Sorry but you seem to have a big problem here. The decorative flue that encloses the vent pipe is the least of your worries. Any sheetmetal shop can fab up more of that. However, the real issue is the support frame that goes inside the decorative flue that attaches the hood to the ceiling. This is not going to extend to fit a 15 foot ceiling and is intended to mount to a flat ceiling not a pitched cathedral ceiling. The sheetmetal shop may be able to build you a longer extension piece to replace the one that you have that is the lower half of the support frame, but you will still have to have a "roof jack" built to the underside of ceiling to mount the top of the support frame to. Or you can have the sheetmetal shop build an entire replacment for the Broan support frame to fit your exact dimensions, including mounting to a sloped ceiling. Either way, I would worry about the rigidity of the finished job. You are going to have a lot of hood dangling from a long, rather skinny mounting frame. I think you need to see if you can have the replacement frame build from welded heavy duty corner stock or something rather than using more of the bent sheetmetal Broan supplies. May need a welding shop, not a sheetmetal shop for the support frame.

That seems right. . . with a 15 foot ceiling you're going to have a large chimney, and then where is it going to go? Through the roof? Out the end? I think you need to look seriously at a downdraft system--they're not as good, but better than a whole bunch of reconstruction of your cathedral ceiling.

Hope you have a flat mid section of the ceiling like my family room ceiling. Then you'd have something flat to work with for hanging.

We had something like your situation in our last house -- 14 foot ceiling and an island downdraft we wanted to replace. The folks we talked to about an overhead vent said it was going to get really expensive quickly. We never got there and moved the cooktop to a wall in this kitchen. I wish I could tell you more.

Also, have you called Broan? You may be able to special order a longer chimney. You might also be able to make the chimney cover out of a different material and then hang the hood on it -- especially if you have any columns already in your architecture.

Hi all,
Thanks so much for your input. We may be able to use a flat part of the ceiling over the stove to not deal with a slope. I am not certain from the plans exactly where the ceiling is sloped and where it isn't. There will be a peak with pairs of skylights running on each side of it, but we may be able to have it flat in the area over the stove.

I am starting to think this wonderful deal may end up being passed on to someone else on Craigsist or eBay if using it gets too complicated and expensive. Does anyone have any sort of guesstimate for the work needed to use it? We bought it for $1k and it is an over $2k vent, so we should have no problem on resale. I just was thinking that the down draft may be a p.i.t.a. for installation as well and is not as efficient nor as designed for using with a gas stove.
Would it be absolute heresy and/or against code not to put in a vent? We will have tall ceilings with approx 6 skylights in the kitchen alone and a wall of opening windows and french doors on one end. Ventilation is not going to be a big problem for us. Of course, in the winter (NY) it gets cold, so we'd rather not air out too much either. I can't imagine our cooking will kill the ceiling as it is so far up and we have no upper cabs to worry about. I bbq almost all year round outside (unless when the snow is more than an inch on the ground).
Our stove is a 1940 Chambers gas stove with 3 burners, a griddle and a well for slow cooking. I don't think it is anywhere as powerful as a pro style range. I do not deep fry, ever, if that makes a difference. I also do not do high heat stir frys. I am more of a sautee-er (if that is a word, lol).
What do you think? Can I skip the vent or will it not pass inspection?
Thanks in advance for any further help you can provide.

Do you have space under your kitchen floor to run ducting for a downdraft? Electrolux has a 1600 cfm external blower downdraft. The blower has an "infinite" dial; that means you have more than the "high" and "low" options you typically find. I've seen it in action in a friends place and it does a rather good job. It's not quiet as efficient as a hood, but it definitely works, and it disappears when not in use. He got his for about $1400 from a local dealer and has it installed on an island.

Venting code requirements appear to vary by location. Make some calls! Maybe you'll get lucky.

I don't see how you could attach a downdraft to that stove. It's not like you have an island trim package on it. Are you sure you like your layout? :) Why would you put a stove like that on an island where it can (presumably) only be seen from the kitchen? That's what you're supposed to do with ugly appliances, like Wolfs!

Dunno...good luck!

Hi guys,
I have no other place to put the stove in the layout. The plans have already been submitted, even if there were other options. I think the GC, architect and my dh will not be thrilled that I am opening a "new" can of worms, yet it does not seem like anyone else is stressing over the vent situation. I think it may be because they are men who don't cook (many men do, just not these 3, lol).
It will be in part of the kitchen that hasn't been built yet. I can vent down or up as needed. I already own a downdraft vent from when we thought we were getting induction. Now that we are determined to use gas (or propane) and have figured how to make that happen, I am thinking the downdraft is not as good an idea as I once thought. I am under the impression that it is not good to pull the gas flame sideways....
Our stove is lovely to look at and will be well visible due to the open layout of our plan. In fact, it may be visible through an arched set of glass cabs when someone first arrives and steps into the living room. I can't tell what view they will have through the arch from using the architect's plans (who are we kidding? They are my plans that he put into action, lol). Luckily, each side of our kitchen has something that is cool or pretty to look at, so we have no shortage of focal points. We also will have the entire back wall of the living space in glass, between the windows and french doors, that all open into our screened in porch.
The only thing I can't seem to get a handle on at this point is the darn vent issue. I now own 2 vents and it seems like neither is a great option. I may have to go to the GC and ask if we can do away with a planned vent at all. I just wish it were near a wall where I could put an old fashioned square wall vent to the outside. Those were simple and have an authentic look I'd love. It is smack dab in the middle of the space, so there is no way out for air other than up or down.
I'd love to know how high others' ceilings are with island hoods, how much the installation cost and how involved it was.
I'll also consider any other ideas, no matter how wild, to make sure I have not missed something!
Thanks again!

Alright...as long as it can be seen.

How the heck could you install a downdraft? If it can be done, it's much better than no vent. You know you'll want it when you burn something! Would it go into a cabinet next to the stove? I've just never seen one installed with a REAL stove. Your stove does have a back panel thing, right? So you can't put it behind.

Hi Fori,
I'd have to put it on the side. It would cost me some cab space as well as counter space.
If I burn something, I can open a window or skylights. We also have a whole house fan that gets air out quickly. The current vent is anemic and full of the p.o.'s old grease. It creeps me out, so I only use the light. I was supposed to have my new kitchen in the Spring, so never got to taking the vent apart and cleaning it. I figured it would be gone pretty soon after we moved in and there was so much else to scrub and paint in the whole house. Sigh.....

I am hoping our contractor says we can go without venting. I don't see any on the plans submitted by the architect. I seem to be the only one concerned about it. Maybe because the ceilings are so high and it is in the island, the GC & architect don't think it is necessary? I sure would love to resell them both and not have to buy another. I can't imagine what other kind there'd be that could work.
It would simplify cost as well as installation to not use a vent fan. BTW - we also will have our kitchen fan over the table next to the back windows, so that could also work to air out quickly if need be. The plan is to maximize fresh air as much as possible in our design.

I know everyone on the GW forum must be horrified, but I have to admit, I rarely used a vent at all, even when cooking with garlic or fish and even in my last house with a perfectly fine vent hood. I did not have grease build up there because I just kept it all cleaned up on a regular basis. The p.o. here obviously didn't.
The only time something seems to burn is if something gets forgotten in the toaster and someone makes something new without realizing something previous is stuck. I don't broil indoors and don't walk away from stuff that could burn on the stove.
I don't think it would even be an issue for resale as most people are oblivious to vents unless they are GWers. My non-GW friends don't see why it is such a big deal and is stressing me out.

If you can do it and pass inspection, I'd skip it too. Just don't TELL ANYONE HERE! :)

Oh.. Fori, I think you are right. I think passing GW inspection without a vent may be harder than passing the town inspection, lol.
The thought of recouping the money spent on them almost makes me giddy. I had also been dreading shelling out for acessories to make the chimney one fit our height. I love anything that will simplify the work to be done because that is one less big thing that could go wrong or take time.

I am extra stressed lately because I am so worried about what all the work will cost. We were given a "ballpark" of what it will all cost (prior to details being chosen) and I expect it to be another 25% more, but if it goes past that, we may have to put some stuff on a credit offer for a few months until we could pay it off. I bargain shop fanatically and have been very frugal with choices while maintaining our wishes and getting good quality. I have been squirreling away all the many credit card offers that come in the mail for 0% checks, low interest balance transfers, etc, just in case. I really want to make it work with the cash on hand though. Just choosing which option to go with is another item to research with all the fine print about fees and whatnot.
We have been in car he** all summer and have been wasting precious energy battling the Ford and Honda dealers (3 total) who have been trying to blatantly rip us off. My stress level is on high alert and it is the wrong time of the month for them to try to mess with me any further. I have actually found myself raising my voice in public yesterday at 2 dealers' and making a semi-scene at each.
Of course, that is a wonderful state to be heading into a large remodel, lol. Hopefully, the car stuff will be resolved soon. One dealer has refunded most of our money because of their mess ups and the other 2 have made token offers (not half good enough, but it is a start). By the end of the week, I hope to have it all sorted out and will have moved on to selling the Ford once I get the Honda back from the place who is now going to fix it. We have owned 3 vehicles for over a month and have been lucky when 2 were on the road at the same time. Luckily it is summer and dh is on vacation because we could never share cars once school starts again. I guess battling with service depts is good practice for dealing with screw-ups on the remodel. I am confident our GC is awesome, but who knows about the subs and materials? No one gets through even a small remodel without bumps. I have to recover from the recent b.s. to be ready for the remodel b.s., lol.

Ok... enough whining. Time for some sleep before the kiddies are at the side of my bed ;) If anyone is still reading this, thanks for letting me vent (or not... sorry, couldn't resist the lame pun)!

Hehe. Relax! And if you're lucky, not only will you not have to vent, you won't be able to!

I think the downdrafts are better than they used to be....I'd check in to that option. I hope it works out for you!

Can your contractor put a wedge shaped piece of wood on the lower side of the ceiling to attach the chimmnet to? Then paint it to match ceiling.

Hi all,
Still waiting for word back from the GC about whether to scrap the whole subject or how to work out one of the vents we already bought.
I "confessed" to dh about the current concerns and he got very smug about it. I love how I have to make the decisions and he gets to second guess... not.
I am sure I can sell off the vents I got without taking a loss (or not a big one) because I am a great shopper and got them for good prices. Someone (or 2) will be very happy about my mistakes.
Dh should be happy in the end because that is one item we can take off the budget. I am the one more concerned with the bottom line, but anyone would be happy to save over $1k!

eandhl - what do you mean by a wedge shaped piece of wood? Our ceiling will be approx 5 feet taller than they recommend for their hood. Would that drop down by that much or am I not understanding your suggestion (probably the latter, lol)?
Thanks in advance...

I understood the extra height but without doubt you can have a 5 ft SS chimney made, possibly less expensive than going with the tallest the hood company offers. (I did not realize the vent company was saying the motor wouldn't be able to handle the extra footage. I thought more of the problem was once up to the height of the ceiling you would be dealing with an uneven surface on the slant. I mentioned this with our ceilings to someone that restores old lighting and the one I liked the most had a long post not a chain he said a wedge of wood could be put on the ceiling making a level surface for attachment.

Hi Diana,

I confess that I've got no practical advice to give you because I have never had a vented kitchen and never felt I needed one. Nor do most of my friends who live here in NY. (I'm almost wondering if place of residence is a factor here; very few New Yorkers I know seem to think that vents are essential and question why I'm now so concerned about getting one for my kitchen remodel.)

Now that we understand I know nothing about the subject, I'm also wondering if the very issue that is giving you trouble with your range hood is exactly what works in your favor not to have one: wouldn't a very large kitchen with a cathedral ceiling be one less likely to have a smoke, odor and grease condition under normal cooking conditions? Especially when you add in that you will not be using a modern, pro-style range, I'm just wondering if the vent thing might not be so necessary in your case.

Whichever and whatever -- try not to be so hard on yourself! From all I can tell, you consistently work super hard to do the "right" thing. Heck, if anything, it sounds more to me like you are primed for a well-deserved break. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Hi again all,
Eandhl - I still don't know if it will be sloped directly above the stove, but it might be. I have the blueprints, but it is hard to match up the ceiling elevation one with the layout one. I wish I could see it all in 3D.
Martha - what part of NY are you in? I am on LI. Most people here keep the venting simple (under cab type). I figure that there is nothing above my stove to get grease and cooking debris on as the ceiling will be too high to really be affected (or seen in detail by people below).

I had to deal with the town planning dept today because they sent a letter referring to lack of natural light and venting in my kitchen. I assumed they meant a cooking vent. They actually were referring to our window/skylight situation, which, to me, is a joke. Their problem is that the entire back wall which will be almost all windows and french doors, is opening onto a screened in porch, which they consider "living space" and it does not count as a natural light or venting source. They added up the square footage of the open kitchen/den/dining room and decided that I needed more glass for light and air circulation (again, not counting all the opening windows and doors on the back wall). He spent time going over the plans over the phone with me and finally, when I asked how much bigger the skylights would need to be to make them happy, the answer was I needed just over 1 square foot more glass space. We are putting in 8 skylights over the kitchen alone, so adding 1 square foot worked out to less than 1 inch more per skylight. Luckily, I can easily add to the size as they are not huge in our plans. So ridiculous.....

On the bright side, it seems like we are close to getting final approval once the architect fixes a few items. Our first meeting with the architect was our second day here, back at the end of Sept.. I never imagined we'd still be waiting on approval! The job will seem like a blur compared to the planning stages.
I will ask the architect about the cooking venting and see if it is not an oversight that will bite me in the butt later on. If he says we can skip it, we certainly will! Yay!