Can you repurpose a Hardi type material for casings? and is not non-combustible?

Was it just the ear on the sill the inspector flagged or all the trim?

Your kitchen is so beautiful. Let me preface the following suggestions by stating, "Don't listen to me, I'm just throwing random thoughts out there because I feel so bad for you."

• Would zoning let you do an induction range instead of gas?
• Would Corian pass inspection as an alternative to the wood trim?

Maybe you can fit some sort of metal baffle behind your range to protect the immediate area behind your range from scorching.

I hope someone, besides me, can help you figure this out.

Thanks to all who have weighed in, and appreciate the kind words about our kitchen that is looking very lived-in right now.

Re: Hardi-type materials: apparently it is not sufficient for the material to be fire-resistant (there's apparently something made of ash that doesn't meet standard). Not sure if Hardi meets muster, but i'll look into it.

@HALLETT & Co. Apparently it is the casing upt to the height of the range hood, not just the ear on the sill.

@theresa21, induction could work, but that's an expensive swap out for a new range...interesting thought, though. I think Corian could pass - but my preference would be for it to be cut with the profile of the existing trim. Do you know if that's possible?

Your kitchen is so pretty and I would be frustrated too! I had the same question as HALLETT, so I think my first step would be asking the zoning folks if you would pass inspection if you just replaced the window sills with stone. If so, then I'd ask the fabricator if it's even possible to pull out the existing sill and insert a stone sill, and I'd ask him / her to see if they have any remnants that match your stone.

Beautiful kitchen and I am so sorry that your designer dropped the ball by not reading the specs in your Thermador gas range. I believe you needed 5” clearance to the sides and 18” high.

I typed in ”non combustible window casing” to google and this product came up. I have no affiliation and I actually had never heard of ”Foamed Ceramics”. Maybe you can check it out?

https://www.kitoceramics.com/outdoor/window-trim.html

Consider covering the window trim, in the red rectangle, with the same material as the backsplash.

What if you did no casings and did a bullnose edge kinda matching the range hood so it would look a bit stucco ish

I have seen this done with cast stone interior casings to mimic the wood profiles/trims - I believe they can closely color match your wood trim, or you can select a different color that is closer to the backsplash material. It's not an inexpensive fix, but it's probably less than replacing that whole backsplash.

I would find a talented Corian craftsperson to evaluate the job. Some of the details such as the outside moldings on the header and side casings might be more challenging or impossible to duplicate. However, I would think that an experienced Corian technician should be able to install all the unadorned flat pieces, corner blocks and the sill. After installing those simple profile pieces, have it inspected for code compliance, and then if you are still not satisfied with the look, attach the detailed wood moldings to the Corian and then paint the whole thing to match your other windows. But first you need to ask if Corian is code compliant, and you'll need to find a talented Corian craftsperson.

That backsplash is also combustaible and so is corian they are plastic . Get some tile tile that whole wall remove the window trim and replace with tile that should satisfy the inspection I hope

Replace all the casings and stools with a white contrasting natural stone. It's not going to be cheap, but it will look like you planned it that way. Remember, you're going to be looking at this for a very long time. You don't want regret in your coffee every morning.

Change all windows in the kitchen , replicate just the two in Pure white Thassos marble...?

https://www.windowsills.com/natural-stone/thassos-white-marble-window-sills-distributor-in-miami/

Corian has a Class A Fire Rating. It has a flame spread rating of 20.

Class A fire ratings indicate a flame spread rating somewhere between zero and 25. Materials that fall into Class A or Class 1 include things like brick, gypsum wallboard, and fiber cement exterior materials. These materials do not burn well and are very unlikely to contribute fuel to a fire.

Cambria Quartz (as an example) has a Class A Fire Rating.

They are not heat proof. They will scorch or discolor when exposed to high heat like placing a hot pan on them or on the vertical surface behind a high BTU range, particularly one with rear vents for the oven.

But they are not "combustible" or "flammable" like wood is. Pine or oak have a flame spread rating up around 100.

Hi, Meg,

I'm not sure what building code applies in your area, but the definition of non-combustible material in the International Residential Code is one that meets the test requirements of ASTM standard E136. James Hardie claims that Hardie Trim meets ASTM E136, so you should be able to use it in lieu of the wood casings and comply with the code. I suggest you check with your building code official--not the on site inspector--to verify.

Corian will still turn brown in the heat zone, even if it is an approved material. The prohibited combustibles zone around a range is pretty clear in the appliance paperwork diagrams of most. This should not have been missed.

But, since it was, the better option may be to just remove the casing completely, and do a tile wrap, with a radius bullnose. A tile wrapped window is a classic look.

Thanks, all. Some great suggestions here. I agree that this should not have been missed. This was our contractor's mistake and as far as I am concerned he is accountable for the fix. The existing backsplash is quartzite, and we love it and don't want to lose it. Because of the way the existing slab it is cut to accomodate the sill, my take is that we either have to re-cut the slab on the wall behind the range (assuming another slab from the same lot is available) and do 36" of quartzite, and tile above that, or replace the casing material with cast stone, corian, Hardie. etc.

"Because of the way the existing slab it is cut to accommodate the sill,..."

Is the backsplash cut around the stool ends, or have the stool ends been cut to allow the slab to pass behind please?

In the second photo, it looks like the backsplash was cut around the ends.

@joseph_corlett and @AnnKH - correct, the backsplash is cut around the sills.

Just want to say to the people here suggesting Corian - huh? No. I had Corian in an older kitchen, and set a warm (not hot) pan down on it for 2 seconds and it left a burn mark. Even if Corian won't go up in flames next to a gas oven, it'll look like trash in no time, next to that gorgeous and expensive stone.

I like the suggestion to find more of that stone, pull out the existing sill and replace with a stone sill. But first find out if that would solve the inspector's issue.

As to induction cooktop swap, that too would need to be discussed with the inspector. While the induction cooktop does not have a flame and does not get hot, the pots and pans on it will get hot. There's a video showing a pan left on an induction cooktop lighting on fire - because the contents of the pan were flammable, even though the cooktop is not. So before contemplating that cooktop switch, clear it with the inspector.

What a gorgeous kitchen - and I agree hang on to that lovely quartzite -

FWIW & def not a pro - but I remember seeing honed black granite window sills when I was out slab searching and wonder if there is a work around with that material? It would imagine it could be easier to work with since it was already "cut down" into manageable pieces

these guys sell to the trade - but have a storefinder

https://www.windowsills.com/absolute-black-window-sills/

https://www.windowsills.com/window-sills/

Sorry so many quartz counters here I assumed .

^^^ the upper cabinets might be as close to range but would be much higher

Actually, seeing a close up of those casings...they are kind of chewed up looking, and I would want something in a little better surface condition for a new remodel. I would not have said anything except they are going to have to be changed anyway.

Meg:

The returned ends on your new stools could be fabricated in a way to cover the notched backsplash. Even if they don't, your splash has enough movement to lend itself to inconspicuous repairs.

What did you end up doing?