Choosing the Right Hood Fan for Your Kitchen

 

The cooking process in our kitchens has some unfortunate by-products: grease, moisture and odor. Proper ventilation can help minimize the effects of those fat droplets and neutralize smells in the heart of your home. It's not the most glamorous part of a remodel, but one of the main decisions you should make is the type of ventilation for your kitchen. Before you think about how a hood fan actually looks, explore the technical considerations. An island fan makes a strong statement in the center of the space, but it could fight for attention with pendants or chandeliers. On the other hand, a downdraft fan system lets you install a cooktop inconspicuously — even in front of a window. Being aware of your options could have an impact on the way you lay out your kitchen.

Use this mini guide covering the lingo to help you find the right hood fan for your kitchen.

Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)

The first thing to consider is how much power your fan needs to have. A range hood's performance is measured in Cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM number, the more air the range hood can remove in one minute of operation.

Your CFM needs depend on the size and the type of your range or range top, as well as the type and frequency of your cooking. For example, a large six-burner gas range requires more CFMs than a 30-inch-wide electric cooktop.

The requirement for an electric stove is 300 to 450 CFMs, whereas a gas range will need about 600 to 1,200. This number is based on the amount of BTUs (British thermal units, a gas appliance's performance measurement) divided by 100.

Sones
Many people don't use their kitchen fan because they find it too noisy. Don't let that happen with your new kitchen design. A fan's sound output is measured in sones — an internationally recognized measurement of loudness as perceived by a person with normal hearing. Some of the manufacturers will provide that information in decibels (dB) rather than in sones. Fans typically have three to six speed settings. Consider keeping the low setting, which is usually around 3 sones (at the sound level of a refrigerator running), on throughout the cooking process, and ramp up to the highest setting of about 7 sones (at the sound level of traffic noise) only for short, intense periods of cooking.

Blower Options
You have another option to cut down on fan noise: The blower part of a fan can be located in 3 different areas. Typically it sits in the actual carcass, or body, of the appliance. This is the version that creates the loudest sound. There is also an inline blower, which sits halfway in the duct run, either between ceiling joists or in the attic. If you have a complicated duct installation — either because it is very long or because it has a number of turns — an inline blower can also be added to your main blower to strengthen its power.

Make-Up Air
Don't under estimate the need for a make-up air system in your HVAC system, especially if you choose a strong hood fan. High-powered hood fans take out large volumes of air. If this air is not replaced at the same rate that it is expelled, this results in greater air pressure outside the building than inside (a vacuum effect). A make-up air system replaces the air that is expelled by a building's exhaust system, makes sure your exhaust systems work properly and supplies conditioned replacement air that can be heated, cooled, humidified or dehumidified to suit your specific living environment.

Mounting Height
This refers to the installation height of the appliance: the distance between the filter of the range hood and the burners on the range below. The standard distance between a countertop and the hood is typically 30 to 36 inches. Some of the under cabinet models and microwave hood combinations are installed at a lower height.
The farther the fan protrudes from the wall, the more it will be in your face — literally. And the taller you are, the more you will be affected by the unit, so please do not just rely on what is considered the standard installation height. First and foremost, your kitchen needs to suit you.

Capture Area
This is the term for the range hood’s footprint. It is measured in width and depth of the range hood itself in relation to the cooktop below. Technically, the width of the fan will match the width of the range or cooktop. Its depth should cover the back burners and at least half of the front burners.

Grease Filters
The Vent-a-Hood centrifugal system, mentioned previously, has an easy-to-remove grease trap — either wipe it clean or put it in the dishwasher. All other vent models (should) feature stainless steel filters that are dishwasher safe. Make sure that you take out the filters at the appliance store to see if they're easy to remove.

Recirculation
When it's impossible to ventilate the range hood to the outside environment via a duct, a model with a recirculating kit allows air to be cleaned through a carbon filter that traps and quarantines cooking by-products. Once the air passes through the carbon filter, it is reintroduced into the kitchen, grease and odor free.You will need to clean or exchange those filters regularly.

Information from Ines Hanl, Houzz.com

Now You See it ...Now You Don't

BEFORE WALL

BEFORE LAUNDRY ROOM

Working with previous clients, phase two required removing the clunky walls that housed a powder room accessed through a short hall to the garage door. Directly opposite the powder room was the old laundry room which was moved upstairs last year. The new powder room now fits nicely into the old space. In order to keep the house structurally sound a 20’ beam was placed and extended across the dining space. The homeowner’s elected to stain finish it for a natural rustic look verses wrapping it with sheetrock and painting it. We also extended out the Mill House Maple Caramel laminate flooring and into the powder room, thus creating the illusion of a much larger space. The walls were painted Sherwin Williams SW7634 "Pediment", a muted palette that’s easy to live with.   

DURING

AFTER

 

The new powder room has a new clean lined “expresso” colored vanity. The old florescent ceiling module is now replaced with a very chic chandelier adorning hanging round crystals. The walls were painted Sherwin Williams SW7652 "Mineral Deposit". The exhaust fan was replaced with a new Quiet Whisperer model, which wasn’t so quiet at first. After evaluation, it was discovered that their original venting system was composed of the flexible piping (the kind you find just behind dryer venting). New rigid proper diameter sized venting was the resolve in getting the rattling to stop after a few bouts of frustration from Don.   

 

We also did a minor remodel into their kitchen which will be entered into our gallery in the near future. This new wide open space has given this family more living room that comes from what you feel, not just what you see.      



 



AFTER - NEW BATHROOM

Cheap and Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorations

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a few days away? If you’re anything like my family, you haven’t even begun to start decorating the house for the guests that are coming over. Between managing work, coordinating multiple Thanksgiving dinners (thanks a lot, in-laws!), and keeping the kids out of trouble, it can seem like a gigantic burden to get the house looking festive. Well fear not, friends! I will provide you with a few easy and inexpensive ways to make your house looking Thanksgiving-y.

Considering that the place people will be spending the best part of their Thanksgiving dinner is the dining table, it seems like a good starting point for decorations. Perhaps the easiest decorations to place on your dining table are gourds. Pumpkins, gourds, and acorn squash are all very festive vegetables that are in abundance at any grocery store during the holidays. The pumpkin and acorn squash are both awesome for cooking during the holidays, as well. There is a plethora of recipes online for pies, soups, and other types of dishes prepared using these vegetables. Another fun idea with small pumpkins is to make a card for each one with a different guest’s name on it. Place each pumpkin at the table where you think the corresponding guest will sit. This is an activity you can involve the kids with that is both fun and festive. You can also use candleholders as an elegant way to elevate small pumpkins on the dining table.

If you’re working on a budget like my family, there are many other ways to save money on decorating the table for Thanksgiving. Don’t be afraid to buy chipped or damaged decorations. When staged correctly, no one will notice a small chip. Thrift stores and estate or garage sales are typically the best dumping grounds for old decorations, but one would be surprised at how easy it is to get a discount on damaged merchandise at popular retailers. Most brick and mortar stores don’t really want damaged merchandise floating around their store and will eagerly discount things to get them out of the door. This doesn’t just apply to decorations, either. If you are short on plates or bowls, you can typically use cheaper or slightly chipped pieces and make them look fancy by placing a cloth napkin in the middle. Of course the napkins should match and be seasonably appropriate; also, they won’t look very nice unless you fold them in an appealing manner. Another alternative is to purchase cheap seasonal plating. You’d be surprised at how little you need to pay for plates with fall designs on them.

Aside from the kitchen table, there are an abundance of areas in your house that or perfect for cheap decorations. Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins is a good motto for decorating your living areas on Thanksgiving. You can put pumpkins on your bookshelf to use as book stops, on top of your entertainment center, your coffee and end tables, and next to any snack areas you have set up in your home. Acorns are also a very appropriate fall decoration that you can get for free just by going on a walk. If you have children, they will relish in the opportunity to collect as many acorns as they possibly can for your decorations. You can make festive candle holders by placing acorns in mason jars with a candle in the middle. Even just filling up a glass with acorns can look beautiful, just make sure you clean and dry your acorns ahead of time.

The first thing people see when they arrive to your house for Thanksgiving dinner is your front yard. Once again, the pumpkin philosophy of fall decorating applies to your front porch. If you have a wheelbarrow that’s in decent shape, fill it with pumpkins and put it on your porch. You can make a wooden sign with a Thanksgiving greeting and rest it on the pumpkins. Broomstick scarecrows can be fun to make with the kids and hang from the front door. You can use a step ladder to make a multi-tiered decoration with pumpkins and other fall decor to place next to your front door. Fall-themed pillows on a chair can be effective, as can using a basket filled with gourds and pumpkins. As with any decorating project, use your judgment when designing and placing your decorations and never go overboard.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the bathroom when it’s time to decorate. Pumpkins and fall scented candles can be placed on the sink and any open shelving in the bathroom. Even the back of the toilet can be used to place decorations or fall-themed air fresheners. Why not use some of those acorn candles we talked about earlier for added atmospheric lighting in the bathroom? Fall-themed Kleenex boxes and towels are always a bonus, although if you’re operating on a budget you might not want to shell out for a new set of towels.

I hope some of these ideas can get you excited about decorating and feeling less overwhelmed with the holiday approaching. Remember, you don’t always have to go all-out with your decorations to make a positive impression on your Thanksgiving guests. Besides, the holiday is about being thankful and being around loved ones… and food!

Considering being your own General Contractor?

 It can be tempting to have control in a project. To be the one who hires the tradesmen, orders and inspects the materials, checks and double-checks figures and costs, and perhaps most importantly, makes the rules of the project and enforces them. If that appeals to you, than you might be considering acting as your own general contractor. But should you?

Diving into the world of renovation is unchartered territory for a lot of homeowners. Many first time remodelers end up spending a lot more money than they need to because of a lack of knowledge about construction and materials costs. While you might have a keen interest in construction or remodeling, that doesn't a professional make. You’ll need the ability to speak the industry language, read the architectural drawings, understand the processes in accomplishing a result. You'll need to describe the job and schedule accurately, not to mention negotiate prices, draw up a binding contract and even take responsibility for getting I-9s and tax documents.

And while you're at it, don't forget that you may be responsible for all permits. You'll have to research what work requires a permit in your city, county or state and fill out the paperwork and get it submitted. You'll also be in charge of dealing with the inspections that come along with the process. Subcontractors might not be interested in committing unless your permits are complete.

The biggest reason homeowners become their own GC? Money, of course. GCs are trying to run a business, no different than other professionals who have credentials and experience. That means making a profit and covering the overhead cost they typically will add between 15 and 20% to the cost of materials and labor.

Who cares about time and hassle when you can save money, right? Not exactly. Consider that a large part of a GC's job is to figure out how costs can be minimized. This could mean a variety of savings that homeowner doesn't have access to like preferred vendor discounts on materials/products, and simply knowing who has the best deals on what.  Logistics is also a large part of a general contractor’s job description to coordinate all work done by subcontractors. It is these relationships that typically get GC’s better pricing and scheduling because of the volume of work, whereas a homeowner is a one trick pony show. The GC also checks to see that the work is completed in compliance with local building codes; warranties the work and deals with any problems that develop during and after construction; and collect lien releases and process payments.

In general, being your own GC is probably a bad idea for the average homeowner looking to save money on remodeling costs. But if you do have inside knowledge about the construction industry (or are willing to spend a serious amount of time learning about it), then being your own general contractor might be a realistic way to cut expenses.