Wood Range Hoods

Wood range hoods, in contrast with those made primarily of stainless steel or space age plastic or glass, exactly match the other cabinetry, floor or furniture in your kitchen.

Most such range hoods have a central construction of stainless steel which fits in a wooden case that matches the other cabinets in the kitchen, while others just have a wooden panel on the front of a stainless steel or aluminum range hood that matches the rest of the kitchen.

A kitchen range hood is essential to exhaust greasy cooking smoke and odors from the stove. It's basically just a hood with a pipe leading outside the house through a wall or the roof. All such appliances contain a motorized fan which moves the air through to the outside. Depending on price, the fan can range from just having an on/off switch to the most complicated ones that sense the presence of smoke and turn on or off automatically. The size of the fan motor and the duct diameter required is determined by the expected amount of heat and smoke to be handled. A pro-style cooktop or range would require the highest 1500 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute of exhausting air flow) fan motor. There are also ductless kitchen exhaust fans which use a charcoal filter system to remove smoke and odor from the air. These have a filter in them that needs replacing every 6 to 9 months depending on amount of use. Many kitchen hoods also feature an aluminum mesh filter that should be washed in the dish washer at least monthly.

There are mainly two types of kitchen exhaust fans: wall mounted and island mounted. The island mounted hangs down from the ceiling from sturdy brackets mounted to the ceiling cross beams. There are designs using wood for both styles. The wall mounted range hood can be flush with the other kitchen cabinets or can be unattached to the cabinets on each side. Whether continuous with the existing cabinets or not, all exposed sides of the hood need to be finished to match either the kitchen or the style and finish of the nearby cabinets.

If your hood fan will vent through the wall, or will use a replaceable charcoal filter, it can be mounted to the bottom side of a cabinet above the stove. If it has a pipe rising to the ceiling to vent through the roof, you might be able to have the duct pass through a cabinet, but it's possible you will have an unsightly duct pipe to disguise by boxing it in with wood to match your cabinets. These are all details that you will discuss with your carpenter or cabinetmaker when planning your new wood range hood installation.

Wood range hoods can be made a focal point of the kitchen. Some are designed with a video screen attached to a computer or TV signal. Others have ornate wooden embellisment such as corbels, inlaid designs, finials and molding. Some incorporate a mantel or shelf which can display decorator pieces or collector plates. Your overall style choices in planning your kitchen decor will determine which wood range hood design you want installed.