Kitchen Demolition on Long Island: What to Know Before You Start

A kitchen renovation is one of the most popular home improvement projects on Long Island — and one of the messiest. Before the new cabinets and countertops go in, the old ones have to come out. Here’s what you need to know about the demolition phase.

What Gets Removed in a Kitchen Demo

A typical kitchen demolition includes:

• Cabinets (upper and lower) — these are bulky and take up a lot of dumpster space
• Countertops — granite, laminate, butcher block, or tile
• Flooring — tile, vinyl, hardwood, or linoleum
• Backsplash — tile, stone, or other wall coverings
• Drywall — often damaged during cabinet and tile removal
• Appliances — stove, dishwasher, microwave (we accept most appliances)
• Plumbing fixtures — sink, faucet, garbage disposal
• Lighting — old fixtures and associated wiring covers

A full kitchen gut job generates a surprising amount of debris. Most kitchens produce enough waste to fill a 15 yard dumpster, though larger or more complex kitchens may need a 20 yard.

DIY Demo vs. Hiring a Crew

DIY Kitchen Demo

Many Long Island homeowners handle their own kitchen demolition to save money. If you go this route:

• Budget 2-3 days for a full kitchen tear-out
• You’ll need tools: sledgehammer, pry bar, reciprocating saw, utility knife, and safety gear
• Turn off utilities first — water, gas, and electrical to the kitchen area
• Disconnect appliances before removing
• Work top to bottom — upper cabinets first, then counters, then lowers, then flooring

Hiring a Demo Crew

If you’d rather not do it yourself, our demolition service handles kitchen tear-outs regularly. We’ll:

• Remove all cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures
• Haul everything into the dumpster
• Leave the space clean and ready for your contractor
• Handle it in a day for most standard kitchens

The advantage of hiring us is that we bundle demolition with dumpster rental — one crew, one call, one price.

Dumpster Size for Kitchen Demo

Here’s our recommendation based on experience:

Kitchen Size	Scope	Recommended Dumpster
Galley or small	Cabinets + counters + flooring	10 yard
Average (10x12)	Full gut including drywall	15 yard
Large or L-shaped	Full gut + appliances + subflooring	20 yard

If your kitchen demo is part of a larger renovation (adjacent rooms, bathroom, etc.), consider sizing up to a 20 or 30 yard container.

What to Do with Appliances

Most kitchen appliances can go in the dumpster:

• Stoves and ovens
• Dishwashers
• Microwaves
• Range hoods

Refrigerators and freezers require special handling due to refrigerants. Call us to discuss options — we can often arrange separate pickup for these items.

Before You Start: Checklist

1. Get your renovation plan finalized — know what’s staying and what’s going
2. Turn off water, gas, and electrical to the kitchen area
3. Remove anything you’re keeping — pulls, hardware, fixtures you want to reuse
4. Order your dumpster — call us or request a quote online
5. Protect adjacent areas — hang plastic sheeting in doorways to contain dust
6. Have your dumpster delivered the day before — so it’s ready when demo starts

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you’re doing the demo yourself and need a dumpster, or you want our crew to handle the whole thing, we’ve got you covered. Call 631-855-5502 for a free quote.