$$$$$$$ when done correctly with metal framing, lathe, and all the layers of real stucco and plaster. Faked low budget with wood and drywall, of course they crack.

I would be concerned about cleaning it. You will get splatters from cooking, and also any cooking effluent that escapes from going up the exhaust. Can you wipe down the plaster hood?

I have a plastered chimney breast (c. 1965) that needed to be rebuilt (it was lopsided) and for the bottom I had a steel plate made in the shape I wanted so the bottom of it was all metal (+ masonry in this case), but when I was thinking of doing a plaster hood, we would have done the same thing, made a metal edge for the bottom rather than trying to finish a plaster corner.

If it is a taperered hood so that the bottom part is the widest and it narrows from that edge, you will have less grease laden vapors that will get on it because they are "behind" the bottom of the hood so to speak. But I would plan on painting it occasionally.

We used cement board because the taper was flat, but if you want any sort of cove it would probably be easier to get the shape with mesh? I thought about coving because there are other coves and radii in the house, but that type of plasterwork is rather expensive here compared to flatwork. This will depend on your location and whether people do plastering much there. Here the guys who have done plaster work for me say most of their work is commercial restoration and restoration of damage covered by insurance because most people won't pay what it costs out of pocket. But it locations where skilled plastering is more common it may be less expensive than in my case.

Thank you all. This has been super helpful and interesting to hear your different experiences and perspectives!

I have never had a client ask for a plaster range hood, so I assume there is a very good reason for that.

We have had good luck getting masonry contractors to do things like this. Plaster veneers are the same process as smooth stucco with a slightly different product.

You could argue that if you are doing a poster hood, you should just use a stucco and masonry contractor anyway. In my area plaster workers are hard to find and you can't throw a stone without hitting someone in masonry.

@Mark Bischak, Architect said, "I have never had a client ask for a plaster range hood, so I assume there is a very good reason for that."

Today I learned that Michigan is not in the Southwest.

I learned that weeks ago.

I've never had a client ask me for wool broadloom or hand painted wallcovering either, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

@palimpsest - We have a hand painted wallpaper on the farm... not a fan.

I find it annoying enough to clean cooking grime off of our stainless&glass vent/microwave and the painted wood cabinet above it.

I can't imagine cleaning that crud off plaster.

Agreed -- I wipe oil off of my hood weekly. I would hate for it to be anything other than a smooth material.

We used a cast-stone kitchen hood. Though it was treated with some sort of silicone sealant after installation, it still stained, giving it the antique look we liked.