Drop-In Stoves, the Dummies Version

This is a drop-in stove

All the terminology about stoves and ranges – about appliances in general – can be confusing. That's why, when it comes time to replace our appliances the staffers at the Antisocial Network look for help from professionals. If we're going to do any online research, we want to get our info from appliance manufacturers, remodeling pros, and appliances vendors. We definitely don't want information to come from the likes of Naima Manal; not after looking at her dengarden.com post "Replacing a Drop-In Stove with a Slide-In Range." No-siree, Bob!

First things, first: there are four kinds of cooking appliances ("stove"):

1. Freestanding ranges have both a cooktop and oven. The sides are finished so it can be placed anywhere relative to the cabinets. Controls are usually on a raised backsplash.
2. The sides of a slide-in range are not finished because it is designed to fit into a row of base cabinets. Most have the controls on the front or top of the cooktop. The range sits on the floor
3. A drop-in range differs from a slide-in in that it sits inside a special base cabinet and is lowered onto the countertop to make it look more built-in.
4. A cooktop does not have an oven. It rests within a cutout in the counter, which continues in front of the appliance.

Naima's take on the two designs she discusses reveals that she was confused (to say the least) about the differences. take, for instance, this step in the removal of the drop-in style:

"Remove the drop-in stove top... loosen the brackets from underneath the countertop. These brackets secure the unit to the countertop .. Lift the unit out of its cut-out hole in the countertop and set it aside."

Wrong, Naima: a drop-in stove has anti-tip brackets on the back and leveling legs to allow you to lower it gently to the counter. It does not have "brackets... underneath the countertop." Next mistake?

"Measure the cut-out opening in the countertop. Thew [sic] width measurement is key, since this determines what size slide-in-unit fits in the space. Hopefully finding one that fits with minimal to no cuts in the counter top is possible."

Slide-in units (usually) have a gap between body and countertop. You really don't want to have to cut the countertop, because that would leave an unsightly unfinished edge. Next screw-up?

"Cutting the cabinetry to fit the slide-in unit, and refacing it where there were once cabinet draws [sic] or doors, is another task to complete."

Ummm, Naima? If you're removing a drop-in range, it is sitting in a custom cabinet. The presence of "draws [sic] or doors" suggests that you've, once again, confused a drop-in range with a standalone cooktop.

Manal's already graced this site seventeen times, along the way demonstrating her near-complete ignorance of cooktops and wall ovens (twice), not to mention several other appliances. To that tally, we now add another Dumbass of the Day award for stoves. Let's hope she never tries to remodel her kitchen!

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