Cooker hood installation in South Croydon

Is cooker hood installation right for your South Croydon kitchen?

People in flats across Greater London sometimes rely on recirculating hoods because an outside vent needs consent from the building's owners, and want to know what else improves ventilation.

A new kitchen in a South Croydon home can move the hob away from the old vent, so the hood, the duct run and the wall grille all need rethinking together. Kitchens in every part of South Croydon are covered, and the survey visit is free wherever you are in Greater London.

What does cooker hood installation in South Croydon include?

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
Core drilling through the outside wall and an external grille fitted and sealed
Survey of the hob position, duct route, outside wall and any open-flued appliance
Short, straight runs of rigid ducting wherever the route allows
Hood fixed at the height set by the hood and hob manufacturers
Spillage test by a Gas Safe registered engineer where an open-flued appliance is present

Cooker hood installation prices in South Croydon

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in London, and are firmed up once we have seen your South Croydon kitchen. Labour in London generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

Cooker hood installation prices in South Croydon
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%.

Kitchens in homes around South Croydon

The housing mix across Greater London includes Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. 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.

Do you need approval for cooker hood installation in South Croydon?

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.

Planning ahead

Replace the carbon filters in a recirculating hood as often as the manufacturer advises, and clean the grease filters regularly so the hood keeps working well.
For an island hood in your South Croydon kitchen, settle the hood position before the ceiling is boarded, so timber supports can be added in the right place.
If you live in a flat in Greater London, ask the freeholder, factor or managing agent about outside vents before you buy a ducted hood.
Keep the duct run short and straight with rigid ducting, because every bend and extra metre of flexible hose reduces how much air the hood moves.

Questions about cooker hood installation in South Croydon

How much does cooker hood installation cost in South Croydon?

Cooker hood installation in South Croydon 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 cover all of South Croydon?

Yes. We work across South Croydon, including the CR0 and CR7 postcode districts, and nearby towns such as Croydon and Purley. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

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.

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

Close to South Croydon? We cover these nearby towns too: