Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Above stove microwave height
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Golden
03-07-05, 09:26 AM
I am thinking of replacing our current hood vent with an above the stove microwave to save counter space. I am not sure if there will be enough space between the microwave and the stove top if I make the switch. Any ideas on the "standard" space between the 2?
The_New_Mrs._G
03-07-05, 10:00 AM
I would also like to place the microwave above the oven, but I don't know how much space needs to be between them, either. I think I may try to look for something online...
I'll let you know if I find anything.
~Lindsay
I'll let you know if I find anything.
~Lindsay
Ed Imeduc
03-07-05, 10:13 AM
18" just like the bottom of the cabinets the cab over it is 12"one.
ED :D
ED :D
majakdragon
03-07-05, 10:45 AM
Don't forget about how the stove heat will affect the Micro. If I was installing one over my stove, I would get one that vents to the outside. Serves two purposes at once. Gets rid of odor and smoke and you have two appliances vented at once. You DO have to run the Micro fan when using the stove oven. Good luck.
Golden
03-07-05, 10:50 AM
Is there any height that is considered too low?
Ed Imeduc
03-07-05, 11:00 AM
They all call for 18" up . Thats why they make the 12" cabinet to go over it. it will come out the same as the other cabinets at 30"
ED :D
ED :D
Annette
03-07-05, 11:55 AM
my 2¢:
sorry to butt in here, but i don't think 18" is enough practical space. i considered exchanging out our fan for a microwave unit, but when you're retro-fitting like that, probably (like in our case) the little cabinet above your fan isn't the tiny 12" kind - it's a little larger (taller). so, when you put that microwave there, it's much taller than the simple fan you're taking out, and if you're making stew or something in a tall stock pot, you will NOT be able to see into it to stir it if it's on the back burner. you'll have to pull it out to the front burner to do so. they do make lower profile microwave/fan units for just such a situation, but i think they still hang down lower than the fan-only unit. so we decided against it.
just be sure to measure everything very carefully before proceeding. even go so far as to put your biggest pot on the stove with a long wooden spoon sticking out of it for reference & measure up from there to see just how far down you could stand for that microwave to be.
another thought: also, think about the things you microwave & make sure you want to be taking hot things in & out of something that high up. if you're used to your micro sitting on your counter and you being able to take things out of the micro & immediately put them down on the counter right in front of it, it's a bit of a change to have to deal with handling them overhead & no counter right there to set them on.
just some ideas to think about..... :)
sorry to butt in here, but i don't think 18" is enough practical space. i considered exchanging out our fan for a microwave unit, but when you're retro-fitting like that, probably (like in our case) the little cabinet above your fan isn't the tiny 12" kind - it's a little larger (taller). so, when you put that microwave there, it's much taller than the simple fan you're taking out, and if you're making stew or something in a tall stock pot, you will NOT be able to see into it to stir it if it's on the back burner. you'll have to pull it out to the front burner to do so. they do make lower profile microwave/fan units for just such a situation, but i think they still hang down lower than the fan-only unit. so we decided against it.
just be sure to measure everything very carefully before proceeding. even go so far as to put your biggest pot on the stove with a long wooden spoon sticking out of it for reference & measure up from there to see just how far down you could stand for that microwave to be.
another thought: also, think about the things you microwave & make sure you want to be taking hot things in & out of something that high up. if you're used to your micro sitting on your counter and you being able to take things out of the micro & immediately put them down on the counter right in front of it, it's a bit of a change to have to deal with handling them overhead & no counter right there to set them on.
just some ideas to think about..... :)
Ed Imeduc
03-07-05, 06:20 PM
Annette
If you just have a hood vent fan there its a 18" cab just like the one you would use over the fridge.
Any time you set a micro the bottom will be inline with all the rest of the 30" cabinets all set at 18 " up so over the micro you have to use a 12" cabinet.
ED :wall:
If you just have a hood vent fan there its a 18" cab just like the one you would use over the fridge.
Any time you set a micro the bottom will be inline with all the rest of the 30" cabinets all set at 18 " up so over the micro you have to use a 12" cabinet.
ED :wall:
Doug Aleshire
03-07-05, 10:43 PM
Golden,
The key here is the installation instructions. Most brands are similar but it is wise to check first.
First off, what I make reference to is using the standard 30 inch wall cabinets that would be provide the 18" space between countertop and bottom of cabinet.
Regardless if you have a hood fan or SpaceSaver microwave, the minimum, in general, is that the bottom of the cabinet must be at least 66 inches or more from the floor. The minimum space between the countertop and bottom of the upper cabinet that this would be directly under should be 30 inches minimum.
If you go into a home today or from years past, the hood vent is sitting directly under a 18 inch cabinet.
The microwave however can be placed under the 18 inch cabinet, acceptable by manufactures specs BUT it would protrude down below the adjoining cabinets by about 3 1/2 inches. Not very pleasing to the eye.
However, if the cabinet above the microwave was to be virtually flush at the bottom of the adjoining cabinets, a 12" wall cabinet would have to be used.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
The key here is the installation instructions. Most brands are similar but it is wise to check first.
First off, what I make reference to is using the standard 30 inch wall cabinets that would be provide the 18" space between countertop and bottom of cabinet.
Regardless if you have a hood fan or SpaceSaver microwave, the minimum, in general, is that the bottom of the cabinet must be at least 66 inches or more from the floor. The minimum space between the countertop and bottom of the upper cabinet that this would be directly under should be 30 inches minimum.
If you go into a home today or from years past, the hood vent is sitting directly under a 18 inch cabinet.
The microwave however can be placed under the 18 inch cabinet, acceptable by manufactures specs BUT it would protrude down below the adjoining cabinets by about 3 1/2 inches. Not very pleasing to the eye.
However, if the cabinet above the microwave was to be virtually flush at the bottom of the adjoining cabinets, a 12" wall cabinet would have to be used.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
Page L
09-30-05, 07:53 AM
I also thought about replacing my hood with a microwave. I went to the local parade of homes recently and was bewildered by all of the microwaves mounted above head level! Some were over the stove, some over the oven. I could barely reach the controls on some. It's a scary trend! Safety is one big issue here!
The other is the 18" "mimimum." That might be the approved height, but it is not a practical height for anyone who cooks! My cabinets are 24" high above my hood. The side cabinets are 18" from the counter, but wouldn't really give you enough space to cook, unless all you do is grill cheese! My wooden spoons are 14 inches! I think I'll sacrifice the counter space!
The other is the 18" "mimimum." That might be the approved height, but it is not a practical height for anyone who cooks! My cabinets are 24" high above my hood. The side cabinets are 18" from the counter, but wouldn't really give you enough space to cook, unless all you do is grill cheese! My wooden spoons are 14 inches! I think I'll sacrifice the counter space!
twelvepole
10-02-05, 09:24 PM
A 12" cabinet and 16" tall microwave vent is standard. 18" cabinet is standard for range vent.
Disadvantages of the microwave vent are for shorter cooks and little ladies with not much upper arm strength. Too, there are safety concerns when hot pots are cooking and, say, a child wants to microwave a snack.
Disadvantages of the microwave vent are for shorter cooks and little ladies with not much upper arm strength. Too, there are safety concerns when hot pots are cooking and, say, a child wants to microwave a snack.