monophoto
Member
Eighteen years ago, wife and I built a new home. The kitchen was designed with a built-in oven, microwave and cooktop. The microwave died in 2014. We opted to order a replacement microwave and matching trim kit from Home Despot's web site which also offered an installation option. We chose to have them install the microwave. However, after it arrived we learned that Home Despot doesn't install microwaves even through their web site offered an installation option. Bottom line - Home Despot refunded the money they charged us for installation, and wife and I did it ourselves. It wasn't hard, but we were determined to not repeat that experience.
So the 2014 replacement died in June, and I called a nearby full-service appliance store to order a replacement. The salesman insisted that we did not need a trim kit because, he said, the new microwave would fit into the kit installed in 2014. But when his guys arrived to do the installation, they found that he was wrong and we needed a new trim kit. It took a full week to get the salesman's attention. When we finally talked, he insisted that the standard trim kit offered by the microwave manufacturer would not work, and instead we had to order a trim kit from a custom fabricator. Yesterday, his guys were back to complete the installation with that kit - - - and it wouldn't work. The problem is that in the original installation, and also the 2014 replacement, the microwave was supported by a couple of wooden rails that run from front to back inside the cabinet. The spacing of those rails is too narrow to match the the base of custom trim kit. The custom trim kit was apparently designed assuming that it would be supported on a solid shelf rather than rails.
The installers said that they are not allowed to modify the cabinet, so they can't move the existing rails. I'm waiting to hear from the salesman about how they plan to proceed (once again, he's not available to address the problem), but I suspect that the resolution is that I will have to modify the cabinet to accommodate the installation. I can move the rails - but only if they tell me the spacing between the bearing points on the trim kit; alternatively, I could put a solid shelf in so that the dimensions of the support points on the trim kit/microwave are irrelevant - but I'm hesitant to do that because it could interfere with air flow inside the cabinet. But most importantly, nothing can be done until I hear back from the salesman - and he's not available. I did talk to the store owner, and he promised to get some details and call back this morning. Meanwhile, we continue to wait.
And another piece of the puzzle - wife doesn't like the custom trim kit. Iit's four pieces of painted aluminum that fit together at the corners, and she is concerned that those joints will collect dust and dirt. The standard kit offered by the microwave manufacture is a solid piece of molded plastic.
So the installers have been here twice, and will need to come back at least one more time to complete the installation. It doesn't need to be this difficult! If you can't take the time to do the job right the first time, you will have to find the time to do it over.
So the 2014 replacement died in June, and I called a nearby full-service appliance store to order a replacement. The salesman insisted that we did not need a trim kit because, he said, the new microwave would fit into the kit installed in 2014. But when his guys arrived to do the installation, they found that he was wrong and we needed a new trim kit. It took a full week to get the salesman's attention. When we finally talked, he insisted that the standard trim kit offered by the microwave manufacturer would not work, and instead we had to order a trim kit from a custom fabricator. Yesterday, his guys were back to complete the installation with that kit - - - and it wouldn't work. The problem is that in the original installation, and also the 2014 replacement, the microwave was supported by a couple of wooden rails that run from front to back inside the cabinet. The spacing of those rails is too narrow to match the the base of custom trim kit. The custom trim kit was apparently designed assuming that it would be supported on a solid shelf rather than rails.
The installers said that they are not allowed to modify the cabinet, so they can't move the existing rails. I'm waiting to hear from the salesman about how they plan to proceed (once again, he's not available to address the problem), but I suspect that the resolution is that I will have to modify the cabinet to accommodate the installation. I can move the rails - but only if they tell me the spacing between the bearing points on the trim kit; alternatively, I could put a solid shelf in so that the dimensions of the support points on the trim kit/microwave are irrelevant - but I'm hesitant to do that because it could interfere with air flow inside the cabinet. But most importantly, nothing can be done until I hear back from the salesman - and he's not available. I did talk to the store owner, and he promised to get some details and call back this morning. Meanwhile, we continue to wait.
And another piece of the puzzle - wife doesn't like the custom trim kit. Iit's four pieces of painted aluminum that fit together at the corners, and she is concerned that those joints will collect dust and dirt. The standard kit offered by the microwave manufacture is a solid piece of molded plastic.
So the installers have been here twice, and will need to come back at least one more time to complete the installation. It doesn't need to be this difficult! If you can't take the time to do the job right the first time, you will have to find the time to do it over.
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