Cooker hood installation in Eltham

Why cooker hood installation for an Eltham home?

If condensation runs down the windows of your Eltham kitchen whenever you cook, the hood may be recirculating, undersized or ducted through a long, flexible run.

Homeowners in Eltham adding a hob to a new island often need a ceiling hood with solid fixings and a duct route planned before the ceiling is closed up. We cover all of Eltham, including the SE9 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Greater London.

What does the job involve?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Power supply connected by an electrician and tested to BS 7671
Spillage test by a Gas Safe registered engineer where an open-flued appliance is present
Island and ceiling hoods fixed into the ceiling structure by two people
Survey of the hob position, duct route, outside wall and any open-flued appliance
Hood fixed at the height set by the hood and hob manufacturers
Short, straight runs of rigid ducting wherever the route allows

Cooker hood installation prices in Eltham

The figures below are guide prices for Eltham, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in London usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

Cooker hood installation prices in Eltham
Typical project	Guide price
Like-for-like cooker hood swapSame position and ducting	£160–£310
New ducted hood through an outside wallCore drilling, ducting run and external grille	£390–£1,200
Island or ceiling hood installedTwo-person install, fixings to the ceiling structure	£390–£820
Recirculating hood fittedNo ducting; carbon filters need replacing	£160–£390

Guide ranges cover fitting and connection with standard ducting through a straightforward wall; long or concealed duct runs, ceiling repairs, new electrical spurs, spillage tests and the hood itself are priced separately. Prices include VAT at 20%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer Eltham homes

Typical homes in this part of Greater London include Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis. Victorian terraces often have a narrow galley beside the side return, while conversion flats and mansion blocks usually fit the kitchen into a small room or along one living-room wall.

Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day. London's mains water is hard, so limescale builds quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth planning in.

What rules apply to cooker hood installation in Eltham?

In England, Approved Document F guidance for kitchen extract is about 30 litres per second from a cooker hood extracting outside, or 60 litres per second from a fan elsewhere in the room. A recirculating hood does not remove moisture, so another means of extract is usually needed. A new vent through the outside wall of a flat may need planning permission and the freeholder's consent, and an open-flued gas appliance in the room calls for a spillage test.

Conservation areas are widespread across London, so a new extractor vent on a front wall may need permission, and leaseholders usually need the freeholder's written consent first.

Tips before you start

Ask for rigid ducting rather than flexible hose wherever the route allows, as it moves more air, gathers less grease and is usually quieter.
Choose a hood at least as wide as your hob, and compare its stated extraction rate with the size of the room before you buy.
Before choosing a hood for your Eltham kitchen, find the nearest outside wall to the hob, because the shorter the duct run, the better the extraction.
For an island or ceiling hood, find out what is above the ceiling, as joists or added timbers are needed to carry the weight securely.

Questions about cooker hood installation in Eltham

How much does cooker hood installation cost in Eltham?

Cooker hood installation in Eltham typically costs £160 to £310 including VAT for a like-for-like cooker hood swap, based on prices in London. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Do you work near Eltham as well?

Yes. As well as Eltham itself, we cover the rest of Greater London and nearby towns such as Blackheath and Chislehurst. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

Does a cooker hood need a hole in the wall?

A ducted hood does. The usual route is a core-drilled hole through the nearest outside wall, with rigid ducting from the hood and an external grille sealed into the wall. Where the hob is far from an outside wall, the duct can sometimes run above the wall units or through a ceiling void. A recirculating hood needs no hole, but it removes no moisture.

Should I choose a ducted or a recirculating cooker hood?

A ducted hood is usually more effective, because it takes steam, smoke and smells outside. A recirculating hood passes air through grease and carbon filters and returns it to the room, so it deals with grease and smells but not moisture, and another means of extract is usually needed. Recirculating suits kitchens with no practical duct route, and its carbon filters need replacing.

How high should a cooker hood be above the hob?

At least the minimum distance given by the manufacturers. Both the hood and the hob instructions set a minimum gap between them, and where they differ the greater figure should be used. Gas hobs usually need more clearance than induction. A hood fitted too low is a fire risk, while one fitted much higher than recommended captures less steam.

Cooker hood installation in neighbouring towns

Neighbouring towns where we offer cooker hood installation: