Over the range microwave installation across Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia
An over the range microwave hangs from a plate on the wall and bolts up through the cabinet above, and it plugs into a receptacle inside that cabinet. Two people, the right template and a stud finder get it done in an hour. One person and a guess get a unit that sags toward the stove.
Or call or text (240) 802-7282. Hours 8 to 6, Monday through Saturday.
How the job goes
We pull the old unit, check the wall for the studs the plate needs, hang the new one with a second set of hands on the lift, and set the vent for recirculating or ducted, whichever the kitchen already has. Then we test the fan, the light and the turntable before we pack up.
Jobs we take
- Like for like swap into the existing cabinet opening
- Mounting plate anchored to studs, not drywall
- Vent set to recirculating or to the existing duct
- Cabinet bottom trimmed or filler added for a taller unit
- Old unit hauled away
- First microwave where a hood used to hang
Who installs an over the range microwave in Maryland
Hanging the unit, anchoring the plate and setting the vent is handyman work, done by an MHIC licensed contractor. The microwave plugs into the receptacle in the cabinet above, so there is no wiring to touch on a like for like swap.
The exception is a kitchen with no receptacle in that cabinet, which is the case when a plain hood or nothing hung there before. Adding that receptacle is electrical services under section 6-101(k) and goes to the licensed electrician, usually with a permit. We ask for a photo of the inside of the cabinet before quoting so the estimate names it.
In Maryland, any work on wiring, a fixture or an electrical connection is electrical services under section 6-101(k) and belongs to a licensed master electrician or someone working under one. An MHIC license alone does not cover it.
The Maryland rule in full, with the statute sections, is on the Old Line Home Repair license page.
What it costs
An over the range microwave swap is one visit with two people, priced as a visit plus any filler or trim the opening needs. We have not billed one on the public list yet, so the finished install and fixture jobs we have billed are below for scale. The estimate for your kitchen is a fixed number, not a range.
What moves the price is on the over the range microwave cost page.
Every job is done by a contractor licensed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). The license number is on your estimate.