Range Hood Mount Types: Island, Wall-Mounted, Under Cabinet, Insert & Downdraft
Which mount type of range hood is best for your kitchen? That depends on your kitchen layout and countertop shape.
If you’re adding a range hood in an existing kitchen, you might not have a choice for the mount type. Just go for the one that suits your layout.
If you’re planning a new kitchen and still don’t know your preferred layout, there are some factors to consider, so let’s take a look at each type’s characteristics.
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Island range hoods
This is the only option for ranges on island or peninsula countertops. In these layouts, the hood becomes a visual highlight and takes up more space.
Island range hoods are way more expensive and complicated to install.
Check if the ceiling can support the hood. It should be attached to the structural slab, not to a light false ceiling. When there is a false ceiling, a cutout is made to let the duct through.
If the ceiling is higher or sloped, you need to create a lower structure to support the hood, in addition to having an apparent duct.
Wall mounted range hoods
This type is ideal for ranges or cooktops on front of walls with no cabinets over.
Wall-mounted hoods are more discreet than island models.
They cannot be installed on regular drywall. You need a resistant material for this part of the wall, or an inner reinforcement making the wall solid.
Under cabinet range hoods
This type is also visible and wall-mounted, but its flat top makes the most of the space over it, so you can install a cabinet.
Insert range hoods
As they are embedded in cabinets, only the bottom is visible. Its’s a more discreet option.
But it takes up most of the cabinet interior, so the cabinet over the range or cooktop, has an aesthetic role rather than adding storage room.
However, you gain space in the rest of the cabinets, as they’ll all be installed slightly lower than the previous type would.
Downdraft range hoods
This versatile and discreet type of range hood can be placed next to walls or on island countertops.
Embedded in a cutout on the countertop, the hood raises into position when turned on, then hides when turned off, facing its top with the cooktop height.
Not as efficient as the other types, this is an alternative in case you can’t or don’t want to have the appliance over the range.
So, have you found out which is the best mount type of range hood for your kitchen? Island, wall-mounted, under cabinet, insert or downdraft?
Make sure you also figure out these other issues: