If you’ve been thinking about adding a custom range hood to your kitchen, right now is actually the best time to get started. And I know that sounds weird, who plans a kitchen project in the fall? But stick with me here.
Why the Timeline Matters
Here’s the deal: custom range hoods take time. I’m talking real time, not “order it on Monday, install it on Friday” time. When you’re having something custom-made from American-made metals, you’re looking at about three months from the first conversation to final installation.
Think about it this way: you meet with your fabricator in September, spend a few weeks nailing down the design, they build it in November and December, and by late January, you’re cooking under your new hood. Perfect timing, honestly.
Let Us Custom Build A Range Hood For You
What “Custom” Actually Means
When I say custom, I mean someone is building your range hood from scratch. They’re taking measurements of your specific kitchen, working with the metal you choose—copper, stainless, brass, whatever—and creating something that fits your space exactly.
This isn’t like ordering from a catalog where you pick size small, medium, or large. Your fabricator is cutting, welding, shaping, and finishing the metal by hand. That’s why it takes weeks, not days.
And yeah, it costs more than buying something off the shelf at Home Depot. But you’re getting something that’ll outlast your mortgage. My parents put a copper hood in their kitchen 25 years ago and it still looks incredible. Actually looks better now with the patina.
Winter Installation Makes Sense
I used to think winter was a terrible time for any home project. Turns out I was wrong, at least for indoor work.
The big advantage? Contractors actually have time in January and February. Everyone wants their kitchen done before Thanksgiving or their deck built in June. Winter is when good installers have openings in their schedule, and they’re not rushing between five different jobs.
Plus, you’re not dealing with the weather. No rain delays, no frozen ground, none of that. Your kitchen is 68 degrees, whether it’s snowing outside or not.
Installation usually takes a day or two. Sometimes three if your venting situation is complicated or you need to move some cabinets around. But it’s not a huge disruption if everything’s been planned properly.
Picking Your Metal
The material you choose changes everything about how your hood looks and ages.
Copper is my personal favorite, but I’m biased. It starts out bright and shiny, then develops this gorgeous patina over time. Some people polish it to keep it looking new. Others let it age naturally. Both ways work.
Stainless steel is the practical choice. It’s durable, easy to clean, and it goes with pretty much any kitchen style. There’s a reason restaurant kitchens use stainless for everything.
Brass and zinc are less common but really beautiful in the right kitchen. Brass has this warmth to it that’s hard to describe. Zinc has a completely different look—kind of industrial but elegant at the same time.
Your fabricator should be able to show you samples. Don’t just pick from a picture online. See the actual metal, feel the finish, understand how it ages.
The Ventilation Thing Nobody Talks About
Here’s something most people don’t think about until it’s too late: your range hood needs to actually work, not just look good.
The rule of thumb is 100 CFM (that’s how much air it moves) for every foot of range width. So if you’ve got a 36-inch range, you need at least 300 CFM. But if you have one of those big professional ranges that puts out serious heat, you need way more.
I’ve seen too many beautiful custom hoods that don’t ventilate properly because nobody did the math. The kitchen fills with smoke every time someone sears a steak. Don’t be that person.
Talk to your fabricator and your HVAC guy about this before you finalize the design. It’s way easier to get it right the first time.
Finding Someone Who Knows What They’re Doing
Not every metal fabricator does range hoods, and not every contractor knows how to install them properly. You need to find people with actual experience.
Ask to see photos of previous work. Better yet, ask for references and go look at their installations in person. You can tell a lot about quality when you see it up close.
And don’t automatically go with the cheapest bid. I know everyone’s trying to save money, but this is permanent. You want someone who’s going to do it right.
If you’ve got a kitchen designer involved, they should be able to recommend fabricators they’ve worked with before. That usually works out better than finding someone random online.
Why You Should Start Now
Look, you don’t have to decide everything today. But having these conversations now means you’re not rushed. You can look at different designs, think about materials, get quotes, and make changes.
I’ve seen what happens when people try to squeeze a custom hood into a tight timeline. They end up compromising on the design or the materials or something, and then they’re never quite happy with it.
Fall gives you breathing room. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, your design is locked in and the fabricator is building it. After the holidays, installation happens. And you’re done before spring, when everyone wants their kitchen remodeled.
A custom range hood is probably one of the most visible upgrades you can make to a kitchen. It’s the first thing people notice when they walk in. Take the time to get it right.
Start the conversation now, and by February, you’ll have something you’re actually excited about every time you cook.