Need Help with my Range Hood!

13 years ago

We removed the soffit in our new kitchen, but found that we're unable to vent our new under cabinet range hood out the wall. Venting has to go through the ceiling. 42 inch cabinets leave about a foot up to the 9' ceilings. We only have a 30inch opening for the range hood, so no extra space on each side for the Chimney style hood. We could rebuild the soffit to be flush with the depth for the vent, i.e. behind the edge of the upper cabinets, or we can go with the Chimney style hood, not use the upper cabinets, and not have any extra space between the hood and the side cabinets... What should we do???

Featured Answer

PRO

Brickwood Builders, Inc.

13 years ago

In a perfect world there would be space on either side of the hood as your designer indicated. But as you have discovered, the world of remodeling is not perfect. You have to work with what is there and sometimes there is no way to know what that is until you start to open up walls, floors and ceilings. You can install the hood without room on the sides.

It might help you to go to the browse rooms tab and select kitchens. Then go to the Houzz search bar and put in range hoods and that will filter some of the pictures. I think you will see examples of your situation and you can decide on what is best for your space. It takes awhile, but grab a glass of wine and sift through them and you will find the perfect solution for you. There are actually some unusual and nifty ways to mount hoods that are shown in some pictures.

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Comments (8)

PRO
R H Kitchen and Bath Ltd
13 years ago
I don't understand why you need space between the hood and the side cabinets?? Just use the chimney style hood without any space between it and the side cabinets. Are your cabinets already installed, or you're still in the planing phase??
jdzamba
Original Author
13 years ago
Cabinets aren't installed yet, but will be delivered this week. Our original designer recommended 1-3 inch spacing between a chimney style hood and the upper cabinets. However the manufacturer said it wouldn't be a problem to not have extra spacing for any performance issue. Could it just be the designer's preference?
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jdzamba
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much. I really wanted to get some feedback on the design aspect of the spacing...
After looking through all my favorite kitchens, I do prefer the under cabinet range hood, but I didn't want to have to have a soffit either... The old one hung over the cabinets by 12-15inches... yuk!
What do you think of a small soffit with just enough room for the vent enclosed with drywall?
PRO
R H Kitchen and Bath Ltd
13 years ago
It will not look good.
jdzamba
Original Author
13 years ago
Any thoughts on convertible range hoods? We could use the under cabinet hood with the recirculating element and not have to vent to the outside... right? Most of my research says they aren't as good, but maybe thats only if you're a professional chef?
PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
13 years ago
I have seen homes with the under cabinet hood and then the vent above the cabinets enclosed with drywall. We have a friend that did it in their home. I noticed it at first, but now I never even see it anymore. I can't locate a similar picture to make sure I am thinking of the same thing you are describing.
PRO
TMK Remodeling
13 years ago
You can get the exhaust fans and vents in stainless steel that look pretty sharp (pic attached), but I am not sure if this will work with the rest of your decor, appliances and finishes. Agree you can enclose it in drywall by itself or in perimeter soffit.

Some fans/vents can be vented at right angle and down/up through the wall if the wall cavity is sufficiently large. Would need the specs on the fan to calculate the venting.