Do you have a ReStore in your area (run by Habitat for Humanity)? They will remove your old cabinets for free and give you a tax receipt for the value of the old cabinets.

Good luck with the prices for the new install!

>They will remove your old cabinets for free

Ours won't. They'll take them if they are in good condition, but it's up to you to get them there.

We are doing our own removal of cabinets so I don't know that charge, but we were quoted $2200. to install our new cabinets. That charge was for 23 cabinets and the crown molding and light rail. I didn't think that was a bad price. They also don't do anything with our plumbing or appliances.

I went with Lowes Shendoah cabinets when they we 20% off. I had a coupon for the install which came to $1800. But the tear out with all their limitations were not worth it. Very pricey for not so much work.

I searched the BBB site in our area got a list of general contractors close by, interviewed 3 (we had landscaping work too) chose one. He tore our appliances, old cabinets, etc and the tile counters and tile backsplash.

The contractor did good work didn't even damage the drywall were the tile was removed, a plus because I figured that it would. He charged $500 for all that. I suggest you look around.

DIY it !

I'm going to say DIY. We just tore out our kitchen, including 2 layers of sheet rock ontop of the plaster ceiling. It was a dusty mess but didn't cost us a dime :)

Home depot and lowes were not happy that we were doing our own install and demo. When we finally went with HD for the cabinets the KD must have said 20 times how hard it is to demo and install. I'm sorry but the demo was easy and fun!! We did hire a contractor for install only because we want the kitchen completed asap and if DH did it, we would be kitchen-less for months due to his work.

have fun, demo yourself :)

What you should be concerned about is why did lowe;s change their pricing in mid-stream. It is a sign that kd is not trustworthy or computer ilitterate.

We paid more than 2k for the demo.. that included removing the drywall and two layers of vinyl flooring. That estimate sounds about right. If they are in great shape, you might be able to find someone to remove them for free.. not sure if people are still flipping houses these days, but you could try. We did this in 2006 with our other house's kitchen.

We paid $210 (for up to 50 lineal feet) for the removal and $210 for the disposal at our HD. Not a big kitchen at 12'x10' (only the "L" had cabinets) and nothing tricky as it was in a high rise condo. For $210 he was there an hour tops not including travel time. Cabs, countertop and hood only - I took up the floor, the plumber capped the plumbing and disconnected the dishwasher the day before and the appliance place took the old appliances when it delivered the new ones. In hindsight I think I should have taken them down myself - probably wouldn't have been as clean but we had to have drywall repairs because of the electrical changes anyway. Install was around $1200 - a bit more than some quotes we had (we knew the installer was good so no qualms about that) but the tear out was a lot cheaper than the others so it didn't effect the bottom line.

We did it ourselves and I have to admit it felt really good (I hated the old kitchen). We were able to fill the dump trailer left by our contractor. I think your biggest issue could be with disposal - do you have a local dump? If we weren't able to use the contractor's trailer, we would have just taken them to the dump ourselves. Some of the cabinets are in the basement where they will get painted and hung in my laundry room.

When I went to Lowe's they gave me an install price of $1400, I believe, and told me the contractor would have to give me his own price for the tear out.

When I went to the custom cabinet maker, where I finally decided to get my cabinets...they did the tear out for $150 - it might actually end up being a tad more because he estimated 2 hours and it took them a bit longer, with an install price of about $600. They didn't remove the floor, however, and I am having problems finding someone to do that reasonably. But Lowe's wouldn't have included the floor either, so I don't feel too bad.

I think we're psyched to do the tear out ourselves now. We can see how each cab comes out and decide whether to keep some of them in the garage. I contacted a local cabinet maker for a second estimate. He should arrive soon. Can't believe we considered signing a contract without a second bid. I had assumed custom shops wouldn't be interested in frameless construction, but he said they do it all of the time. I'll post the price comparisons for anyone else in the same
boat.

Lowes is very high on their demolition and haul away. They give you back the tax if you go with their installation and then it seems they recoup the cost by upping the estimate for demolition and haul away. It's kind of a bait and switch deal.

My neighbor, a friend, and I just yanked my old kitchen out and threw it on the curb. I called the city, they came and picked it all up.

Cost: $0.

Also! I'm going with a custom cabinetmaker. The estimates are coming in at about half of what the box stores wanted. Lots of custom guys here told me they could do frameless, framed, inset...the joy of custom is you get EXACTLY what you want.

Hi Dasistgut,

You will be pleasantly surprised to tear them
out yourself. If you have a good power drill that
will be handy to do the demo. A hammer and a
tire iron might be helpful too. When they are all
out you will be on your way. It is such a good feeling
to do it yourself and save some money.

I think you are wise to get other estimates. Sometimes
the big anchor stores charge more. You could still buy
the cabinets but hire a contractor or handyman to help
you install. As for the plumber. I would hire one.
You want it done right.

Best of luck and don't give up. You can do this!
~boxerpups

Some of those rates are outrageous. My demo estimate is $500 and we will provide a dumpster. I don't have a estimate for installing yet from Lowes but I have been searching Craigslist. There are a lot of people on CL looking for work.

I would take them out yourself and advertise on Craigslist. Free kitchen cabinets, must pick up. That's what we're going to do.

We did it ourselves and reused what we could in the garage. Yes it did feel good to do it ourselves. Actually we started with one cabinet a night on the uppers, then the day before install, did the rest.

Works,

wow - that's good to know - I'll be doing that next winter! was wondering about tearing out etc. Now that I think of it - I'm going to need cabs in the laundry room - I'll just use some from the old kitchen. (if they come down intact) - and a friend of mine has a friend in need of some odd jobs! I'll ask him - and he can take the other old cabs if he wants them - to use or sell.
great ideas!