Hardware to Hang a Microwave Oven Over a Stove

Stud Finder

• You will need a reliable stud finder to help you find the wood wall studs behind your stove. When you install the microwave over your stove, the majority of the weight is placed on the wall. That is why finding the studs is so critical.

Wall Plate/Cabinet Template

• Microwaves come with a metal wall plate and a cabinet template, which are key to proper installation of a microwave over a stove. The metal wall plate gets installed onto the wall studs behind the stove, and the cabinet template tells you where you need to drill holes for mounting screws that go through the base of the cabinet. If you have an older microwave or do not have the wall plate and cabinet template, then you will need to contact the microwave manufacturer to get them.

Duct Work

• A microwave oven gives off heat either out the back or the top. Prior to installing your microwave over a stove, you need to install the necessary duct work to allow the microwave to ventilate properly. To connect the microwave to the duct work, you will need a duct adapter. If you do not have one, then contact the microwave manufacturer. The duct work normally runs up through the kitchen cabinet and vents to the outside through a vent opening in the wall. If you are not confident in your ability to install the necessary duct work, then have it installed by a professional contractor. There are models of microwave ovens that recirculate air rather than venting it. You do not need duct work for these microwaves, but you will need to change the filter regularly, per the manufacturer's instructions.

Toggle Bolts

• The main load-bearing mounting screws for the wall plate will go into the wooden wall studs. But there are mounting plate holes that go through drywall, as well. To reinforce these mounting screws, you would use toggle bolts. A toggle bolt is a nut with wings on it. You drill a hole in the drywall just wide enough to fit the toggle bolt with the wings collapsed. As you thread the mounting screw into the toggle bolt, the bolt recesses to the other side of the drywall and the wings on the bolt extend to offer added support.

Mounting Screws

• The mounting screws are installed down through the base of the kitchen cabinet and into the microwave to add stability and make the microwave look flush with the cabinets. These screws come with the microwave or can be obtained from the microwave manufacturer.