KITCHEN // replacing vent hood for microwave

12/8/2017

How to install an over-the-range microwave.

I raised my kitchen cabinets for many reasons. One of those reasons was the microwave. In a small home, you have to utilize every inch of space. I couldn't waste precious counter space with a clunky microwave. I needed an over-the-range microwave. As you can see in this before picture...unless I wanted to rest my head on the microwave as I cooked, there was no way it would fit.

BEFORE: How to install an over-the-range microwave.

I did the math and realized that raising the cabinets would give me enough space to add an over-the-range microwave. It would leave just a little space between the bottom of the microwave and the top of the beautiful green groutless tile backsplash. Of course I had to change it out. Darn :)

Anyway, getting on with the actual installation instructions. I had never done such a thing, but luckily, I have a pretty great brother-in-law.

After ripping out the vent hood (it only had a handful of screws, and about 10 years of grease holding it up) we realized there was no actual outlet. So! The first step in installing the microwave was to install an outlet. This is where the brother-in-law came in handy. I'm sure I could've figured it out on my own, but he knew what to do pretty quickly. Something about matching some wires and snipping here and there...

We had some trouble determining how the plug would fit flush against the microwave. We ended up cutting a small sliver out of the lower part of the cabinet for the cords. The outlet and plug are in the empty space between the microwave and the cabinet. Does that make sense at all? Yes, we got creative.

Next: your microwave should come with a hanging wall plate and cardboard template for drilling holes. Make sure you find at least one stud and you level it out.

The next part is amazing. All you do is rest your microwave on top of that wall plate and put a couple of screws through the top cabinets. What?? yes, that's it. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good pictures of this step.