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Remodeling Kitchens

Required distance from counter to cabinet around stove.

5 years ago

I am putting in new LVT and need Multi-Ply as an underlayment. This underlayment is only 1/4 in. After leveling cabinets for new quartz countertop, the distance beside the stove will now be 17 5/8. The code requirement is 18in. Is this going to be a problem?

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Comments (5)

millworkman
5 years ago
"the distance beside the stove will now be 17 5/8. The code requirement is 18in. Is this going to be a problem?"

What do you mean by "beside the stove"? If code is 18" and the inspector measures, yeah it will be an issue.
M Miller
5 years ago
I am wondering if the OP might mean the distance between the top of the cooktop and the bottom of the hood or microwave-hood above it? If that is what s/he meant, it depends on what is above the cooktop - it cannot be cabinets or any combustible material. If a hood, the bottom of the hood should be 30-36” above the cooktop. If a microwave-hood, then look on its installation instructions. If none of those things is what the OP is talking about, then s/he needs to explain what “the distance beside the stove“ means.
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I'm going to take a complete guess here and say that the installer made a judgement call. What I mean is; chances are that your window, floor, ceiling and walls are not perfectly plumb, level etc. Again, I'm guessing but take a look at your window. Often, if the cabinetry is close to your window trim an installer may install something slightly out of plumb in order to keep the cabinet & window trim parallel with each other as your eye will see 1/8" more between cabinet & window trim than 1/8" between cabinet & countertop. I would look at everything in this set up. With the age of your house, there may need to be some give & take in certain areas. You need to decide what will be noticed or bug you more. You posted more in your other thread about many things being out. It's unfortunate that things have only come to light at such a late stage in your reno process. If your floors, walls & ceiling were out so much, there should have been some conversation between you & the contractor as to scope of the renovation well before starting this project. Or, at very least, at some point when it was noticed how out things were. To level ceilings & plumb walls is not simple or cheap. Levelling floors is a huge project by itself. 18" between cabinet & countertop is an industry standard & also a building code standard depending on your area.
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geriboozer
Original Author
5 years ago
For a traditional freestanding stove, there is required an 18" distance from stove to bottom of upper cabinet directly beside stove. We have gone slightly under that measurement and needed to know if it mattered.
User
5 years ago
Yes, it matters. It means the uppers were likely not installed correctly either. And they run the risk of scorching. How much of a risk depends on range choice and cabinet material. And how thorough your local codes inspector can be. And how much your insurance company wants to deny a claim, should there be a fire. And how much the buyer's home inspector wants to find things for his report at resale.
M Miller
5 years ago
Ranges have leveling feet that can be adjusted to lower the range by the 3/8” you mentioned. However, you cannot have the range burners be lower than the counters on either side. If by lowering the range by 3/8”, you bring the burners lower than the counters, that also can be an issue, depending on your setup. Perhaps some photos would help us better see what you are talking about.

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