How to build a Range Hood

The kitchen renovation continues and this, my third project is all about the range hood. I needed to build and install a range hood that could take all those cooking fumes outside the house.

 

Well, you have to stick around because I'm very proud of the range hood that I built and I have all the details for you!

That recirculating fan that we had and that you can see in the picture below was simply gross. 🤢

If you haven't checked my previous posts about this kitchen renovation on a budget, go check these two posts👉

Kitchen Island Update 

How to build a refrigerator enclosure

Now, for this range hood, which was a high priority, I knew exactly what I DIDN'T want.

Yes, sometimes' easier to check off the things we don't like to find out what we really want. ;)

I was completely sure that I didn’t want a microwave there, above the stove. For me, the main cook in this household, a microwave up there is just too high.

I didn’t want a recirculating unit, I just hate don’t like them.  

What I DID want here in my kitchen was a custom-looking range hood. They usually have a big tag price and that's why I searched high and low on how to build it myself.

At the time I was renovating my kitchen, which happened to be circa 2010, there wasn't a single tutorial online. But guess what? I found a way on how to build it and install it myself, with my own two hands, and that's the range hood that we've used for more than 10 years already.

*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

So many years had passed for me wanting to tackle this project.  Every time I cooked, especially something “fishy”  and your whole house stinks 😝 Finally, the time arrived!

It was a pleasure for me to get rid of that old re-circulating hood. I think they should be banned. The cabinet on top of the range was also removed.

This is how the building and installing of the range hood went:

Price was important but also efficiency and look.  After reading many reviews, I kind of settled on two models of Range Hood Inserts (that’s what they are called when you are going to provide a cover for it): 

The Broan 103023 and The Broan PM390. 

In the end, these are the parts that I got:

• Hood insert: Broan PM390 
• Hood liner: Broan LB30
• Broan wall cap for 6" round duct
• 6" Round metal duct pipe
• 6" - 90 degree round adjustable elbow
• Foil tape

| Broan PM390 Hood Insert | Broan LB30 Hood Liner |

My lucky break for building this range hood came my way via The Family Handyman Magazine Feb/10 issue. There, one of its readers, Mr. Tom Pollard shared his very own project.

These two pictures and a brief explanation were all I needed to tackle this project!

I was and still am so grateful to him for posting his project!  At that time I couldn't find something better that I could relate to.  Thank you, again.

1. BUILD & INSTALL THE TRAY 

I began by building a tray or drawer out of 3/4" plywood and pine. Plywood was used for the big plate and pine for all the sides.

This tray is the lower part of the range hood. The part that you'll see when looking up from the stove. 

This is the part that would hold the exhaust system. You want it to be strong.

There in the center, and following the manufacturer's instructions, I drew the exhaust system location. Then, using a jigsaw, that rectangle was cut out.

These were the dimensions I used.

Then, the tray or drawer was installed.

Once again, I followed the manufacturer's instructions on how high or low I needed to install it.

Make sure to drill the long screws onto the studs on the wall and a set of shorter screws onto the cabinets on each side (front frame).

2. CUT & INSTALL THE SIDE PANELS

The sides panels (not shown), were cut and installed securing them to the side of the cabinets and to the back wall. 

I used 1/2" MDF for these panels.  They looked like a right-angle trapezoid with one side's length of 25-1/4", the other 19", the other 12. The fourth side is the diagonal.

Here is the sketch of what the final hood had to look like:

Sorry I didn't take pictures of these steps.

3. INSTALL THE RANGE HOOD INSERT

Install the hood, which is mainly sitting the unit there on the tray, secure it with the included screws. 

4. INSTALL THE HOOD LINER ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE TRAY.

5. RUN THE DUCTING

I couldn’t run the vent pipe to the outside through that back wall because on the other side of that wall is my dining room. 

The only way to run the duct pipe to the outside was by fitting it up to the top and connecting an elbow to go on top of the cabinets and then to the outside on the left.

For this model the required 6” round metal duct pipe and wall cap can be found at most home centers.

Broan wall cap

You need to open a hole on an outside wall to bring the vent pipe to the outside of the house. 

I was a bit scared doing that. But hey, find the spot where you want to open that hole, make sure there aren't studs or electrical work there. Then, there inside the house/kitchen drill a small hole in the center of that area, go all the way through.

Go outside and find that hole and draw the 6" circle around it. Make sure it's a clear spot out there.  

Cut out the 6" circle inside the kitchen (drywall), then go out and do the same on the outside (siding or brick).

The opening on the wall was made, the wall cap was installed, and the ductwork joints were sealed with foil tape until connected to the exhaust system.   My husband helped me a lot during this entire hood process.  He installed an electrical outlet right behind the enclosure because this system had to be grounded.  

6. CLOSE THE HOOD

After installing the hood system and checking that everything was in good working order, a "frame" made out of 1 x 2 pine material (it looked like a little ladder), was attached to the side panels, as you see in my inspiration picture below. 

That "ladder" is the one that's going to give support to the top cover.

I used a 1/2" MDF panel to close the hood structure.

The butt joints on the sides were sanded very well before priming and painting it. And there was a little gap at the bottom, that was hidden with wooden moldings that I installed later on.

The picture below gives you an idea of how it should look at the end of the day. 

You can check my next post to see the MOLDINGS that were installed not only here on the range hood, but on the cabinets as well.

This is how this range hood looked at the end of the entire renovation:

As I said before, we've been using this range hood for many years already. It has served us well.

I'm glad I went for it and came up with this pretty addition to our kitchen.

You can check my complete review about the Broan PM390 Range Hood Insert right HERE.

| Pendant Light | Chairs | Roman Shade | Drum Shade | Curtains - similar |

The range hood was finished! :) The next project:

After almost five years of living with this range hood, I gave it a little makeover.

You can read everything about this range hood update right HERE.


Stay tuned for the next project: How to close the space above the cabinets

For more DIY Kitchen ideas check these out:

how to paint the cabinets.

Install a marble backsplash.

Add moldings to your kitchen cabinets

Build a fridge enclosure.

Update the kitchen island

Tips about installing recessed lights

Final kitchen reveal

Kitchen cost breakdown

1½ Year Later How the kitchen is Holding up

Build-in Plate Rack

Pull Out Shelves in Pantry
LG Appliances Review and Complain

*This post contains affiliate links.

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