Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
A cooktop is simply the top of a range separately located from the oven below. It fits into a cutout in the countertop and can either rim the counter or be flush with it.
Depth can run anywhere from a slim 2 1/2 inches, which retains a generous amount of space in the cabinet below, to 8 inches; however, models with a downdraft ventilation system can measure 16 1/2 inches deep. Like the cooktops on gas and electric ranges, most models come with specialized accessories that fit over a pair of burners to convert them into a griddle or grill.
