Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/29/2009

Question
I would like to know the level of difficulty of modify existing cabinetry (older) to accomadate a slide in range.  This slide in has a gas cook top, convection oven with warming drawer.  The countertops are granite and has an existing electric cooktop with down draft.

The slide in has to be on the floor and I have no idea what is behind the toe board.  I am pretty sure I have the ability to cut the granite but have no idea whether or what steps to remove or modicfy the base cabinet.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Bob,

I was going to joke around and say - sure, this is an easy job. Why not start it on December 20, so you'll have it done in time for the holidays. Then I thought you might not think that's so funny. Bob, this is a pretty big job, in my opinion.

Modifying your existing kitchen cabinetry to fit a slide in range is probably a job best left to someone with experience and the proper tools. Of course, it depends on what your skills are, and what sort of tools you have access to. If you're familiar with woodworking, and have some mechanical experience with electricity and gas lines, you might be fine tackling this.

But - you could be overestimating your ability to cut the granite - it's not as simple as cutting it. The entire countertop has to be slid away from the wall, so that you can cut back into the far edge, as well as the backsplash. Those countertops are very heavy, it's way more than a single person should attempt.

Also, if sounds like there could be some mechanicals in the way. If you're certain you want to attempt this, I would pull off the toe kick, and look inside, to see what you have there if you remove the existing cabinet. This cabinet (I'm guessing) is probably a 30" or a 36" wide unit. The installers probably screwed it into the cabinets that are on the left and right of it, so you're going to need to locate all those screws and remove them. It also may be screwed into the back wall, though the nailing strips. Even if you remove all these fasteners, it's sometimes a bear to pull the cabinet out - all those years of sitting there together will make the cabinets stick to each other.

Even more important - let's say you get that existing cabinet out of there. Do you have enough room to slide the new unit into place? Are you sure you have enough room?

I'd do a lot of measuring and thinking about this project before you tackle it. Hope this helps, sorry if it's not the answer you wanted to hear, but this is a pretty big undertaking, and since I don't know more about you, I can't really encourage you to try it.

Write back with more information if you have more questions, and I'll try to help.


Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com