Hi folks,
I've lived in my current home for 16 years, and love the place. However, one big issue that I've managed to deal with all this time is the lack of a full size oven. I've got a small wall oven/microwave combo, plus a cabinet with a stovetop. This Thanksgiving, for the first time, we will have more company than just my parents in law coming, there will also be my sister in law's family plus one other family friend (yes, we're all vaxxed...).
Anyway, given the cooking limitations of the wall oven (smaller turkeys only!), I'm trying to replace the cabinet/stovetop with a full size (30") slide in range. The limiting factor is actually getting the appliance (I've had two orders cancelled due to lack of stock), since I'm not settling for anything other than a dual fuel range with electric oven and gas stovetop. But, I'm preparing for the theoretical delivery two weeks from now.
The challenge for me will be cutting the formica/particleboard counter. Here's a picture of the area:
Yesterday, I had a plumber come over and help me with some infrastructure for the gas... the original gas line came in through cabinet, so I needed him to help rework all that. We removed the cabinet temporarily, and got things so that I can easily remove the stovetop and cabinet the day before appliance removal. At that point, I will need to cut the 30" opening in the formica/particleboard counter which is 1.5" thick at its thickest points in front and back.
My plan, once the cabinet /stovetop are out on the day before installation, is to use some masking tape on the areas where I'll be cutting, draw a guide line, use a clamped 2"x4 or similar board as a guide, and use my Skil saw (reciprocating) with a 2" blade (fine tooth for clean cut) to go from the front to the back until the saw can't go any farther.
But, how to do that final inch or so in the back, plus the backsplash? I don't want to damage the wall any more than I need to for sure. I could probably wrangle my Sawzall for some of it, but it's not going to give me a tidy cut for sure. I have visions of buying a small circular saw, or... dare I say it? Getting a fine blade small hand saw and manually cutting with the saw in a vertical orientation?
What's the right way to do this without making an ugly mess?
Thanks folks!!
I've lived in my current home for 16 years, and love the place. However, one big issue that I've managed to deal with all this time is the lack of a full size oven. I've got a small wall oven/microwave combo, plus a cabinet with a stovetop. This Thanksgiving, for the first time, we will have more company than just my parents in law coming, there will also be my sister in law's family plus one other family friend (yes, we're all vaxxed...).
Anyway, given the cooking limitations of the wall oven (smaller turkeys only!), I'm trying to replace the cabinet/stovetop with a full size (30") slide in range. The limiting factor is actually getting the appliance (I've had two orders cancelled due to lack of stock), since I'm not settling for anything other than a dual fuel range with electric oven and gas stovetop. But, I'm preparing for the theoretical delivery two weeks from now.
The challenge for me will be cutting the formica/particleboard counter. Here's a picture of the area:
Yesterday, I had a plumber come over and help me with some infrastructure for the gas... the original gas line came in through cabinet, so I needed him to help rework all that. We removed the cabinet temporarily, and got things so that I can easily remove the stovetop and cabinet the day before appliance removal. At that point, I will need to cut the 30" opening in the formica/particleboard counter which is 1.5" thick at its thickest points in front and back.
My plan, once the cabinet /stovetop are out on the day before installation, is to use some masking tape on the areas where I'll be cutting, draw a guide line, use a clamped 2"x4 or similar board as a guide, and use my Skil saw (reciprocating) with a 2" blade (fine tooth for clean cut) to go from the front to the back until the saw can't go any farther.
But, how to do that final inch or so in the back, plus the backsplash? I don't want to damage the wall any more than I need to for sure. I could probably wrangle my Sawzall for some of it, but it's not going to give me a tidy cut for sure. I have visions of buying a small circular saw, or... dare I say it? Getting a fine blade small hand saw and manually cutting with the saw in a vertical orientation?
What's the right way to do this without making an ugly mess?
Thanks folks!!