Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Jan 19, 2010 12:24 pm Hi Everyone Looking at my plans, I have come to the realisation that there is no provision for my microwave, other than on my benchtop - which I don't want. I have a multitude of cupboards along side my dishwasher recess and am thinking that I will ask them to forgo one of the cupboards to build in a microwave recess. What I need to know is will I need anything other than a powerpoint. Are there any other special requirements for an under-bench microwave recess? Thanks again. Cheers jbarry My build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25713 13th Oct - Offer on block 4th Dec - Settlement of block scheduled (delayed due to titles) 22nd Feb - Titles Issued 17th Mar - Land Settlement 17th Mar - Pre-start meeting Re: Microwave - Under Bench 2Jan 19, 2010 12:33 pm As far as i know, you only need the powerpoint. For my sanity we are putting ours in the pantry as we found our little girl liked 'playing' with the underbench microwave at the place we recently stayed at over christmas (putting her shoes, doll etc in it and trying to turn it on!). Re: Microwave - Under Bench 3Jan 19, 2010 12:37 pm No special provisions required - other than the space needs to be large enough to fit the microwave. Some manufacturers will have recommended gaps in their Instruction Manuals - so check that out too. Maybe purchase a new microwave that can be built-in - and get the cabinet designed with the microwave installed in place. That would look swish! The only other suggestion I have is for a microwave with a child-lock if you have it at that under-bench height. Kids like to zap insects and bugs amongst other things (toy cars, the cat, mum's mobile...). Re: Microwave - Under Bench 4Jan 19, 2010 5:04 pm We are having underbench ovens to get a very smooth look to the kitchen. We are getting an inbuilt microwave (very expensive), matched to an underbench oven, with both having oven-like fold-down doors. It them looks as if you have two ovens, with one being a smaller size. The only brands I've found that achieve that look are Bosch (with its inverter microwave, my favourite), Whirlpool (with an combo microwave/convection oven), Smeg (extremely expensive) and Electrolux (with grill). DéLonghi has one, but it's ugly as all hell. Re: Microwave - Under Bench 5Jan 19, 2010 6:33 pm We will have an underbench space for our microwave with a pot drawer underneath that. Only a power point is needed. Ours will also be in our island bench. I'm loving that it will have a place of it's own cause i'm sick of mine being on the bench in our current house. It's such a great idea. Also in the pantry is a great idea if you have a big enough pantry and then you don't have to forgoe drawers/cupboards and just have a power point inside the pantry. food for thought Lea Building the Adelaide Mark II split (with alterations) by Statesman Land Bought Contract for building signed 5/12/09 Current house sold settlement in Feb 2010 Re: Microwave - Under Bench 6Jan 20, 2010 12:02 pm We are having the underbench with pot drawer beneath. Ours comes with a lift up slide away door so when not in use it just looks like the other cupboards/drawers and you can put child locks on it so the kids can't get into the microwave space at all. Re: Microwave - Under Bench 8Jan 20, 2010 12:16 pm Excellent. I love it when things are uncomplicated. A single GPO won't be a problem to the island bench seen as they have to hook up power for the dishwasher anyway. Problem solved - love that everything will have it's place. I'm definately going to opt for a pot drawer underneath too. I have a 9 year old daughter so luckily don't have to worry about small children. Again - thanks for all the help. Cheers jbarry My build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25713 13th Oct - Offer on block 4th Dec - Settlement of block scheduled (delayed due to titles) 22nd Feb - Titles Issued 17th Mar - Land Settlement 17th Mar - Pre-start meeting Re: Microwave - Under Bench 9Jan 22, 2010 7:11 pm My parents, who live in the US, have and underbench microwave and its a drawer. Push a button the drawer opens, you put item in, close the drawer, push buttons and when it's completed you open the drawer (much like a dvd player). I haven't looked here for them but they're a great idea because it requires no bending. Handover February 2011 Happy with our home Re: Microwave - Under Bench 10Feb 08, 2010 1:45 pm mcniks As far as i know, you only need the powerpoint. For my sanity we are putting ours in the pantry as we found our little girl liked 'playing' with the underbench microwave at the place we recently stayed at over christmas (putting her shoes, doll etc in it and trying to turn it on!). Hi mcniks, Do you have a pic of you microwave inside the cupboard? Re: Microwave - Under Bench 11Feb 08, 2010 1:58 pm We wanted ours in a "tower" so it was a height that was easy to access but when we decided on a free-standing oven it was not possible without messing up the whole kitchen so we have it underbench, we bought a Panasonic with a trim kit so it appears "inbuilt" but I haven't got around to installing the trim yet as it's in the "too hard basket"! A friend said they would have liked theirs below as there more risk of spilling something if your lifting something from higher than if you are bringing it up from below, I can't really see the difference but maybe they have a point. Re: Microwave - Under Bench 13Feb 08, 2010 2:24 pm You didn't say if your microwave is microwave 'only' or a convection microwave? If the latter then they emit lots of heat and I would think an underbench location might not be such a good idea...if on the other hand it's a regular microwave then as long as it has clearance right around the unit this wouldn't be any different than putting it in a microwave niche in the wall cupboards. The owners manual should have clearances listed but they will most likely be listed on the manufacturers website too. Because mine is a convection microwave I ruled out the underbench location for the above reasons, also I don't like ovens too low...too much bending. Otoh, I don't like them too high, for safety reasons (spillage onto yourself when removing a hot dinner etc) is not an option but something that seems to go unnoticed in some display homes. I've bought an underbench oven and will have it and the microwave in a tower where the main oven has a pot drawer underneath, then the microwave will be located around (or very slightly above) bench height, then both ovens can be vented to the roof area and while they are different brands they look very similar so will look like a double oven. A built-in kit made by microwave manufacturers seem quite expensive for what they are, good luck if you can find one for a reasonable price that suits. Re: Microwave - Under Bench 14Feb 08, 2010 2:45 pm HappyCamper_au A built-in kit made by microwave manufacturers seem quite expensive for what they are, good luck if you can find one for a reasonable price that suits. I think our trim kit was about half as much as the microwave itself ! Re: Microwave - Under Bench 16Feb 18, 2010 12:24 am I won a Panasonic convection/steamer/etc microwave and have organised a spot with a pot drawer underneath. I didn't realise how expensive the trim kits were, what do they have in them? Is it just metal to go around? I mean, they look swish but can we do without it? Re: Microwave - Under Bench 17Feb 18, 2010 8:14 am Jesstibb I won a Panasonic convection/steamer/etc microwave and have organised a spot with a pot drawer underneath. I didn't realise how expensive the trim kits were, what do they have in them? Is it just metal to go around? I mean, they look swish but can we do without it? that's pretty much all they are a metal surround and a base that the microwave sits on, we haven't even installed ours yet and have been using it for 2 months, if we hadn't already bought it we probably wouldn't have bother getting one with the benefit of hindsight. Re: Microwave - Under Bench 19Jan 06, 2011 1:28 pm sorry to ressurect an old thread but we picked up one of these > http://www.smegappliances.com.au/Product.aspx?id=369 < and are having to put it under bench due to our design. The trim kit is $300 so didnt pick it up but the space is built to allow for a 60cm kit so if it looks rubbish without it we will take the hit and pick it up Interesting comment on the heat from convection microwaves. is it going to effect stone benchtops and the carcus if you use it? we would use it about 2 minutes max, surely it wont cause problems? Re: Microwave - Under Bench 20Jan 06, 2011 3:16 pm I would like to know too...as we bought the same. in the instruction manual on that site you posted, it says 170mm top clearance/ free space is needed...eeek. on page 3. has anyone used a convection microwave in a microwave cabinet? and is it ok!?? (still) Hi - thanks for your reply. Yes I think 'Ill go for whitish with very speckly bits rather than pure white something like this. PS was actually 2008 I built the… 2 11675 Building Standards; Getting It Right! These can be easily filled and repaired and it doesn't cost them much to do. Id get the builder to do this first and if the repair is not suitable then a replacement is… 12 31248 Thanks Ardo, they are sort of semi concealed. I think it is only a few millimetres. I see if they can adjust the hinges. 4 3793 |