Framing a Soffit Above Bathroom Cabinets

Locate the studs behind the wall where you're installing the soffit, and the ceiling joists above the cabinets with a stud finder, and mark their locations.

Snap a chalk line on the wall above the cabinets to mark the bottom edge of the planned soffit.

Cut a 2-by-4 board that matches the intended length of the soffit.

Nail the 2-by-4 board to the wall at the studs with the help of an assistant, placing it so that the bottom edge of the 2-by-4 is along the top edge of the chalk line.

Measure and cut 1/2-inch plywood to match the length of the soffit and its depth from the ceiling to the bottom edge of the 2-by-4 board that is nailed to the wall.

Measure and cut two 2-by-2 boards that match the length of the soffit.

Lay the 2-by-2 boards on the ground parallel to each other. Lay the plywood on top of the 2-by-2s. Line up the edges of the plywood to the outer edges of the 2-by-2 boards, and screw them together with 1 5/8-inch screws every 6 inches. This piece is the front edge of the soffit that will face you when you look at the cabinets.

Mark the location where you will install the face -- the front -- of the soffit onto the ceiling with a chalk line or laser level.

Lift the face of the soffit against the ceiling with your assistant's help, lining it up with the chalk line or laser level. Position the soffit face so that it hangs vertically from the ceiling, and the side of the soffit face that has the 2-by-2 boards is visible if you're looking at the soffit head-on. You want the side of the soffit face that contains the 2-by-2 boards facing out away from the cabinets because you will attach drywall to the 2-by-2s after the frame has been completed.

Attach the soffit panel to the ceiling by driving 3-inch wood screws through the 2-by-2 board along the ceiling and into the ceiling joists.

Cut lookouts for the bottom of the soffit. These are blocks of 2-by-2 board that provide support along the bottom edge of the soffit. Cut the lookouts to match the distance between the 2-by-4 board on the wall and the inner edge of the soffit panel. Make enough lookouts to be able to install each no more than 16 inches apart from the others.

Nail the lookouts into place in the gap between the wall and the soffit panel. Attach the lookouts to the soffit panel by driving a nail through the front of the panel and into the end of the lookout. Attach the lookouts to the 2-by-4 board by driving the nails in at a 45-degree angle. This is called toenailing. The frame is now complete and ready for the drywall to be installed.