Remove worktop above integrated dishwasher

[AllyDK]

Hi, I need to remove my laminate kitchen worktops in preparation for quartz worktop templating.

I have an integrated dishwasher in a base unit next to my sink cupboard. To the other side of the dishwasher is a full height unit with my oven. I can see under the worktop at the front of the dishwasher there are screws going through a metal plate up into the worktop, and also some screws on each side going into the other base cabinets (a panel for the side of the oven)

My question is: how do you think the rear of the worktop is attached against the wall? How about on the left against the tall unit? Surely there will be a batten on the back wall but if the worktop is screwed from underneath how do I actually get to the screws? Do you think it is likely to just be glued on to the batten instead?

I can't see any screws up into the worktop in the sink unit but the the sink is a very tight fit so they might not be visible until I get the sink out...

I'd rather not destroy the worktop getting it out because we will need to balance it back on top of the cupboards while waiting two weeks for the quartz to be ready.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[foxhole]

Just remove dishwasher for access .

 

[Mottie]

As above - there may be something behind the dishwasher fixing it to the worktop. Anywhere else inside cupboards will be accessible. Those screws on the front of the dishwasher are just to hold it in place, not to hold the worktop on.

 

[chirpychippy]

The worktop may also be screwed through the inside of the oven housing...

Take the dishwasher out as Foxhole suggests, you may find brackets attached to the oven housing end panel or a bracket on the wall.

If you don't find brackets, you will have to instal brackets to support the quartz worktop at this point, you may also have to lower the dishwasher and put support bars between the sink base and oven housing end panel to support the worktop at this point.

Quartz can only span 300mm unsupported.

 

[AllyDK]

Thanks for your help. I was hoping there might be a way so that I could get away with not removing the dishwasher but never mind

 

[Mottie]

Thanks for your help. I was hoping there might be a way so that I could get away with not removing the dishwasher but never mind

How do you know you have to remove the dishwasher? Just undo everything you can see including the screws at the top front of the dishwasher and see what happens when you lift it. You won’t be able to screw into the quartz worktop like you have with the MDF one so as said, you may need to lower the dishwasher and fit a bracing bar to be able to secure the dishwasher at the top. In this case, you’ll need to reposition the door frontal panel.

 

[AllyDK]

Is the grey piece in that image the bracing bar? What is it made of? When they come to template I'm sure they'll tell me what bracing and battens I need but at least I know what sorts of things to check.

I can move the door panel no problem

 

[Mottie]

Is the grey piece in that image the bracing bar? What is it made of?

Yes. Just a 600mm long piece made of wood. Have another at the rear of the dishwasher space as it just consists of two side panels spaced 600mm apart.

 

[AllyDK]

Cool. That I can manage to do

 

[foxhole]

The worktop may also be screwed through the inside of the oven housing...

Take the dishwasher out as Foxhole suggests, you may find brackets attached to the oven housing end panel or a bracket on the wall.

If you don't find brackets, you will have to instal brackets to support the quartz worktop at this point, you may also have to lower the dishwasher and put support bars between the sink base and oven housing end panel to support the worktop at this point.

Quartz can only span 300mm unsupported.

My 20mm quartz spans my 600mm units , so it will fail?

 

[chirpychippy]

My 20mm quartz spans my 600mm units , so it will fail?

Strange, the worktop suppliers who template my kitchens insist on support on anything exceeding 300mm, they must be wrong....

 

[foxhole]

Strange, the worktop suppliers who template my kitchens insist on support on anything exceeding 300mm, they must be wrong....

Maybe they refer to an overhang which is limited to around 350mm?

 

[chirpychippy]

Maybe they refer to an overhang which is limited to around 350mm?

Nope, it's probably an ar*e covering exercise they employ.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Maybe they refer to an overhang which is limited to around 350mm?

If you assume that an overhang of roughly 300mm is equivalent in load to a "bridge" of twice that, then I guess that adds up? Not sure if that's how it works, though.

 

[AllyDK]

Quick update in case anyone should read this post later.

There were L brackets above the dishwasher going into the side of the full height oven housing, therefore we did have to remove the dishwasher to get the worktop off. It was not attached to the back wall or to the right in the unit with the sink. This is a Bloor home built in 2019.

Re the span of the quartz. When they templated they said there were no issues with the bog-standard 600mm units, no additional battens or bracing required. We don't have any unsupported overhangs.