A duct path to the outside, not air recirculated back at you
A hood is only as good as its duct run and its mounting height. We handle the install, the ductwork through the cabinets, and the surround work — so the unit hangs level, vents to the outside, and clears the cooktop to spec.
- Hoods vented to the outside, not recirculated, wherever the duct path allows
- Mounting height set to the manufacturer spec above the cooktop
- Duct joints taped and the exterior cap fitted with a working damper
A range hood that recirculates instead of venting outside is just an expensive light fixture. Real ventilation needs a duct path to the exterior, a blower mounted where it can breathe, and the hood set at the height the manufacturer specifies above the burners. We install under-cabinet and wall-mount hoods, drop liners and inserts into custom wood surrounds, and cut the cabinets and run the duct so the whole system works as one piece — quiet, level, and pulling grease and steam where they belong.
The problems we actually solve
The duct has nowhere to go
An over-the-range microwave or a recirculating hood dumps cooking air right back into the kitchen. We open a path through the cabinet and out the wall or roof so the unit actually exhausts.
The insert doesn't fit the surround
A stainless liner that's a half-inch off won't sit flush in a wood hood, and the gap shows. We build or trim the surround so the insert lands square with an even reveal on all sides.
Hung at the wrong height
Set the hood too low and it's a hazard over a tall pot; too high and it stops catching the plume. We mount it inside the range the maker calls for above the cooking surface.
Range Hood & Vent Installation, done properly
Mount under-cabinet & wall hoods
Hoods anchored into studs or solid blocking, leveled across the cooktop, and set to the manufacturer's clearance above the burners — checked against the spec sheet, not the countertop.
Fit inserts & liners into surrounds
Stainless inserts and blower liners dropped into custom wood hood surrounds so the unit sits flush, the reveal stays even, and the controls land where you can reach them.
Cut cabinets for ductwork
Clean cutouts through the cabinet top, soffit, or upper box for the duct collar, sized to the round or rectangular transition and sealed so air doesn't leak into the cabinet.
Route & connect the duct
Rigid duct run on the straightest path to the exterior with smooth-radius elbows, joints taped, and the wall or roof cap fitted with a working damper to keep weather and pests out.
Mount blowers & wiring
Internal, in-line, or remote blowers set where they pull best, wired to the existing circuit, and switched so the unit runs at every speed without tripping or humming against the cabinet.
Build & modify the hood surround
When the wood surround is too tight, too shallow, or out of square for the chosen insert, we modify it — adding cleats, furring the opening, or rebuilding the face so the liner seats clean.
What we account for
-
Duct size, length, and turns
Every elbow and every foot of duct cuts airflow, and undersizing the duct chokes a strong blower. We match duct diameter to the unit's spec and keep the run short and straight so the rated CFM isn't wasted in the wall.
-
Make-up air on high-CFM hoods
Powerful hoods can pull more air than a tight house can replace, which backdrafts other appliances. On high-CFM units we flag where make-up air is a factor so the venting performs and stays safe.
-
What's behind the cabinet
A duct path can run into wiring, plumbing, a fire block, or a structural member hiding in the soffit. We check the route before cutting and adjust the path rather than damaging what's in the wall.
The duct path runs through the cabinetry
The hardest part of a hood job is rarely the hood — it's the route the duct has to take through the upper box, the soffit, and the chimney cover to reach an exterior wall or the roof, and the wood surround the insert has to seat into flush at the manufacturer's clearance. Those are carpentry problems and venting problems at once, and they have to be solved together: the cutout for the collar has to land where the duct can actually run, and the opening has to hold the liner square. We do the surround work, the cabinet cutting, and the ducting as one crew on one visit, so the air path and the woodwork are planned around each other instead of fighting.
See how cabinet modification worksFrom measurement to a clean, level fit
- 01
Assess & measure
We start with the appliance spec sheet and the opening it has to live in — width, depth, height, the face frame, utilities, and the cabinet around it. Most fit problems are decided here, before a single tool comes out.
- 02
Protect the kitchen
Floors, countertops, and finished cabinet faces get covered, padded, and taped off first. Blue tape on the edges, moving blankets and ram board on the floor, and a vacuum staged for dust control.
- 03
Install & fit the cabinet
We set the appliance — and when it does not drop in clean, we modify the cabinet to make it: resizing the opening, building a support platform, adding filler strips, or aligning panels and trim for an even reveal.
- 04
Level, test & clean
The appliance is leveled, secured, and anti-tip hardware set where it belongs. We test operation, check every reveal and gap, then vacuum and wipe down so the kitchen is ready to use.
What this work looks like in the field
Measuring, protection, and the cabinet detail that makes the fit clean — photographed on real jobs.
Brands we install and fit
- Wolf
- Best
- Zephyr
- Vent-A-Hood
- Thermador
- Miele
- Broan
What range hood & venting typically costs
A flat $89 service call covers coming out and assessing the job against your appliance spec. Project pricing starts from the figures shown and is confirmed on site — cabinet work has a lot of variables, so we quote it exactly once we see the space.
Range Hood & Venting: common questions
Can you vent a hood that's only set up to recirculate?
Often, yes. If there's a workable path to an exterior wall or the roof, we can convert a recirculating setup to true outside venting — cut the duct opening, run rigid duct, and fit a capped wall or roof termination. Whether it's practical depends on what's above and behind the cabinet, which we check first.
Will a stainless insert fit my existing wood hood surround?
Not always out of the box. Wood surrounds are rarely built to the exact liner dimensions, so we measure the insert against the opening and modify the surround — furring, cleats, or a reworked face — so the unit sits flush with an even reveal instead of a visible gap.
How high above the cooktop should the hood be mounted?
It depends on the hood and the heat output below it; manufacturers publish a clearance range for each model. We set the height to that spec so the hood catches the plume without crowding tall pots, rather than guessing off the countertop.
What is make-up air and do I need it?
Make-up air is replacement air for what a strong hood pulls out of the house. High-CFM units can exhaust faster than a tight home can resupply, which can backdraft a furnace or water heater. We flag when a unit's airflow makes make-up air a factor so the venting works without creating a problem elsewhere.
How do I know the duct can even reach the outside before I commit to a hood?
Call us and we'll trace the route first — what's above the cabinet, where the soffit runs, and whether the path lands at a wall or the roof. Knowing the duct can exit, the CFM the run will support, and how the insert fits the surround tells you which hood is worth buying before you order one that can't be vented.
Often part of the same job
Range & Cooktop Installation
We set slide-in ranges and drop-in cooktops to the cutout spec — and when the opening or counter is fighting the unit, we adjust the cabinetry on the same visit.
Learn more
Cabinet Modification
When an opening is a half-inch too tight or a face frame is in the way, we modify the cabinet so the appliance fits — square, level, and damage-free.
Learn moreRange Hood & Venting — what homeowners say
Had a tricky over-the-range microwave install — old bracket didn't match. The tech improvised with the right part and got it done. Very impressed with the problem solving.
Had three appliances installed in one visit — range, hood, and dishwasher. All done in about 2.5 hours. Efficient team, professional finish.
My range hood required custom ductwork to reach the exterior wall. They assessed it, gave me an honest quote, came back with materials, and did it right. Rare integrity.
Had my new Samsung washer and dryer installed same day I called. The tech showed up on time, was professional, and even leveled the machines perfectly. No leaks, no issues. Highly recommend for anyone in the South Bay.
Finally got my LG refrigerator installed after waiting on another company for 2 weeks. These guys came out the next morning. Hooked up the water line for the ice maker, cleaned up after themselves. 5 stars.
Installed my new dishwasher in under an hour. The old one had a weird fitting issue and they worked through it without charging extra. Honest and fast.
Get your appliance opening checked before delivery day
Send the appliance specs and a couple of photos of the space. We confirm the fit, flag any cabinet work, and give you a clear plan — no guesswork on install day.