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A slide-in range has a contoured side with a slightly protruding cooktop which will allow the installer to slide it in between the two adjoining cabinets so that the cooktop rests on top of the countertop on each side.
The contoured sides and cooktop will keep food from falling between any spaces in between the range and cabinets.
It is best to use a slide-in range when you are having a full kitchen fitting, or if you have an issue with food falling between gaps from the cooker and cabinets.
Slide ins are one of the most economical choices and can clean up your kitchen, working well when fitted with a full kitchen unit set up.
Do slide-in ranges stick out?
A slide-in range is perfectly in sync with the rest of your kitchen. They are installed so that with the oven door open, the front side edges of the range are equal with the cabinets and do not stick out.
Once the oven door is closed the door and the handle should only protrude a couple of inches maximum from being in line with the cabinetry.
A slide in range basically fits perfectly with the rest of your kitchen set-up, it should not stick out as long as it is correctly installed.
Only the handle and door should stick out, but this will be no more than you would expect from any other range, or even draw or cabinet handles.
Does a slide-in range need a backsplash?
Unlike a freestanding range, slide-in ranges do not have a bulky back guard. This is much better aesthetically and inaccessible. Controls are located upfront which is much more accessible.
The set-up also displays your backsplash to a maximum effect with no big back guard taking up the wall.
If you have not had a slide in before, you will want to put in a tile backsplash behind the range, ensuring it extends down to the countertop level.
If you do not, you will be faced with a stretch of blank wall, and you won’t be able to match the tile. This is especially important if you are moving from a freestanding range to a slide-in range.
It is more for aesthetics than anything, however, it can mean having to do a full kitchen renovation in some cases, if you cannot find matching tiles or materials for your current set up.
Does a slide-in range sit on the floor?
Like a majority of kitchen appliances a slide-in range does sit on the floor, it does not float. Although it may seem like it could float because it is essentially holding onto your countertops, it is actually sitting on the floor too.
This is why, like with a freestanding range, you should ensure that your floor is hard.
Any range, much like your fridge, or any other heavy appliance, can settle into soft floorings such as cushioned vinyl or carpeting. So any range should be put on a sheet of plywood if you have a soft floor, this will assist in ease of moving for service and cleaning.
It will also stop it from sinking into your floor and distorting your floor.
Any range will sit on your floor, whether it is positioned between two cabinets or if it is stand-alone, and it should sit on a material that will support its weight.
What is a true slide-in range?
A true slide-in range has to be installed between two cabinets. The edges of its cooktop will overlap your counter tops by about an inch or two on either side.
This will make it look as if it is built into the cabinets, and part of the whole set-up. It will prevent debris and liquid from falling between the sides of the stove and the cabinets.
The sides of a true slide-in range are also unfinished, there will be a couple of inches gap between the back of your stove and the wall, this can be covered with a trim kit, or a countertop material, whatever is to your preference.
While you can put a slide-in range into space with only one cabinet on the side, it will not be as aesthetically pleasing, and it may also be a bit unbalanced without the second countertop.
What is the advantage of a slide-in range?
Slide-in ranges offer many advantages. They offer an unobstructed view of the backsplash, and they are not restricted to being placed against a wall.
Similarly, they have front controls, or surface cook top knobs, this makes it so much easier to control your cooker without having to reach over a hot surface or risk getting splashed by whatever you are cooking.
You simply won’t burn yourself.
Then there is also the advantage of the edges, which cover an inch or so or the neighboring counters, so you do not need to worry about bits of food or liquids falling down in between the cabinet and your appliance.
It makes cooking, cleaner, easier, and injury free, as well as giving your kitchen a much more aesthetically pleasing appeal with the view of the backsplash.
What is the difference between a slide-in and a drop-in range?
There are a few major differences between slide-in and drop-in ranges. A slide-in range has a built-in bottom draw below the oven chamber for storing cookware.
A drop-in range does not have this, meaning you will need somewhere else to store your cookware and pots and pans.
They both feature an integrated appearance though. They differ with the presence or lacking of a storage draw at the bottom as well.
A slide-in range will require installation with two base cabinets, and a drop-in range requires installation with custom cabinetry.
Slide-in ranges also are often more budget friendly, whereas a drop-in can be much more costly in many instances.
Slide-in ranges are more common and are used more than drop-ins. Drop-ins were booming in the 40s and 50s, and they are still used today for replacements in older homes, and sometimes for kitchen remodels.
However, they simply are not used as much anymore as they require custom cabinetry.
What is the difference between slide-in and freestanding ranges?
The biggest difference between slide-in and freestanding ranges is in the installation.
While a freestanding range can stand alone, or be installed between cabinets, a slide-in range is specifically designed to sit between cabinets for a more effortless look.
Slide in ranges have unfinished sides which makes them unsuitable for standalone installations. They are also configured differently too.
Controls on a slide-in range are often on the top or front of the appliance, they also do not have a back guard either. Whereas a freestanding range will have a back guard of which you will often find the controls positioned.
If you switch from a freestanding to a slide-in, it is a good idea to install tile behind the range if it is against a wall, if not you will have a bare area where the freestanding back guard was before, and this can look rather unsightly.
Slides in ranges tend to look more sleek and in-line with your kitchen set up than freestanding ones do.
