Microwave that sags, wobbles or pulls away from the wall
A loose over-the-range unit is a hazard over a hot range. We check the top bolts and the plate, then rehang it with screws into solid wood.
Serving Oak Brook & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Microwave Installation in Oak Brook, IL
Over-the-range, drawer and built-in microwaves installed in Oak Brook: anchored into the wall, bolted to the cabinet and vented the right way.
- Serving Oak Brook ZIP 60523
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Microwave installs we take on in Oak Brook
An over-the-range microwave is heavy, hangs in front of a hot cooktop and doubles as the exhaust fan, so how it's hung matters. In Oak Brook we fasten the wall plate into studs, bolt the top through the cabinet, set the blower for your vent path and check the outlet before the unit goes up.
Cabinet above that's the wrong width or depth
Some cabinets over the range are too deep or have a recessed bottom. We shim or modify them so the top bolts pull the unit snug and level.
No outlet in the cabinet above
Over-the-range models plug into a receptacle inside the cabinet overhead. If yours has none, a licensed electrician adds one, often on its own circuit as the maker asks.
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.
Microwave drawer in an island or base cabinet
Putting a microwave drawer in the island keeps it within reach for kids and away from the cooktop. We build the cutout to the maker's spec and run power to it.
Moving the microwave off the counter
Many owners want the counter clear. We look at the range wall, the base cabinets and the wall cabinets to see where a mounted microwave fits best.
Old microwave swap where the holes don't line up
A new unit almost never matches the old bracket. We take down the old plate, install the new one from its own template and fill the old screw holes.
Microwave above a pro-style or high-output range
Over a large pro range, a real hood usually does the job better than a microwave. If the specs allow a microwave, we install it with the required clearance.
What the install includes
- Pre-install checkWe compare the model's guide with your cabinet width, cooktop clearance, outlet location and duct.
- Old unit or hood removedThe old microwave or range hood is taken down, its wiring made safe and the bracket removed.
- Studs located and wall plate mountedWe find the framing and fasten the bracket to solid wood.
- Cabinet drilled to the templateHoles for the top bolts, the power cord and a top vent cut through the cabinet bottom.
- Unit hung and boltedTwo installers lift the microwave onto the plate and draw it tight to the cabinet with the top bolts.
- Drawer and built-in cutoutsBase or wall cabinet openings sized to the maker's spec, with support and trim kits fitted.
- Testing and haul-awayWe run the microwave, the fan at each speed and the light, then take the old unit and packaging away.
Options to choose from
Venting partsDamper, duct transitions, charcoal filters and wall or roof caps.
Microwave drawersUnder-counter microwaves that open like a drawer, often in an island.
Over-the-range microwavesThe most common type: a microwave and a vent fan in one unit over the cooktop.
Built-in and trim-kit microwavesUnits framed into cabinetry so they look part of the kitchen.
Low-profile over-the-range modelsShorter units that leave more room above the burners where cabinets are low.
What the work looks like in Oak Brook homes
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Oak Brook
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Oak Brook. Before: 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. The job covered cabinet drilled to the template, drawer and built-in cutouts, plus testing and haul-away.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Villa Park
A 1990s two-story colonial in Villa Park, a typical kitchen for Villa Park. What we started with: almond appliances. The main complaint was 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, drawer and built-in cutouts, plus testing and haul-away.
Microwave Installation in Villa Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a suburban townhome in Lombard
A suburban townhome in Lombard, a typical kitchen for Lombard. What we started with: white appliances. What bothered the owners most: a weak hood and a microwave stuck on the counter. The result: a new over-the-range microwave installed above the range and vented. The job covered studs located and wall plate mounted, cabinet drilled to the template, plus testing and haul-away.
Microwave Installation in Lombard →
Before
AfterOak Brook kitchen, 1970s tract home: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with satin brass pulls, white quartz with soft gray veining counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a raised ranch, Oak Brook
Finished: the same doors sprayed in sage green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Oak Brook →From the old unit to the new one
- Send the model and photosTell us which microwave you bought and show us where it goes.
- 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 testOld unit down, new one mounted and vented, everything tested and the old microwave hauled off.
Microwave Installation questions from Oak Brook homeowners
How much does microwave installation cost?
It depends on the type of microwave, whether a hood or old unit comes down, and any outlet, venting or cabinet changes. We give a written, itemized estimate after looking at your setup.
Do I need an electrician to install an over-the-range microwave?
Not if there's already a proper outlet in the cabinet above. If there isn't, or the maker calls for a dedicated circuit you don't have, a licensed electrician adds it first.
Is a microwave enough ventilation over a gas range?
A microwave fan helps, but it's not as strong as most hoods. We'll tell you honestly which fits your range.
Can you put a microwave drawer in my island?
We can. We check the island's cabinet layout and wiring path first.
Can an over-the-range microwave vent outside?
It can, when your kitchen has an exterior duct. Without one, the microwave recirculates through a charcoal filter.
Does Oak Brook require a licensed electrician for microwave installation?
Current license from a testing jurisdiction, or current ICC electrician certification for the scope; other municipalities' business licenses not accepted. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Oak Brook building permit for microwave installation: where do I apply?
Permits go through Development Services (Building), phone (630) 368-5101. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Oak Brook-registered contractor for microwave installation?
Oak Brook does not require contractor registration; no village-specific requirements for residential alterations. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for microwave installation in Oak Brook?
It depends on the scope. Oak Brook's rule in short: Village publishes a Residential Permit Requirement Listing; its Residential Alteration category requires contract/scope of work, architectural plans and plat of survey. We handle the permit when one is needed with Development Services (Building).
Do you work in my part of Oak Brook?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Brook — ZIP 60523 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Brook
- A lot of Oak Brook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Oak Brook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development Services (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60523
Microwave Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Oak Brook
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.