I just went through this exactly. you have to be careful which brand you buy. Some have a cord in back that requires a fille strip but others slide in flush to the back wall. ingot a GE profile Induction slide in and that was okay. my appliance guy said that KitchenAid is also okay to slide right back, but he said Samsung and Bosch need the filler strip. I am in Canada so it might be different. I highly suggest you pick the range first before you template the counters. here is how mine turned out. nice and flush with no filler

That's exactly, what I want. Thank you!

Isn’t function a tad more important over a tiny strip of stone?

The LG LSE4616ST induction range is well-rated by Consumer Reports, has front knobs, and is moderately-priced. The range includes an optional filler strip that is used if the counter "does not bridge the opening at the rear wall." The countertop depth should be between 24" and 25" inches as described in the installation manual.

I have a slide in Bosch Benchmark dual fuel Range. There is no strip of counter at the back. There are also no gaps at the sides - it slides in over the counter. https://www.bosch-home.com/us/products/cooking-baking/ranges

So with these ranges with front knobs and no strip at the back, what's the general thinking of having the open heat source that close to the wall tiles? We're looking at that sort of range (dual-fuel), and my gut feel is that the potential of having "flame" that close to the wall might be detrimental to the tiles.

Check your horizontal clearances to combustibles required by the manufacturer. Very often, a complete non combustible wall assembly IS required if you choose no “optional” backguard. Just covering up a combustible wall with a non combustible isn't sufficient. That’s like the steak in the frying pan being “protected” by the fireproof cast iron.

I have an older model of the GE Profile slide in but the backing is the same. We tiled down a ways behind it and there is no large amount of heat coming out of that vent and it blows slightly forward. But these days the way appliances seem to die prematurely, I wouldn't count on having that arrangement forever. We kept a 3 or 4 inch wide strip of granite and just stored it away in case we ever need it for a different model of range. A fabricator could come out and cut it to fit and join it to both sides of the counter top.

I highly recommend having your range already before templating and would expect the templaters to insist on it as well.

The templaters need the range specifications, not the range on site. They will make the front and rear of the tops parallel to the cabinets/wall and the sides of the tops square to the rear wall and parallel to each other, no matter what the cabinets are doing.

In response to Brad Smith’s comment - the Bosch dual fuel has the small burners at the back of the stove. The installation instructions didn’t require any special backguard.

We went and looked at the few slide in electric ranges that a local store had and they would all need the strip of counter behind them to make them come out far enough. I'll keep looking - it sounds like we have to decide on a definitely model before this gets done.

Get a Slide-in Range Filler
Used when the existing countertop depth is greater than the new slide-in range.

I'm also finding that quite a few of the "slide in" ranges don't have the lip that goes over the counter on each side. Does anybody have one of these, and if so, did you buy the separate piece that fills in the gap?

that is what I have and is pictured above. it slides right in. doesn't go over the counters.

Kristamh, I can't see any picture?

My friend was buying a new slide in induction range recently. so I was looking with her. I notice Samsung still made one where the glass top sat over the counters on either side. My GE from a few years back does but I notice the new one doesn't anymore. Maybe people were having trouble leveling them so they sat just on top and not above. don't know why they would change that as it prevents food from getting down between range and cabinet and appears so seamless.

silken1, I saw that Samsung still does that but the reviews scare me. I do like that look better though.

Chessie, how did you feel the range looked with the silicone strips on the sides?

I think it depends on your range. My old GE sat flushed but it barely had any heat. For my Blue Star, I had the drywall behind the range replaced with fireproof material and there’s a gap required. All this is necessary because of the sheer amount of heat put out by the burners.

cherylbirth - I didn't love it, but only because they were pretty wide. If I were to have kept the old counters, I probably would have tried to trim the strips. This was right after I bought the range. Still have the laminate behind it so it was sticking out a bit.

I have the GE Cafe, and it has no gap at the back. I love having the controls at the front - to my eye it's a cleaner look, and I hate reaching across a hot stove to reach rear controls (I cook with gas and would always grab my cuffs to make sure I didn't ignite myself!).

My Cafe also lacks side flanges to cover the adjacent counters. I prefer that to my previous slide-in that did have flanges, but now I'm thinking about getting some low-profile stainless steel edging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HM1XGC1/?coliid=I5VWSG97XGHJJ&colid=2ENCOBV9FELLW&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

@cherylbirth, I was just looking not checking reviews for a friend trying to fit one into an island. She needed a low back on it. But I know 2 people who have had Samsungs and were not unhappy with them. Different, newer models change tho.for better or worse.

silken1, I'm too afraid to go with Samsung. It's looking like I will wind up going with a model that doesn't have the flanges on the sides, even though that seems like a better solution to stuff falling into the gap.

salex, I saw those strips and think that will probably wind up being my solution.

chessie, I really like the look of that range.

cherylbirth - thanks - I love the range. My old range was a drop-in and it had the controls at the front with no back. I think after you get used to that look, the other style just looks too clunky or something.

I kinda fell in love with the inside too, LOL.

By the way that edging in the post above looks pretty nice. I would have no need of it now since the range sides have absolutely no gaps.

Before I got my GE Cafe, I had the gas version of the LG that Chessie has. The only reason I upgraded was to get the double oven of the Cafe and the two middle burners (which in my experience have inferior igniters compared to the LG gas burners). And it is a very attractive range, as much as a SS range can be attractive!

I’ve only skimmed the comments, but I was just about to say the same thing as Chessie—that the range you’re describing where the sides of cooktop sit on top of the countertops next to them used to be known as drop-in style, but nowadays some slide-ins—like the dual-fuel Bosch mentioned above—also have cooktops that sit on top of the countertops, so the verbiage is a bit muddled these days...or maybe it’s my brain that’s muddled. :)

Edited to add that as far as cleanability (Apple is telling me that’s not a word because it’s underlined in red dots & is suggesting it be changed to “clean ability,” but, whatever) goes, a conventional slide-in (i.e., the sides are unfinished, controls are in the front and the cooktop sides do not sit on top of the countertop) or freestanding range is about the same or maybe even better in that department: With a slide-in or freestanding, crud goes into the crevice and you do your best to keep it kinda clean until you slide it out during your annual or semi-annual deep cleaning. With a drop-in, crud goes underneath the overlying cooktop sides and then gets pushed into that crevice while you’re doing your best to keep it kinda clean until—wait!: You can’t slide it out; it’s on a freaking platform—well, mine is, anyway. :/

P.S. If anyone was able to pick up what I was laying down in the preceding gobbledygook, I’m impressed.