How to Frame an Interior Soffit

An interior soffit allows you to hide ductwork or wiring, finish the area between the ceiling and your kitchen cabinets or create an attractive housing for recessed lighting. House remodelers say of a soffit that they “frame it and hang it,” meaning they create a wooden structure and apply drywall to it. Framing your first soffit can be a good test of basic carpentry skills.

Measuring tape
2-by-2 lumber
Chop saw
Wood screws
Drill and bit set
Drywall
Utility knife
Drywall screws
Corner bead
Joint compound
Paint
Stud finder

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length, width and depth of the area you wish to enclose with a soffit.
- 2
  Build a matching pair of ladderlike side frames for each side of the soffit. Cut a pair of 2-by-2s the length of the soffit. Cut 2-by-2 braces to install between the long pieces so that their length plus the combined 3-inch thickness of the long pieces create the overall depth you need for the soffit. (Though they are called 2-by2s, their actual thickness is 1½ inches.) Cut enough braces for each end of the frame and additional ones for every 16 inches of ladder. Screw the braces in place with 2½-inch wood screws.
- 3
  Install the side frames with additional wood screws to the ceiling joists on either side of the ductwork or pipe you wish to enclose.
- 4
  Cut crosspieces to connect the side frames -- one for each brace in the side frame -- and screw them into place aligned with the braces.
- 5
  Cut drywall with a utility knife so that its edges hit the center of a brace or crosspiece. Screw the drywall with drywall screws to the frame. Finish the outer corners with corner bead and joint compound and allow to dry. Paint the completed soffit.

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Interior Remodeling