Cabinet refabrication --$500 including platform.
Granite modification--$600
Venting modification--$1200 or more, depending on route
Actual vent itself $800+

This isn't an easy project. Just doing the changes you've thought about will be well over 1K, and then there's the vent issue. If you think you've melted knobs on the cooktop, wait until that rangetop melts the OTR MW! You'll have to replace that with a real vent, and actually vent it externally.

You'll get a lot more usability and firepower, and be able to get rid of the combustion nasties, but it wll be expensive. Only you can say if the return on investment will be worth it to you.

Why would the new rangetop melt my microwave? It has less power than my current cooktop. The cooktop does 18000 btu on back left burner.

I should mention that the wall behind the cooktop area is an outside wall... that is, the vent could go directly out through that wall.

I do want a vent because I appreciate the ability to vent smells and smoke outside. However, I'm not sure that a 15,000 BTU Wolf rangetop would melt the microwave any more than a cooktop would (or would not)

Thank you very much for the pricing estimates. That's helpful.

The installation info for the Wolf unit specifies a minimum of 30" from rangetop to "bottom of ventilation hood".

The Wolf rangetop might appear too crude and overpowering in this setting. Have you considered having better designed custom metal control knobs made to replace the present plastic ones? Or perhaps an induction cooktop?

Personally, I wouldn't go sealed or you might as well stay with what you've got. I don't think you'll have a problem with your mw melting but I don't see how you could fit a vent without removing the mw. You may also lose the cabinet over the mw due to vent ducts. Even if it's an exterior wall, you might have some difficulties venting straight out the back. Most vents have upward facing ducts and you'll probably not want the external opening to be had eye/head level.

That said, cutting granite isn't as hard as it use to be. The amount you have to cut is not much. The hard part is the finish of the cut. A good wet saw with a dimond blade will do a pretty good job. If you are handy, you could do it yourself but cutting granite or any other finished stone is risky and dirty. It *will* make a mess wet saw or no wet saw.

You'll need to see what the range top requires with regard to clearances on each side. You'll then need to build out a "platform" and enclose the sides (to protect the drawer on each side) probably. Front cabinet is another challenge depending on how deep the rangetop front goes. It can't be too close to the bottom cabinet door or that will need to be modified also. Your kitchen looks very nicely finished so if you are even a little uncertain, you should not consider doing it yourself.

One option is to hire someone to do the finish parts but do the platform yourself. Creating a wooden box using 3/4" ply is not hard. You will just need to make sure you know how to make it structurally sound to support the weight.

Good luck.

Putting in a 36" unit would also require changing out the upper cabinets and installing a 36" hood. Cutting the bottom cabinets and changing the drawers (narrowing) woould take a little work, but would be doable. That would be a lot to do to a kitchen that looks pretty good as it is.

I assume the current MW does not vent outside? Implementing that is not really a chore, but it might ruin the cabinet you have above in that the vent would have to go through it (maybe). I also have a sneaking suspicion that there is a stud directly behind that MW. But you've been living without it for a while? And this model Wolf is not that much more powerful (if any) than what you currently have, so are you happy with your current lack of ventilation?

Thanks for the further advice...

@laat2: good point about getting metal knobs... I assume there are probably metal knobs out there that might work. Aren't all burner knob slip-over attachments the same size/shape? The problem is that the knobs (even non-melty ones) just take up too much space that should be used for cooking area IMO. I don't think the wolf would be too much... it's a 30" model so it should look fine as long as everything is finished nicely.

@amcook: great advice. I actually really want open burners but Wolf doesn't make a 30" with open burners, and I haven't heard great things about Viking lately but they do make one I believe. If I did get a vent, yes, I would remove the MW and get a countertop model for elsewhere in the kitchen.

That's an interesting comment about melting the burner knobs on the 30" cooktop now in place. I wondered why Thermador made such a big deal about their cast metal knobs on our new 30" gas cooktop with all five knobs in a line along the front.

As mentioned, I would guess the knob on most cooktop are interchangeable...but for the rotational orientation due to the flat on the control knob shaft. Still, I would suggest a visit to an appliance store with one knob from your cooktop.

@weedmeister: The current microwave does not vent to the outside. I'm not happy. But I don't have much of a choice... it's new cabinetry and a new MW (new house) and I don't want to change it all, just yet. So far no problems with extreme smoke or smells.

I was considering getting that cooktop for my kitchen. Did the knobs melt because of a large pot on the front burner?

@riverspots: Basically, yes. Another thing to be aware of is that the hottest burner is on the back left side which makes it a bit hard to get at sometimes. Also, one of my knobs gets very hard to turn smoothly (some oil must have gotten inside) and "sticks" when it's warm.

Overall it's still a much better cooktop than what the builder put in, but I still want to upgrade to a rangetop that gets the knobs out of the way.

For now I have decided to just live with it based on the advice and info I got here. I'll wait until we are ready to really re-do our kitchen and then look at 36" open burner wolfies.

Have you considered replacing the cooktop w/ one that has knobs on the side? I have one w/ side knobs(Dacor) in my current kitchen and while the btu's are a bit lower than 18000 its been a fine cooktop for most of what I need and I've enjoyed using it for 15 years without a single problem. I don't cook w/ a wok so don't find need of ultra-high btus.

I don't like the knobs on the side, either... just isn't enough space for the pots I like to use and knobs on a 30" surface. Oh well, live and learn. I will wait for a remodel one day and design around a 36" wolf rangetop.

Why not just look for a cooktop with the knobs arranged in a row along the front of the cooktop, which IMO is a much better arrangement. I have a Gaggenau KG-291 with that arrangement, and I never have a problem with the knobs being in the way. Unfortunately, it's a 36" cooktop, which doesn't help you.

That being said, Thermador makes a 30" gas cooktop with a nearly identical arrangement. It's also a 5-burner cooktop. You might want to check it out. See the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thermador 30-inch cooktop

We replaced a 30" Jenn Air slide in range with a 36" Dacor rangetop. This meant that we had to have the granite cut. We had to purchase a base cabinet for beneath the rangetop. We also removed a 15" cabinet that was to the right of the range and made up the difference by installing a 9" pull out spice rack beside the new 36" base cabinet. The installation is in an island, so we didn't have to deal with upper cabinets. All in all, we are thrilled with the result. It wasn't cheap. Total installation cost was about $3000, which also included installation of a telescoping downdraft ventilation and reconfiguration of another cabinet to accomodate a new double wall oven.

Mari, that looks very nice. i want to do the same and replace a 30" cooktop with a Zline 30" Rangetop . The Zline looks nice and is reasonably priced at about $900. Was there a mess from cutting the granite in place ?

Mari, I have the same layout as yours and want to replace my 30” cooktop with a 30” rangetop. Did you have one contractor do everything (granite work, cabinet work, and installation)? If you’re in the Atlanta area, please share their contact info!

I completed my update. I removed the old cooktop and used Surefacelink.com to cut my granite in place. They did a great job and very little mess. I think they are Nationwide. Then i cut down the cabinet and installed the Rangetop myself. Now i am ready to install the Tile Backsplash.