Well, I have to say that after reading all the reviews of this range hood I was a little worried about the installation. My worries were later confirmed. I received the order quickly, about less than a week. I began the installation at 5:30AM when my attic was nice and cool. I did all of the duct work first in the roof and attic so it would be ready for the range hood. You will need to buy a vent tube and and other pieces if you don't already have them. I would say the hardest and most stressful part was trying to measure where the center of the hole in the ceiling would go. I had to use a plum level with string. Then you have to determine if the wood studs in your ceiling will match up, or if you need to add 2x4 support. Of course mine did not match up, so I had to measure the distance between the studs and cut 2x4's to install (the instructions do not explain this at all).
Then my wife and 10 year old son (after much thought) came up with the idea that we should make a template out of cardboard from the top of the "upper support frame". This will help you determine where the size and where to drill the holes in the ceiling when up in the attic. This was very helpful! I had to do some creative carpentry to make the 2x4's fit as my attic had a lot of things in the way.
The instructions are very confusing as they don't really make clear what order to do things. You need to determine the height of your range hood first. However the instructions don't tell you to add 3" to allow for the range hood itself. I called technical support about this and they told me, "our installers have I variety of different skill sets, so they would be able to figure that out". Obviously, I am not one of their installers . .go figure?? Anyway ,the guy from technical support seemed clueless as to what to do, and was very unhelpful. You are better off trying to figure it out yourself!
Lastly, a few good tips for the install, make sure you install the lower support frame to the support frame extensions using the LAST TWO HOLES or the motor housing will not fit when you raise it up to install. Also, use BLUE PAINTERS TAPE to hold the lower chimney cover to the upper chimney cover when installing the motor housing. This will make it much easier. Consider taping the electrical cord to the flexible duct tube when you install the motor housing that way you can avoid losing a person to go up in the attic. Also, we used a little step latter with a piece of styrofoam from the box it shipped in to hold the motor housing up so our ARMS WOULD NOT GIVE OUT from holding the heavy motor housing!!
I am glad to write this review in hopes of helping anyone else who will be installing this range hood. I wish I would have known all this before I started :-) Overall, it looks beautiful!! It was a great deal using our coupon code from Overstock, and waiting for it to go on sale! It completes your kitchen. The cobalt blue lights are very bright, and make the fixture really stand out! Good luck to all my future Cavaliere Range Hood brother and sisters!!
- Did the color match the color displayed onsite? Yes
- How is the quality of the product? awsome
- Did the description onsite accurately describe the product? yes