Built-in microwave with a trim kit
Built-in microwaves and trim-kit models need a specific opening and airflow around the unit. We frame the cabinet space and fasten the trim.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Microwave Installation in Highland Park, IL
Over-the-range, drawer and built-in microwaves installed in Highland Park: anchored into the wall, bolted to the cabinet and vented the right way.
- Serving Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Microwave installs we take on in Highland Park
Lifting a microwave onto a wall plate is a two-person job, but the real work is around it: finding solid framing, drilling the cabinet to the template, routing the cord to an outlet above and lining up the duct. Our Highland Park installers handle all of it and haul the old unit away.
Duct that doesn't line up with the new unit
The exhaust opening on a new microwave may sit inches away from the old hood duct. We fit a transition piece or adjust the opening so air moves without leaks.
Over-the-range microwave replacing a range hood
A hood is usually hardwired and has no outlet above it, while an over-the-range microwave plugs into a receptacle in the cabinet. We add the outlet, reuse or adapt the duct and hang the new unit.
Microwave that sags, wobbles or pulls away from the wall
Gaps behind a microwave or a door that drops when opened usually mean the original install missed the studs. We take it down and fasten it properly.
No outlet in the cabinet above
Running an extension cord through the cabinet isn't an option. We have a proper outlet installed above the microwave before we mount it.
Should it vent outside or recirculate?
If there's a duct through the wall or roof, we set the blower to exhaust outside, which clears steam and cooking smells better. With no duct, the unit recirculates through a charcoal filter.
Not enough height above the range
We measure from the burners to the cabinet bottom before you buy. Too little space means heat on the microwave and a hard reach over the pots.
Moving the microwave off the counter
Getting the microwave off the counter usually means an over-the-range unit or a drawer model in a base cabinet. We tell you what each needs before you pick.
Included with the install
- Pre-install checkWe compare the model's guide with your cabinet width, cooktop clearance, outlet location and duct.
- Outlet and circuitPower where the new unit needs it, with any new circuit wired by a licensed electrician.
- Studs located and wall plate mountedThe mounting plate is leveled and screwed into studs per the template.
- Cabinet drilled to the templateHoles for the top bolts, the power cord and a top vent cut through the cabinet bottom.
- Blower set and duct connectedThe fan is set for outside venting through the wall or roof, or for recirculation with a filter.
- Unit hung and boltedThe unit is hooked on the bracket, bolted from above and checked for level.
- Drawer and built-in cutoutsCutouts framed for drawer and trim-kit models so they sit flush.
What to pick before the install
Venting partsThe pieces that connect the microwave to the outside or set it up to recirculate.
Built-in and trim-kit microwavesUnits framed into cabinetry so they look part of the kitchen.
Microwave drawersDrawer units set in a base cabinet, reachable without lifting dishes overhead.
Convection and air-fry combosMicrowaves that also bake, crisp or air-fry, available in over-the-range and built-in styles.
Low-profile over-the-range modelsSlimmer microwaves for kitchens with limited space over the range.
What the work looks like in Highland Park homes
Before
Installed
DetailHighland Park kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: microwave installation
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Port Clinton. The kitchen as it was: white appliances. The main complaint was a weak hood and a microwave stuck on the counter. After: a new over-the-range microwave installed above the range and vented. On site this meant pre-install check, blower set and duct connected, plus unit hung and bolted.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: microwave installation
A 1990s two-story colonial in Northbrook, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: black appliances. The reason for the call: an over-the-range unit that sagged off its bracket. After: a new over-the-range microwave installed above the range and vented. Work included cabinet drilled to the template, unit hung and bolted, plus drawer and built-in cutouts.
Microwave Installation in Northbrook →
Before
AfterA Glenview 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story near The Park. Before: almond appliances. What bothered the owners most: a decades-old hood and a microwave crowding the counter. Finished kitchen: a new over-the-range microwave installed above the range and vented. Work included pre-install check, outlet and circuit, plus studs located and wall plate mounted.
Microwave Installation in Glenview →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1960s ranch, Highland Park
Finished: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterHighland Park kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen cabinet painting
Finished: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →Install day
- Send the model and photosShare the model number and photos of the range wall, the cabinet above and the old unit.
- Fit and power checkWe confirm clearance, cabinet size, outlet and vent path, and list anything that must change first.
- Written estimateA clear written price with electrical or cabinet changes listed separately.
- Install and testWe hang it, connect it, run it and take the old one away.
Microwave Installation questions from Highland Park homeowners
Is a microwave enough ventilation over a gas range?
For everyday cooking it often is, especially vented outside. For heavy searing or a high-output range, a hood moves more air.
How high should an over-the-range microwave be above the stove?
Each maker sets a minimum distance from the cooktop to the bottom of the microwave. We follow that number, which also depends on the cabinet height.
Can you install a microwave I bought at a big-box store or online?
Yes. We install microwaves from any retailer, whether or not they offered installation.
Do I need an electrician to install an over-the-range microwave?
Usually not for a straight swap. When a hood is being replaced or there's no receptacle overhead, electrical work is part of the job.
Will you take the old microwave or hood away?
Yes, along with all the packaging.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Microwave Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
Dishwasher InstallationOld unit out, new dishwasher connected, leveled and leak-tested.
Oven, Range & Cooktop InstallationGas and electric ranges, wall ovens and cooktops, safely connected.
Built-In Refrigerator InstallationBuilt-in and panel-ready fridges fitted flush, anchored and connected.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.