Asked on Aug 20, 2015

How to take cabinets off the wall in a mobile home

Eric Echevarria
by Eric Echevarria
I'm having trouble taking off the old cabinets in my mobile home without putting holes in my wall. Please help.
  12 answers
  • First put a support under the cabinets - if caulked around the edges you need to peel it / cut it loose. Then remove every screw you can find which also includes where they connect the two cabinets (unless built in place then you will need to remove all the crews in the bank of cabinets). At this time they should drop down. If not just grab hold of the frame & give it a tug - that should hopefully tell you where you might be missing some screws
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 21, 2015
    Mobile home cabinets are usually built in place and NOT traditional cabinets. I discovered that they used these HUGE long staples, screws with odd heads and pure ignorance putting these things up. I learned very quickly, there are going to be holes. You are probably going to have to pry, a lot too. Use a flat piece of wood to put under what ever you are using to pry with. Don't pry against the drywall itself. Just work it from the outside in and slow and steady will help eliminate the number of holes. I hope you are very successful in your endeavor.
  • Hunter Hampton Hunter Hampton on Aug 21, 2015
    I learned they screw them in from both directions, so you eventually need to just tear them off the walls and repair the holes.
  • Carol Davis Carol Davis on Aug 21, 2015
    yes, the staples are a nihgtmare
  • Rus1058682 Rus1058682 on Aug 21, 2015
    I have found that the easiest way is to get a 2x4 and cut wedges from 0 to 2" and about 4-6" long, then using these and a hammer, starting at a corner of the cabinet, place one wedge where the wall and cabinet meet, preferably on a stud, tap the wedge in until it makes a gap about 1\2". Then use another a little further along the cabinet(the next stud or further up the same one) and tap it in until the first one releases. continue this "pattern" until the area is released enough to put a sawzall blade into the crevice. Using a metal cutting blade, cut through the screws. REMEMBER TO SUPPORT THE CABINET BEFORE CUTTING ALL THE SCREWS... Working in this manner, you can reduce the damage to walls and cabinets.. YOU MAY HAVE TO REMOVE ONE BOARD AT A TIME... Good luck, Hope this helped... R
  • Rus1058682 Rus1058682 on Aug 21, 2015
    The previous post is for 'hidden' or tough screws. You may have to buy a bit for your drill that has a square end the size required for the screws used in mobile homes to remove all visible screws...
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Aug 21, 2015
    I just tore mine out and put up new and thicker sheet rock after putting in insulation.
    • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 22, 2015
      Kathy I did the same after a half day of tedious, cautious work. With little removal. Sledge hammer, anger, and 7 sheets of drywall. Yep, ready to rock in 1 day!
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Aug 22, 2015
    well there I had a son who did the dirty work but was well worth it as were the bathrooms. I walk in now and does not feel like a mobile home and people are always surprised by the inside... so yeah it was worth it. Any help with the ceilings? we didn't redo them
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Aug 22, 2015
    We used to own a mobile home, and when a cabinet had to be removed we discovered that they were all firmly attached with dozens of staples primarily. We finally ended up removing the cabinet that we had to, basically prying it loose, and then repairing the wall. Not what you expect, certainly!
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Aug 23, 2015
    No they are white with a texture, My ex did a crappy job of fixing and I have attached a photo.
    • See 1 previous
    • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Jan 31, 2020

      Yep, I sold the house not my problem anymore. Lol

  • Donna Bennett Donna Bennett on Aug 25, 2015
    Ours were screwed into the wall,we just unscrewed them and
  • Sally Camp Sally Camp on Jul 07, 2020

    Not an answer but a question. My cabinets are held up with screws that almost look like an 8 that doesn't quite meet in the middle, if that makes sense. Trying to find a bit for my drill to get them unscrewed.