Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Load Bearing Beam above Range Hood
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P987s
04-02-08, 03:03 PM
We're nearly finished with a kitchen renovation project, and now we've encountered a problem that our contractor can't seem to solve.
We purchased a ceiling-mounted range hood, but right above the range where it should be mounted is a load-bearing beam. The existing vent is about 12 inches to the right of the beam. Our wall cabinets are dropped down about 12 inches from the ceiling.
The only option we can think of is to run an exposed vent-tube to the right and to the existing vent. Or to build a suffit to hide the vent. The suffit will look funny due to the already dropped cabinets though.
We can't return the range hood so we're trying to think of options. Any clever workarounds anybody here might be able to provide?
The only option we can think of is to run an exposed vent-tube to the right and to the existing vent. Or to build a suffit to hide the vent. The suffit will look funny due to the already dropped cabinets though.
We purchased a ceiling-mounted range hood, but right above the range where it should be mounted is a load-bearing beam. The existing vent is about 12 inches to the right of the beam. Our wall cabinets are dropped down about 12 inches from the ceiling.
The only option we can think of is to run an exposed vent-tube to the right and to the existing vent. Or to build a suffit to hide the vent. The suffit will look funny due to the already dropped cabinets though.
We can't return the range hood so we're trying to think of options. Any clever workarounds anybody here might be able to provide?
The only option we can think of is to run an exposed vent-tube to the right and to the existing vent. Or to build a suffit to hide the vent. The suffit will look funny due to the already dropped cabinets though.
Just Bill
04-02-08, 04:34 PM
VERY CRITICAL COMMENT......if your contractor has no solutions, you need a new contractor.
Pics would help, but there are ways to run ducts, wherever they need to be run. He may not be as knowledgeable as some on how to get around this problem. You may need a heating person that is more familiar with running ducts. But you may have to give up a few inches one way or the other. There is sometimes no way around some issues.
Pics would help, but there are ways to run ducts, wherever they need to be run. He may not be as knowledgeable as some on how to get around this problem. You may need a heating person that is more familiar with running ducts. But you may have to give up a few inches one way or the other. There is sometimes no way around some issues.
Bud Cline
04-02-08, 05:45 PM
Is this an exterior wall? What's on the other side opposite the cabinets above the hood?:)
P987s
04-02-08, 06:10 PM
Thanks for the quick replies!
The other side of the wall is another unit. Going into the wall would be ok, but not completely into the other unit.
Our contractor's other options are:
1. removing the load-bearing beam and putting another one up (very expensive and a big mess)
2. ventless hood :thumbdn:
I posted a quick sketch of the kitchen here.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/987la/kitchen.jpg
I'd rather not find another contractor, but if you guys think there are other solutions than what he's giving me, I'll start looking. I appreciate it.
The other side of the wall is another unit. Going into the wall would be ok, but not completely into the other unit.
Our contractor's other options are:
1. removing the load-bearing beam and putting another one up (very expensive and a big mess)
2. ventless hood :thumbdn:
I posted a quick sketch of the kitchen here.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/987la/kitchen.jpg
I'd rather not find another contractor, but if you guys think there are other solutions than what he's giving me, I'll start looking. I appreciate it.
XSleeper
04-02-08, 06:36 PM
I can hardly picture your situation at all. So you are saying that this "beam" is running perpendicular to the wall behind the range? As in an exposed beam below the ceiling that is directly over your head as you stand in front of the range? Where is the beam in relation to the picture you drew?
And what sort of a range hood are you talking about? Is it the large tapered kind that extend clear up to the ceiling? (wood or copper?) And the vent for this needs to be exactly centered over the range then, right? But the beam is right in the way?
And do you know for sure that the beam is actually load bearing and that it's not just for looks?
And what sort of a range hood are you talking about? Is it the large tapered kind that extend clear up to the ceiling? (wood or copper?) And the vent for this needs to be exactly centered over the range then, right? But the beam is right in the way?
And do you know for sure that the beam is actually load bearing and that it's not just for looks?
P987s
04-02-08, 06:42 PM
I know the MS Paint job is horrible, huh?
Yes, the beam is running perpendicular to the wall behind the range. It's not exposed, but inside the ceiling.
The range hood is the large tapered kind that runs all the way to the ceiling. It's stainless steel.
Yes, the beam is running perpendicular to the wall behind the range. It's not exposed, but inside the ceiling.
The range hood is the large tapered kind that runs all the way to the ceiling. It's stainless steel.
XSleeper
04-02-08, 06:49 PM
No, the illustration is good, my imagination is horrible.
So your floor joists must be parallel to the wall behind the range then, and must be sitting in hangers all along that beam. If that's the case, then can't the ceiling be opened up so that the ceiling vent can be moved (since it is surely between joists) as close as possible to the beam, and then maybe a custom duct could be made that would fit onto the hood? Perhaps the hood itself would need a bit of interior duct modification since the vent might be off-center?
So your floor joists must be parallel to the wall behind the range then, and must be sitting in hangers all along that beam. If that's the case, then can't the ceiling be opened up so that the ceiling vent can be moved (since it is surely between joists) as close as possible to the beam, and then maybe a custom duct could be made that would fit onto the hood? Perhaps the hood itself would need a bit of interior duct modification since the vent might be off-center?
P987s
04-03-08, 05:51 PM
Thank you for all the replies. I think we're going to try to go with what XSleeper suggested, provided we can pull it off.
We're going to move that vent as close as possible to the beam. Then we'll use one of those ugly pliable vents to make the angled connection.
We'll cover it up with stainless steel wrapping. What do you guys think? Hopefully it won't be too difficult to get a thin sheet of metal that matches the existing stainless steel hood.
We're going to move that vent as close as possible to the beam. Then we'll use one of those ugly pliable vents to make the angled connection.
We'll cover it up with stainless steel wrapping. What do you guys think? Hopefully it won't be too difficult to get a thin sheet of metal that matches the existing stainless steel hood.
XSleeper
04-04-08, 08:16 PM
I guess I was picturing moving the duct close enough so that it would fall inside the hood, just off-center. But I guess you never said exactly where the beam was in relation to the hood.
By relocating the vent in the ceiling until it is right next to the beam... you could then build a box duct (maybe 3" down from the ceiling) that would be larger than the hood but still symetrical with the hood... one hole would vent up into the ceiling, one hole would vent down into the hood. The edges of the duct that show could be wrapped with stainless steel to match. This way it's like a soffit, but doesn't look like one. Only drawback- the hood would be lowered by the thickness of the duct on top.)
By relocating the vent in the ceiling until it is right next to the beam... you could then build a box duct (maybe 3" down from the ceiling) that would be larger than the hood but still symetrical with the hood... one hole would vent up into the ceiling, one hole would vent down into the hood. The edges of the duct that show could be wrapped with stainless steel to match. This way it's like a soffit, but doesn't look like one. Only drawback- the hood would be lowered by the thickness of the duct on top.)