Seperate Cooktop vs. Complete Range Unit
FishnFool
| Posted in General Discussion on
We are in the design phase of our kitchen remodel (full upgrade) In an effort to reduce costs on cabinetry, we are considering deleting one base unit that would hold the cooktop with wall oven unit below and just purchasing a dual fuel range unit to slide into its place. The only problem would be that the dual fuel range would end up costing more than the seperate components in order to satisfy my wife’s desire for Dacor oven. I was hoping to put in a Wolf cooktop. Does anyone have ideas or advantages of complete range vs cooktop/oven mounted in a cabinet?
Thanks
Replies
Timely post as also considering same - using single unit having both stove top & oven versus separate cooktop and oven/s. Kitchen designer wanted to include 2 stacked ovens with stove top unit on island. Unless a person is tall, the top oven is hard-to-reach in & remove dish safely; the bottom oven seems to be too low; though this may be a bit higher than single unit. Using a single (1) oven leaves a lot of empty space between top shelf & bottom drawer (9.5 inches each both ways) which seems to be a waste of cabinet space.
My intuition tells me all boils down to how much will I use these appliances? I am definitely not a baker & do not need 2 ovens. Yet, doing so, might this eventually detract from resale value as many new constructions do include built-in oven/s? Built-in looks more professional, yet I will not be utilizing a 2nd oven except at Xmas so is it really worth the cost? And then the dilemma that if I do not fill the wall with an oven; then there is the additional expense of cabinetry!
Dacor's duel fuel is not an option so must be electric & will most likely go with GE or KitchenAid. Pricing of appliances versus cabinetry is difficult as each time I visit appliance stores, the prices seem to be rising; no doubt, cabinetry will also rise & have not yet broken ground. Another dilemma! Will be following this thread to learn more.
Dual fuel ranges are quite expensive. It may well be cheaper to go with separate units.
I prefer separate units for convenience. I like a wall oven, even if it is a single oven, because the height is easier to use, not just loading and unloading, but checking on the progress, too.
Another disadvantage of a single unit is that you occasionally (ok, not that often) have to pull it out and clean underneath. Separate units are a little easier to keep clean.
I can't see spending much on an oven. They are all pretty accurate these days. Other than self-cleaning, and perhaps convection, there isn't much to them. A concealed lower element is nice.
You do get better control with an electric oven, and for a cooktop I'd never install anything but gas.
I'm doing both--a 36" range (DCS) and a 30" wall oven (Fridgidaire). The range is all gas, and the oven is electric.
I like ranges--both for looks and practicality. I appreciate the ability to easily go from the stovetop to the oven with the range, for one thing, such as when browning then braising.
However, I still want the additional oven and the ability to do timed baking/roasting etc. with the electric wall oven--I don't think electric ovens are that superior to gas, you can just get more convenient features with them. I also like the ability to mount the wall oven higher, since I'm tall.
I was able to justify the additional oven by downsizing my range from the 48" I originally wanted. I can get the 36" AND the wall oven for slightly less money, and don't think we'll use the built-in grill or a griddle you get with the 48" enough to justify one.
Does your wife absolutely have to have an electric oven? Dual fuel is expensive when compared to all gas. Many chefs cook with all gas and have no complaints.
Leigh
Aberwacky,
My wife doesn't have to have the electric oven, though the Dacor is the one thing that I think she looks foward to about the whole project. She has been somewhat intimdated by the whole process. I am just trying to trim the budget. The dual fuel Dacor lists for about $4200 while the seperate (undercounter) oven and even Wolf cooktop come in almost $1000 cheaper. The advantage the range would have is less cabinetry and countertop material. But then there is something to be said for one continuous surface from the clean up area to the cooking center. It would be great to have a wall mounted oven also, but our kitchen is relatively small by todays standards. It will be better to add the wall mounted in the next phase remodel when we expand the kitchen with more area for seating and an island.Thanks
Having cooked on both ranges and cooktops, I haven't found ranges offer a significant disadvantage cleaning-wise. Even with a cooktop, you will still have a transition from the counter to the cooktop to collect grime.
Don't forget that if you're looking at a stone countertop, (wasn't it you asking about stone on Ikea cabs?) you'll have less stone with the range, which will save significant amounts of money. Remember, with the cooktop, you'll pay for the sq. ft. of the stone in that area PLUS the charge to make the cutout for the cooktop.
On the other hand, if you're using Ikea cabinets, then a 36" cooktop cabinet is not that much.
If your wife is really looking forward to the range, don't forget the happiness factor. There is, after all, something to be said about the long-term satisfaction of getting what you really want. And, over the life of the kitchen, the per-year cost of the range may not be that much more than if you were to break it up into the cooktop and wall-oven.
When you think about it, after the sink, the range or cooktop is the most used tool in the kitchen. It should be a tool that works well for you, and it's even better if it gives you joy when you use it.
Leigh
Thanks for the feedback,
Today I think my wife and I saw a less expensive range that will fit both our desires and our budget. The Jenn-Air dual fuel, double oven range. It has the smaller oven above the main oven for heating smaller items or cooking two differnt items at differnt temps at the same time! And it has five burners with the largest one putting out 16K Btu's. We both love it and it is about half of what we were going to spend on the Dacor/Windcrest seperates. Plus it eliminates the countertop as well as the base cabinet. Cool.
Edited 3/26/2005 4:38 am ET by Jay
Jay, glad you found the duel-fuel range. I've installed several Dacor ovens under gas cooktops, and every one has been a pain in the butt. Very tight tolerances, like less than 1/32" or things won't fit right. Plus the countertop (if stone) is very fragile at the front edge, and the oven is quite a bit lower than conventional. Range units are the way to go, IMO, unless you want the raised wall oven.
Mike
I posted a similar question over a year ago in the cooks talk forum. There was a lively discussion. Most of the pros over there convinced me to go with separate units. Now with my new kitchen I am glad I did. One of the deciding factors is that if the oven is on and you are using the cooktop with a single unit then it can get pretty warm . The base cabinet under the cooktop is very nice for conveniant storage of pots and pans. We went with a single oven with a convection microwave over it to become a double oven in a pinch. This is just a small kitchen but it works very well for our house. Having ####continuous toekick under the cooktop is a cleaner look too and you don't get dust building up under the stove. It was a more expensive option but if you are going with Dacor and Wolf then I can tell you are not against splurging when needed. Be careful when you order your cabinets. Often a 36" cooktop requires at least a 39" base cabinet.