy trails!
Hey local, Granite is SO heavy that it shouldn’t need glue underneath. But the seams do have to be dug out. That’s more of a glue/ grout-like material. Underneath, maybe there might be a little silicon just to form a cushion. That doesn’t meant it can’t have glue. It’s just unnecessary. Once separated, do a slow gradual lift and see if there is resistance. Just go slow - it’s a bit like working a puzzle… step by step. Thx for watching.
i am trying to put a backsplash in my kitchen. the granite countertop also has a granite backsplash attatched to it. i do not see any silicone joint from the wall but i see both granite are binded together. can i remove my granite backsplash without damaging my granite countertop??
+Maria Tahir Hi Maria, without being there, two things are likely. The granite backsplash is probably glued to the wall, and there is probably a different adhesive bonding the granite backsplash to the granite countertop. We would heat the granite's adhesive seam and separate the granite pieces first with a blade. After that, use a putty knife or drywall knife between the wall and the backsplash. If it is attached with silicon it will be easy to separate. If it was attached with liquid nails, the drywall will remain fastened to the backsplash. If that is the case, we would rip the backsplash out and repair any drywall damage. We hope this helps. Good luck!
Hi Coool Cat, that job definitely wasn't easy, but it can be manageable with a few people who want to save money by doing this job themselves. Thanks for your comment!
Hell of a job, instead of a blow torch what a about a heating gun? I use to repair cell phones when I was a kid and used a heating gun on low heat to separate the glass from the adhesive. Just a thought! Regardless, amazing job. Out of curiosity , how long did this process take?
+Angel Burgos Hi Angel, we used a blow torch because that's what we had on hand. A heat gun would probably be a good option to try. It took about 20 minutes to heat the seams enough to separate the granite pieces. The entire job to remove the countertops took about 90 minutes. Thanks for commenting!
Extreme House Flipping wow 90 minutes?! That's extremely fast. As an adjuster for a large carrier we would pay at least 4 hours of labor for This. Thank you for the reply. Keep up the videos as they are very helpful!
Yep, we had granite installed and then found a crack, they came back 2 weeks later and set up heat guns and then then lifted the entire sheet. One gun was on the seam and it separated easily.
Great video. I'm interested to see whats under ours. In our old house, they definitely used epoxy to glue the quartz down. But I didn't get to see how much. I was running to get cash! Fingers 🤞.
Hey Tony, You are exactly right! Good observation. The house was bank owned when we bought it. Apparently, the bank did some 'work' to try and make it look like a home. Previously the house was stripped of anything of value. We think the bank threw in something to resemble a kitchen prior to selling it. The cabinets were the cheapest thing you could find on the shelves of a big box store. Who knows who did the counters, but it would not surprise us to find out they used what they had on hand to fit this job. Clearly this was not well thought out. And that is why we are renovating it top to bottom. Thanks for your comment!
Unfortunately most granite or quartz tops are mounted on a sub panel of plywood which is screws down to the face frame and cabinet sides , which requires finding and cutting the screws off first. Not an easy task !
I ask bc I just won a whole kitchen set of cabinets and a granite countertop in an auction. I have to remove it from a model home and store it until I buy my own house.
Hi Sub MOA, For cutting marble or granite, you'll need a diamond tipped blade. You can rent the saws but will likely have to buy the blade - which is cheaper in the long run anyway. We're pretty sure they make them for angle grinders, circular saws and 14 inch concrete cutting saws (you can see us cutting concrete with a diamond tipped blade in our video "Extreme House Flipping - Part 9 - the Fire House). ua-cam.com/video/a_XRmlWDR2Y/v-deo.html Of all the options, an angle grinder would probably be the easiest. Be very careful. 1) the granite is crazy heavy. 2) guard against breathing dust from such cutting (wear a respirator) 3) don't be in a rush. We have cut marble with a diamond tipped blade on a circular saw and a concrete slab with a 14 inch concrete cutting saw, but no granite yet. We do plan to cut our 3 cm granite in the fall. Congrats on your find! Good luck and let us know how you do.
Trust me, this looks easier than it is. You do need as many guys as possible to lift and maneuver it - more than 2. When the installers arrive with the new granite, they'll have 4-5 people helping them out. I have an eleven foot piece I have to remove - down a flight of stairs with a landing area, out the front door and into the garage. Not looking forward to it.
Hi Georgia Fan, we totally agree that it would be a great idea to have 4 or 5 people to help you remove and move a granite countertop. We had to carry ours down a 16 step staircase and it could have gone very badly with only 2 guys. Hope your granite removal went well!
No. Typically the granite is laid down with bead of silicone on top edges. The weight of the granite is enough to keep it from moving. Thx for watching !
Hi Franchesca, ha, ha! Yes, this was a bit of an unorthodox approach, but it worked great and the counter was removed completely undamaged. We moved it to the basement of that property and it is now the counter for the bar area. Thanks for your comment!
Granite is thermodynamic (as it was made via heat and pressure) a heat gun is insufficient for the two part polyester epoxy, the lift technique in this video is laughable, and the professionals should’ve removed the under mount sink prior to lifting as the 3-4” sink set back shouldn’t be carried with it mounted as it is dangerous for the demolitionists’. Thankfully the granite of which that was removed was a more dense color called Gallo Santa Cecilia and can tolerate imperfections in lift technique more so than other stone such as Uba Tuba. I’ve installed granite, silestone, cambria, zodiaq, corian, and hi macs over the last 20 years, but give them rudimentary credit in their application and approach.
appreciate the hard work but really didnt address the fact that many installers and flippers use silicone to adhere to lower cabinets. that's a bitch to get off!
Hi Hollis2Hollywood, yes, that was pretty funny. What a struggle to get that granite counter top down to the basement. Definitely a good idea to have at least a third guy to help. Thanks for the comment!
+Suzy Q Hi Suzy Q, we agree that the granite is beautiful. However, we are changing this great room and kitchen from brown and yellow to light gray with white trim. The good news is that we are also renovating the basement and we will use this countertop in the bar/kitchen area down there. Thanks for your comment!
I nervously watch only to remind myself, if there is death or dismemberment, there probably won't be a video. Be careful guys. Oh, and good idea on stopping to formulate a plan.....
Hi Greg, For dismemberment, there might be a video, although we didn't show the time when Rich put a chop saw into his knee. However, with death, we probably won't post. Thanks very much for the fun comment!
Can you come and remove mine please? LOL! 😆 I need to prep the tops and have them released from the counter top on Monday because on Tuesday the new counter tops show up and I wasn’t paying them $800 to remove them...they are quartz ..so I gave them to habitat for humanity.
Hey Maryj, Thanks for the offer but we think everyone should have the opportunity to do that once in their life. Stress the ONCE! 😀 Really breaking them loose was so hard, but carrying them to the basement was BRUTAL. Sounds like you have a fun Monday awaiting. And BTW - very thoughtful to donate to Habitat for Humanity!! Great group &/someone will really enjoy those quartz countertops - wow! Enjoy your project! Thx for watching.
Hey Ralya 111, Is the plywood part of the cabinet or added on top of the cabinet? I would try to cut between the plywood layer and the cabinet top... probably using a multi-tool. Seems like a pretty difficult job because liquid nails is so strong and cabinets are not always built well. Plus you may not be able reach everywhere you need to cut. The guy who installed it with liquid nails didn’t do you any favors... :-)
Hey Anthony, In our experience granite or quartz needs no plywood base as it is very stable being stone. The cabinets provide plenty of support. While there may be a silicone bead laid on the top of edge of the cabinet base, glueing would be unnecessary due to the extreme weight of granite and quartz. A tiled countertop would be more likely to have a plywood and cement board base.... again, in our experience. Thx for the input.
It is amazing. We've been looking for a way to remove the granite countertop so we can replace the sink but most people told us it is impossible without breaking the granite. Now we know it is doable. Thank you guys.
Hi Bo, we're glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for viewing and good luck with removing your granite and replacing your sink!
It’s not impossible. Just easier to destroy and put in new stuff. Could you imagine if everyone removed countertops this way? So much less waste and then everyone (even ppl in low income housing) would be able to have these natural stones in bathrooms or on tables instead of plastic. So many of these materials wasted when styles change and people do “updates”. Millions of them broken and taken to the dump. They should be put in public restrooms all the outdated natural stones.
Perfect!! Lot easier than trying to remove the cabinets while leaving the countertop on.
Hey Larry,
True! That sounds like real work.
Thx for watching!
I don't quite understand. I think I need you to come over to my house and show me in person. You have my permission to use my counter tops for the demonstration. LOL. I appreciate your video getting to the point instead of turning it into a long drawn process. It is easy to follow.🥰
Thanks for the kind words! Hope you have success!
Fantastic video. Bought a great house with phenomenal cabinets, but really bad black and orange granite, gonna do a little paint on my cabinets and replace with solid surface thanks to you!
Hey Lori,
Glad to hear you have a way forward! Thx for letting us know and thx for watching too!
Good job! Now I can tell the workers exactly how to do this with my granite counters!
+Dodged a Bullet Hooray! Good luck with your jobs!
Props to the editor
Thx!
you guys are... brilliant! i need to hire someone to do this to my kitchen! you should be here!! :)
+Sophie Nelson Hi Sophie, brilliant...well thank you! Now that you've watched the video you can do it yourself. Good luck with your kitchen!
Brilliant work! 🙏🏾🌹
Hey Padmini,
Thanks much for the encouragement and for watching!
Great video. I was searching for some info like this a few days ago and couldn't find anything and then today this popped up. 👍🏽👍🏽exactly what I was looking for!
+Moto Tech Hi Moto Tech, fantastic, we hope this video helps with your project!
Hey, Was there some sort of adhesive holding the counter onto the Cabinets, if so how did you remove that?
Yes - there was typical silicon on top of the cabinets that the granite then sits on. All we had to do was cut between the two with a box cutter. It separates quite easily once it is cut.
Thx for the question.
Thoughts on removing a quartz counter top from a vanity that seems to be glued/siliconed down? We want to repurpose the base. Thanks.
Hey Jeffrey Barlow,
The goal is to use something sharp or a multi-tool oscillating saw where the glue / silicone is. You may have to work from inside the cabinet to gain access if the vanity is up against a side wall.
Worst case scenario is it’s glued down with liquid nails. That stuff tends to be very hard.
But typically, it will be silicone and once you break loose the front seam of silicone, the rest will slowly let go as you lift it at the front.
Happy trails!
I'm considering doing this in my kitchen. Isn't the granite glued down? Or can it just be lifted up?
Hey local,
Granite is SO heavy that it shouldn’t need glue underneath.
But the seams do have to be dug out. That’s more of a glue/ grout-like material. Underneath, maybe there might be a little silicon just to form a cushion.
That doesn’t meant it can’t have glue. It’s just unnecessary.
Once separated, do a slow gradual lift and see if there is resistance.
Just go slow - it’s a bit like working a puzzle… step by step.
Thx for watching.
@@Housebarons thank you!
i am trying to put a backsplash in my kitchen. the granite countertop also has a granite backsplash attatched to it. i do not see any silicone joint from the wall but i see both granite are binded together.
can i remove my granite backsplash without damaging my granite countertop??
+Maria Tahir Hi Maria, without being there, two things are likely. The granite backsplash is probably glued to the wall, and there is probably a different adhesive bonding the granite backsplash to the granite countertop. We would heat the granite's adhesive seam and separate the granite pieces first with a blade. After that, use a putty knife or drywall knife between the wall and the backsplash. If it is attached with silicon it will be easy to separate. If it was attached with liquid nails, the drywall will remain fastened to the backsplash. If that is the case, we would rip the backsplash out and repair any drywall damage. We hope this helps. Good luck!
Extreme House Flipping I have the same situation. I'm glad I can remove my granite without damaging my cabinets! Thanks for the video😉
+Tammie R Hi Tammie, you definitely can remove your granite without damaging your cabinets. Good luck with your project, hope all goes well!
How long did it take to cut through the epoxy?
Not long after we heated it/ softened it - maybe 5-10 min total.
@@Housebarons successfully removed 4 huge slabs of granite thanks to this video. Took us about 2 hours but we got it done. Thanks!
they made it look way to easy
Hi Coool Cat, that job definitely wasn't easy, but it can be manageable with a few people who want to save money by doing this job themselves. Thanks for your comment!
That was nuts
Hey Matthew,
Thx for watching!
Very helpful thank you!
Hi Ernest, we are glad you found this video helpful. Thanks for viewing and good luck with your projects!
Hell of a job, instead of a blow torch what a about a heating gun? I use to repair cell phones when I was a kid and used a heating gun on low heat to separate the glass from the adhesive. Just a thought! Regardless, amazing job. Out of curiosity , how long did this process take?
+Angel Burgos Hi Angel, we used a blow torch because that's what we had on hand. A heat gun would probably be a good option to try. It took about 20 minutes to heat the seams enough to separate the granite pieces. The entire job to remove the countertops took about 90 minutes. Thanks for commenting!
Extreme House Flipping wow 90 minutes?! That's extremely fast. As an adjuster for a large carrier we would pay at least 4 hours of labor for
This. Thank you for the reply. Keep up the videos as they are very helpful!
Yep, we had granite installed and then found a crack, they came back 2 weeks later and set up heat guns and then then lifted the entire sheet. One gun was on the seam and it separated easily.
Are you in New York
Sorry no. Indiana.
Great video. I'm interested to see whats under ours. In our old house, they definitely used epoxy to glue the quartz down. But I didn't get to see how much. I was running to get cash! Fingers 🤞.
Hey Maceo,
Thx. Hope its goes smoothly. If it does, you save some coin indeed!
Thx for watching.
Good Video, there’s electric heat guns that might have worked without the scorching.
Thank you sir ,,, help fully
Hey Muhammad,
Glad to help. Hope it wasn’t too heavy. Ours was a beast!
Thx for the comment and view.
It's hard to believe the original installers put a seam over the dishwasher ...which has very little support!
Hey Tony,
You are exactly right! Good observation.
The house was bank owned when we bought it. Apparently, the bank did some 'work' to try and make it look like a home. Previously the house was stripped of anything of value. We think the bank threw in something to resemble a kitchen prior to selling it.
The cabinets were the cheapest thing you could find on the shelves of a big box store. Who knows who did the counters, but it would not surprise us to find out they used what they had on hand to fit this job.
Clearly this was not well thought out. And that is why we are renovating it top to bottom.
Thanks for your comment!
Unfortunately most granite or quartz tops are mounted on a sub panel of plywood which is screws down to the face frame and cabinet sides , which requires finding and cutting the screws off first. Not an easy task !
Is there a special saw/blade for cutting granite?
I ask bc I just won a whole kitchen set of cabinets and a granite countertop in an auction. I have to remove it from a model home and store it until I buy my own house.
Hi Sub MOA, For cutting marble or granite, you'll need a diamond tipped blade. You can rent the saws but will likely have to buy the blade - which is cheaper in the long run anyway. We're pretty sure they make them for angle grinders, circular saws and 14 inch concrete cutting saws (you can see us cutting concrete with a diamond tipped blade in our video "Extreme House Flipping - Part 9 - the Fire House). ua-cam.com/video/a_XRmlWDR2Y/v-deo.html
Of all the options, an angle grinder would probably be the easiest.
Be very careful. 1) the granite is crazy heavy. 2) guard against breathing dust from such cutting (wear a respirator) 3) don't be in a rush.
We have cut marble with a diamond tipped blade on a circular saw and a concrete slab with a 14 inch concrete cutting saw, but no granite yet.
We do plan to cut our 3 cm granite in the fall. Congrats on your find! Good luck and let us know how you do.
Good way to save the tops. Otherwise use a sledgehammer to make it into smaller pieces that are easy to carry.
Trust me, this looks easier than it is. You do need as many guys as possible to lift and maneuver it - more than 2. When the installers arrive with the new granite, they'll have 4-5 people helping them out. I have an eleven foot piece I have to remove - down a flight of stairs with a landing area, out the front door and into the garage. Not looking forward to it.
Hi Georgia Fan, we totally agree that it would be a great idea to have 4 or 5 people to help you remove and move a granite countertop. We had to carry ours down a 16 step staircase and it could have gone very badly with only 2 guys. Hope your granite removal went well!
So I guess it wasn’t glued down on the cabinets?
No. Typically the granite is laid down with bead of silicone on top edges. The weight of the granite is enough to keep it from moving.
Thx for watching !
If taking a blow torch to it did no damage that would be good advertising.
Hi Franchesca, ha, ha! Yes, this was a bit of an unorthodox approach, but it worked great and the counter was removed completely undamaged. We moved it to the basement of that property and it is now the counter for the bar area. Thanks for your comment!
Next time get jacks and some 2x4 and cut to size. Use jack to separate counter from cabinets
this method only worked because the seam was on a dishwasher opening which is very rare.
+Budget Stone This worked fine for us, and we would try it on future granite removal. Do you use an alternate removal method?
You may recommend people find a good respirator to protect their health.
Hi Shelley, certainly, respirators, safety glasses, and gloves are always a good idea when doing many DIY projects. Thanks for your comment!
Granite is thermodynamic (as it was made via heat and pressure) a heat gun is insufficient for the two part polyester epoxy, the lift technique in this video is laughable, and the professionals should’ve removed the under mount sink prior to lifting as the 3-4” sink set back shouldn’t be carried with it mounted as it is dangerous for the demolitionists’. Thankfully the granite of which that was removed was a more dense color called Gallo Santa Cecilia and can tolerate imperfections in lift technique more so than other stone such as Uba Tuba. I’ve installed granite, silestone, cambria, zodiaq, corian, and hi macs over the last 20 years, but give them rudimentary credit in their application and approach.
appreciate the hard work but really didnt address the fact that many installers and flippers use silicone to adhere to lower cabinets. that's a bitch to get off!
I laughed out loud at 3:42
Hi Hollis2Hollywood, yes, that was pretty funny. What a struggle to get that granite counter top down to the basement. Definitely a good idea to have at least a third guy to help. Thanks for the comment!
I would not remove that prety stone. I would just sand the cabinets and restain it ,or paint it.
+Suzy Q Hi Suzy Q, we agree that the granite is beautiful. However, we are changing this great room and kitchen from brown and yellow to light gray with white trim. The good news is that we are also renovating the basement and we will use this countertop in the bar/kitchen area down there. Thanks for your comment!
I nervously watch only to remind myself, if there is death or dismemberment, there probably won't be a video. Be careful guys. Oh, and good idea on stopping to formulate a plan.....
Hi Greg,
For dismemberment, there might be a video, although we didn't show the time when Rich put a chop saw into his knee. However, with death, we probably won't post. Thanks very much for the fun comment!
Can you come and remove mine please? LOL! 😆 I need to prep the tops and have them released from the counter top on Monday because on Tuesday the new counter tops show up and I wasn’t paying them $800 to remove them...they are quartz ..so I gave them to habitat for humanity.
Hey Maryj,
Thanks for the offer but we think everyone should have the opportunity to do that once in their life. Stress the ONCE! 😀
Really breaking them loose was so hard, but carrying them to the basement was BRUTAL. Sounds like you have a fun Monday awaiting.
And BTW - very thoughtful to donate to Habitat for Humanity!! Great group &/someone will really enjoy those quartz countertops - wow!
Enjoy your project!
Thx for watching.
I want to remove my old granite and keep the cabinet. But the granite is glue to the plywood with liquid nail.
Hey Ralya 111,
Is the plywood part of the cabinet or added on top of the cabinet?
I would try to cut between the plywood layer and the cabinet top... probably using a multi-tool.
Seems like a pretty difficult job because liquid nails is so strong and cabinets are not always built well.
Plus you may not be able reach everywhere you need to cut.
The guy who installed it with liquid nails didn’t do you any favors... :-)
Ouu 3cm heavy as hell
Wouldnt work in most cases.... there should have been 3/4 plywood screwed to the cabinets then the slab glued to it.
Hey Anthony,
In our experience granite or quartz needs no plywood base as it is very stable being stone. The cabinets provide plenty of support.
While there may be a silicone bead laid on the top of edge of the cabinet base, glueing would be unnecessary due to the extreme weight of granite and quartz.
A tiled countertop would be more likely to have a plywood and cement board base.... again, in our experience.
Thx for the input.
my granite countertop was installed directly over the cabinets
Very dangerous the way you guys removed that piece.