How do I remove kickboards in kitchen?

Thoie

I have a new dishwasher arriving tomorrow, and I need to get the old one ready to take away before it comes. It's an integrated unit, so the first thing I have to do is remove the kickboard that runs all along under the units.

As far as I can tell it's a fairly standard setup - there are clips on the back of the kickboard that clip onto the legs of the units. I think they clip towards the top of the kickboard. I've tried putting a screwdriver in the gap at the top, but that's not giving me any purchase. I tried putting a skewer in, and then twisting it so that the hook at the top would hook on behind the board, but it's too close to the underside of the units, so won't turn. I've tried using the pointy bit of an old fashioned beer can opener, but that's too small.

I'm now hot and sweaty, and no closer to getting the bloody thing off. Anyone have any ideas of general household stuff I can use? As far as tools go, I've got an electric drill, a small normal flat head screwdriver and no upper body strength

Or do you know of any tricks/tips to take these things off?

wait4me

Open one of the cupboards and check to see if there is/are (a) screw(s) down into the kickboard

Thoie

There's not. I've got the door off the integrated dishwasher (no easy feat itself), and there's now space to get your hands in to pull it to unclip (I can see the clips, it's definitely not screwed), but I'm lacking the brute force to actually get it off. A neighbour is going to drop over later if he can and have a go for me.

gutteruu

As a last resort, I would get a piece of scrap wood. Put a long screw in either end. Screw this into top of kickboard (so holes won't be seen again) and use it as a handle to pull it off

jt69er

gutteruu wrote: »

As a last resort, I would get a piece of scrap wood. Put a long screw in either end. Screw this into top of kickboard (so holes won't be seen again) and use it as a handle to pull it off

Exactly as above!

Thoie

gutteruu wrote: »

As a last resort, I would get a piece of scrap wood. Put a long screw in either end. Screw this into top of kickboard (so holes won't be seen again) and use it as a handle to pull it off

I'm not the kind of person who has scrap wood and long screws lying around, but I could take a dash to Woodies/B&Q in the morning before the dishwasher men arrive

TheBeach

You could phone a local kitchen place and see if a carpenter could come out to you for 10 minutes tomorrow and help. Save you damaging your kick board. They'd have it done in a flash no doubt.

gutteruu

Thoie wrote: »

I'm not the kind of person who has scrap wood and long screws lying around, but I could take a dash to Woodies/B&Q in the morning before the dishwasher men arrive

Grabbing the old dishwasher and pulling it towards you would probably free the kickboard anyway (assuming the screws holding dishwasher onto worktop were undone).

Failing that just keep at it with whatever you have until you are so pissed off you rip it as hard as you can in a fit of rage and it will probably just fall off easy.

Maudi

Thoie wrote: »

I'm not the kind of person who has scrap wood and long screws lying around, but I could take a dash to Woodies/B&Q in the morning before the dishwasher men arrive

I wouldnt worry about it too much ..the lads installing the new unit will be familiar with kick boards etc..what would it take them.. three mins to take it out for you.

Maudi

Thoie wrote: »

I'm not the kind of person who has scrap wood and long screws lying around, but I could take a dash to Woodies/B&Q in the morning before the dishwasher men arrive

I wouldnt worry about it too much ..the lads installing the new unit will be familiar with kick boards etc..what would it take them.. three mins to take it out for you.

Thoie

Maudi wrote: »

I wouldnt worry about it too much ..the lads installing the new unit will be familiar with kick boards etc..what would it take them.. three mins to take it out for you.

That's good, because 4 hours later, and one sprained back, I've got the clips off, can now move the kickboard from side to side, but cannot, for the life of me, get it forward to take off

lgk

Do you own a sat nav, or anything else that has one of those suction cups to attach them to the windscreen? Those will have enough holding strength to attach to the face of the kick board and pull it free.

Thoie

The poor guy managed it this morning, but it took a ridiculous amount of effort, a hammer and nearly a hacksaw at one stage. There were two main problems - it nearly looks like they had put the kitchen units down on to pof the kickboards (if that makes sense) and hadn't left any wiggle room at all. Apparently there should usually be a few mm's gap at the top, but there was none left at all.

The second problem is that the kitchen units and kickboards had been installed, and then afterwards they installed a cork underlay (apartment) glued to the floor everywhere, and then installed the skirting boards afterwards tight up against the kickboards, so they had no wiggle room that way either.

The sucker on satnav was in no way going to be able to cope with any of that.

We eventually got it out, but the majority of his time was taking it out and getting it back in again. At some stage, when I have all the money in the world, I'm going to ask a kitchen company to fit new kickboards for me I think.

lgk

Wow!!! Some clever installers there. Ideally it should have been trimmed before putting it back in.

It's actually really cheap and pretty straightforward replace kick-boards. If you can manage a straight cut, you have most of the skills required.

Thoie

lgk wrote: »

Wow!!! Some clever installers there. Ideally it should have been trimmed before putting it back in.

It's actually really cheap and pretty straightforward replace kick-boards. If you can manage a straight cut, you have most of the skills required.

If I had some work space and tools I'd agree, but I'd have to go out, buy a jig saw, find somewhere to plonk a plank, blah blah. I also couldn't swear that I *can* manage a straight cut. I'd like to think I can, but wouldn't risk my life on it

I think by the time I've done all that, a joiner would have cut them, sanded and fitted them

Liamalone

lgk wrote: »

Do you own a sat nav, or anything else that has one of those suction cups to attach them to the windscreen? Those will have enough holding strength to attach to the face of the kick board and pull it free.

I know it's taboo to resurrect threads but this post deserves it. Kitchen cupboard below sink had water in it and boy was I struggling to get the kickboard off.

The above suggestion did the job. Belated thanks lol

Lex Luthor

I got the window sucker also from my sat nav and stuck it on a kickboard once and used it to remove it