Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have an 18 x 30 cabinet over my range that I would like to have reworked to 10 x 30 to make room for a microwave over the rangetop. Do you have any insight into how difficult this would be for the average homeowner, how I might go about doing so, or how I might find someone to hire to do this for me. I would just replace the cabinet, but I doubt I would be able to find a match...?

ANSWER: Hi Jason,

You have no idea how ironic your question is - I have spent the last two days trying to install a range hood in a kitchen, and I've been vacillating between removing the cabinet or simply drilling into it while it's in place. The bottom line - it's a pain!

If you have some tools and some skills, you can probably do this. But let me caution you - it is somewhat difficult to do. Cabinets are usually screwed into the wall behind them, as well as into the cabinets on each side. So it's really a matter of locating all the screws, removing them, and then shortening the cabinet.

Shortening the cabinet isn't that difficult, but it's a little labor intensive. You will need, at the very least, a circular saw. A tablesaw would be better, but a circular saw will do it, too. I would remove the bottom, by cutting it off. That means you'll be making 3 cuts - the two sides, and then the back. Since circular saws cut from the bottom up, you won't get any chipping on the inside of your cabinet if you cut it this way. Use a straight edge, clamping it to the cabinet box, so that you get a nice, straight cut.  After it's removed, you'll need to separate the bottom from the pieces you cut off.  This can be a little difficult, too. Especially if it's doweled.  Here's where a tablesaw would really come in handy.

Finally, when you put the bottom back onto the shortened cabinet - you have to remember this - you will now need shorter doors. Shortening the doors is a much bigger project, and you might be best simply ordering them. Look at California Door (caldoor.com) or even Rockler Woodworking (rockler.com) - both places sell custom made doors. If you're lucky, you'll find a pattern that matches what you already have.

It's my opinion that shortening a cabinet is a real pain. But it can be done. It all depends on your skills, and if you have tools available. Tools make all the difference. If you're going to undertake this project, write back and tell me what tools you have available, and I'll try to adapt these instructions to fit what you have.

On the other hand, if you hire someone, it's probably going to be somewhat expensive, since this is so labor intensive. The good news is - you might be able to simply purchase a 10" tall over-the-oven cabinet, and then simply buy new doors. The cabinet box might not completely match the rest of your cabinets,but with the doors in it, you won't really notice it. A 30" wide cabinet is very common, since it's the size of an oven. So you should be able to find one fairly easily.

Good luck, take a deep breath - this isn't an easy job, but it's great getting that microwave off the counter.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jamie, I have a table saw and access to most tools or I can buy whatever I need if I decide to do this myself. I could not find any cabinet doors anything like the ones I have on the websites you recommended. I have attached a picture of the cabinets I am referring to. The exact cabinet is to the right over the range, but it is very similar to the one straight forward in the picture, over where the refrigerator goes. They are different width, I already considered swapping them. I think it will be very difficult to match these cabinets. What do you think? Any final words of wisdom?

Answer
Jason,

If you have a tablesaw, you can do this. Yes, it's going to be a challenge, but it's do-able.

Remember, this cabinet is not only going to be screwed into the back wall, but also into the two cabinets on each side. The microwave will be hung on a bracket that's attached to the backwall, not really the cabinet. Well, it's supported just a bit from the cabinet above, but it's not really a weight bearing thing, it's more of an alignment thing. Trust me, I just hung one today.

Just look for all the screws that hold the cabinet in place. Remove them, and sort of shimmy the cabinet out of it's spot. Cut it down as I described, and then rehang it. Shortening it is going to reveal a part of those two side cabinets that you haven't seen before, so you may have some touch up staining and finishing to do. And it's liable to be a tight squeeze to get the cabinet out and back into place.

Once you get the cabinet shortened and re-hung, I would see about trying to cut down the existing doors. Take some good measurements and then decide the new size for the doors. It's not going to be perfect, but if you can knock off the bottom rail and then shorten all the members (the two vertical stiles and the interior panel) and reassemble. You probably won't be able to cut that same joint as before, but maybe you can just butt it together, and get it square and sort of looking like a normal door. Honestly, the two doors you notice the least in your kitchen are the ones up high, like above the fridge and the oven.

OK, good luck, write back if you need more help.

Jamie Yocono
www.wooditis.com