I'm doing a bit of a kitchen remodel right now, including some new cabinetry and an over the range microwave. Right now I have removed the existing cabinet unit above our stove along with the range hood to make way for the new cabinets and microwave.

What would make the most sense to put in first to help streamline the work? Is it easier to line up the cabinet when the microwave is in or vise versa? Or would the cabinet have to go in before the microwave so that the microwave would attach to the bottom of it for extra support?

 

I thought the microwave was attached to the bottom of the cabinet above it.

 

Yes, the cabinet goes in first. Your microwave will have a back panel that gets attached to the wall and a template to show you where to drill the cabinet.

 

As said, install the cabinet first and use the paper templates provided to install the oven.
To meet (U.S.) code the bottom of the upper cabinet (a combustible surface) needs to be at least 30" above the cooking surface.
Depending on your ceiling height, 30" clearance could mean a cabinet anywhere between 12 to 24" high.

 

Thanks everyone that makes sense and I'll go about it that way.

Would that code apply even with the microwave in between acting as a barrier?

 

Yes, the Micro hood combo or vent hood is not a barrier. The cabinet bottom needs to be a minimum of 30" above the cooking surface.

 

Does that 30" include the height of the microwave as well? So if the bottom of the microwave is 15" above the stove and the microwave itself is 15" high as long as it amounts to 30" then it meets code?

 

I don't know the code answer but my cabinet is 30" above my stove with an exhaust fan below it. That leaves 24" height. IMO if you had less than 20" the stove top would be harder to use.

 

As far as code the only thing that matters is the bottom of the cabinet is 30" above the cooking surface, not the bottom of the microwave. But like Mark said, the more room the better.
Let me be a little specific. I'm assuming an 8 foot ceiling.

I would install a 30"W x 24"H upper cabinet. I've done this hundreds of times.

A 24" high cabinet bottom will be about 35" above the range top.
The bottom of the microwave will be about 18" above the range top.

18" or a little more is ideal and will give you room to cook.

 

And if the top edge of your upper cabinets is 84" like many kitchens are, the wall cabinet above the stove would usually be 30x15 or 30x18.

 

Every Uwave that I have installed was hung on a support screwed to the wall AND bolted through the bottom of the cabinet above. I think it would be near impossible to install the Uwave before the cabinet.