Need to raise counter height over existing kitchen cabinets

32878 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Half-fast eddie, Jul 20, 2021

Eric Adams

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2009

Hi - I am doing a buget-conscious upgrade of my old (60+ years) kitchen using the existing cabinets.

I will be replacing the sink, faucets, counter-top and installing an under-counter dishwasher. The dishwasher is about an inch to high for the space available as is, can someone recommend a fairly straight-forward method for raising the counter height?

The cabinetry is a straight bank - 103 inches long, I've already ripped out the old floor-covering (many layers) - still need an inch.

Thanks - Eric

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Mike Swearingen

· #2 · Jul 11, 2009

Eric,
I'm not a contractor, just a long-time DIYer. As you may know, installing a dishwasher under an existing counter and adding thicker flooring such as wood or tile can trap the dishwasher. You need to raise the entire base cabinets.
I raise base cabinets with pressure-treated plywood sheets or strips, sometimes doubled-up, such as two layers of 1/2-inch plywood to make 1". One sheet of 1/2" p-t plywood should be more than adequate. Screw the plywood shimming to the floor. You can just set the cabinet bases on the shimming, and screw the cabinet to the wall. You can add molding or quarter-round on the toe-kick base to cover the gap.
Good Luck!
Mike

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zetpayments

· #3 · Jul 12, 2009

Can anyone help me out with this?

Can anyone help me out with this?

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Just Bill

· #4 · Jul 12, 2009

Cabinets are usually 34 1/2" tall, and the width required for a DW is 24". If you have that, it will fit. There are adjustable feet on all DW, are they screwed all the down?? Over the years, the floor may have been built up, so the opening shrinks from the bottom, not because of the cabinets. It might be time to tear out some old floors.

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Eric Adams

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 12, 2009

raising counter height

Thanks for your in replies - I needed to be more specific;I have not accurately conveyed what I'm looking at here.

What I have is an old, pre-modular bank of cabinets. They are only 32" high and 22" deep. The cabinets are built in place. They can not be raised off the floor from the bottom as they are not boxes, they are supported on three sides by ledges screwed into the wall on which the drawers and, shelves and counter top rest and divided into three sections by two upright walls under the counter. A front panel encloses the whole unit with cut-outs for doors, drawers and an old cutting-board. The whole thing is constructed more like a cheap dresser than a modern kitchen cabinet.

With the legs on the dishwasher screwed down as far as they can go I still need at least an inch and a quarter to get the dishwasher under the cabinet.

I was thinking I would need to make an opening for the dishwasher, install a new ledge to support the counter, then fill in the gap under the counter with some trim...

Any thoughts?

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jaros bros.

· #6 · Jul 12, 2009

Since you are removing your countertops and will have access to the top, you could simply add a piece of decorative trim to the top, maybe 1 1/2 inches thick to give yourself a little extra room. The countertop would then sit on top of this. Don't forget to consider what the countertop lip will do. Some fall down over the top and some are flush with the top depending on how they are constructed.

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Ron6519

· #7 · Jul 12, 2009

It's a small run of cabinets. Reset them as high as you need. It would help if you stated how high the cabinets are. At a traditional 34 1/2", you really shouldn't have a problem with setting a dishwasher among them.
Ron

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MarieK928

· #8 · Jul 20, 2021

Eric Adams said:
raising counter height

Thanks for your in replies - I needed to be more specific;I have not accurately conveyed what I'm looking at here.

What I have is an old, pre-modular bank of cabinets. They are only 32" high and 22" deep. The cabinets are built in place. They can not be raised off the floor from the bottom as they are not boxes, they are supported on three sides by ledges screwed into the wall on which the drawers and, shelves and counter top rest and divided into three sections by two upright walls under the counter. A front panel encloses the whole unit with cut-outs for doors, drawers and an old cutting-board. The whole thing is constructed more like a cheap dresser than a modern kitchen cabinet.

With the legs on the dishwasher screwed down as far as they can go I still need at least an inch and a quarter to get the dishwasher under the cabinet.

I was thinking I would need to make an opening for the dishwasher, install a new ledge to support the counter, then fill in the gap under the counter with some trim...

Any thoughts?

Eric Adams said:
Hi - I am doing a buget-conscious upgrade of my old (60+ years) kitchen using the existing cabinets.

I will be replacing the sink, faucets, counter-top and installing an under-counter dishwasher. The dishwasher is about an inch to high for the space available as is, can someone recommend a fairly straight-forward method for raising the counter height?

The cabinetry is a straight bank - 103 inches long, I've already ripped out the old floor-covering (many layers) - still need an inch.

Thanks - Eric

Hi Eric, I’m curious what did you do to fix this issue as I am currently in the same situation.

Thanks.
Marie

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Half-fast eddie

· #9 · Jul 20, 2021

Marie … check the date … 2009. You should have started a new thread.

I replaced my counters this year and had the same problem, I cut strips of 3/4” plywood about 1” or 1-1/4” wide, glued and brad nailed to the tops of the cabinets, then installed the tops. I painted the strips to match the cabinets, and the counter overhang completely hides it unless you are are your knees looking up.

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