Hi. Please look at the photo. I’m looking for advice on how difficult it would be to remove the horizontal part of the cabinet indicated by the arrow. I’m going to refer to it as a ‘bar’ since I don’t know it’s proper name. It’s above our refrigerator and we were hoping to remove it so we’re able to get a taller replacement fridge. There’s also a photo of the back side of the bar. We loosened one of the screws but it didn’t seem to have any effect. Could the bar be glued in place? This seems unlikely to me but I’m unable to see how it’s secured, since loosening that screw didn’t result in the bar becoming loose. Is it a terrible idea to try to remove it? I’m hoping it has no function other than to fill the space between the top surface of the fridge and the bottom of the cabinet. TIA.
How do I remove This piece of kitchen cabinet?
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
Its a stiffener for the cabinet. Without it, the bottom of the cabinet might sag a little. You could put a similar stiffener on the inside of the cabinet, if and when you saw any sagging, but really, a cabinet above the fridge is pretty useless except for decoration. I looked at my cabinets, and I cant see any fasteners, or feel any from behind, so it might be glued.
The pocket screws are holding the face frame together. The valance is a separate piece that was added under the face frame.
Look inside the cabinet for screws that hold the valance in place. It might have been glued into place with biscuits.
Open the doors and take a picture.
Look inside the cabinet for screws that hold the valance in place. It might have been glued into place with biscuits.
Open the doors and take a picture.
Joined
·
628 Posts
Yes, that is nothing more than a filler. Use a sawzall or any other type of saw. What have your tried so far?
Joined
·
5,705 Posts
We all know that is the best solution but what newbie homeowner has the experience or tools to do it?
Joined
·
72,367 Posts
A apposed to hacking at it with a saw where it is? :wink2:
They are here asking questions so they can learn how we would do it.
Joined
·
1,586 Posts
Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.
Here are photos of the inside. We don’t keep anything heavy in this cupboard - as you can see it’s half filled with our collection of reusable shopping bags:vs_laugh:
I’ll wait for confirmation from one of you experts but it looks like the next step is to screw that square head screw back in and then remove the screws inside the door frame.
None of our other kitchen cabinets have this valance so I’m inclined to agree that it’s a space filler. However, just to be on the safe side...is sagging the first sign that we’ve removed a vital component? Any other problems we might see if it is more than a ‘decorative’ piece?
Thanks again.
Here are photos of the inside. We don’t keep anything heavy in this cupboard - as you can see it’s half filled with our collection of reusable shopping bags:vs_laugh:
I’ll wait for confirmation from one of you experts but it looks like the next step is to screw that square head screw back in and then remove the screws inside the door frame.
None of our other kitchen cabinets have this valance so I’m inclined to agree that it’s a space filler. However, just to be on the safe side...is sagging the first sign that we’ve removed a vital component? Any other problems we might see if it is more than a ‘decorative’ piece?
Thanks again.
Attachments
Joined
·
1,586 Posts
Those sivers screws pointing down are holding it. I would remove the contents of the cabinet, then remove those.
Joined
·
72,367 Posts
Those two screws should do it there maybe another screw from the cupboard beside it. As there is still another strip there you should not have a sag problem.
Part 3!
I’ve removed three of the screws without issue BUT the forth is a different story. I was using a handheld screwdriver so don’t think it’s possible I over did things causing the screw to break, but broke it is!
Advice on how to remove the remaining broken screw would be greatly appreciated. I’d say there’s about an inch of screw in the valance and the rest is in the cupboard frame. TIA
I’ve removed three of the screws without issue BUT the forth is a different story. I was using a handheld screwdriver so don’t think it’s possible I over did things causing the screw to break, but broke it is!
Advice on how to remove the remaining broken screw would be greatly appreciated. I’d say there’s about an inch of screw in the valance and the rest is in the cupboard frame. TIA
Attachments
Joined
·
1,586 Posts
You may have to just pry it loose now. Damaging the filler wont matter, so try to protect the cupboard with a piece of cardboard or sheet metal behind whatever you pry with.
Joined
·
5,705 Posts
Also, they may may not have glued the visible joint where the 2 pieces join. It should be be safe to remove the lower portion and not all that difficult if it is not glued.
Joined
·
628 Posts
Remove the two screws and let it fall off. Not sure why you did not see the screws before. That is the only thing they would be holding together.
Storing used shopping bags is very expensive storage. Especially in a kitchen cabinet. I look at things like, what is this costing me to take up space to store it in the house. Every square inch of a house cost money to purchase. So if a house cost $750 per square foot, then it is costing approx $1500 to store $3 worth of bags. I would rather store dishes in that cabinet. Just my 3 cents.
Storing used shopping bags is very expensive storage. Especially in a kitchen cabinet. I look at things like, what is this costing me to take up space to store it in the house. Every square inch of a house cost money to purchase. So if a house cost $750 per square foot, then it is costing approx $1500 to store $3 worth of bags. I would rather store dishes in that cabinet. Just my 3 cents.
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
