How to Take Down a Soffit in Your Kitchen

Kitchen soffits are hollow fixtures used to fill the space between the top of kitchen cabinets and the ceiling. In some cases, soffits also conceal wiring and plumbing. If you want to install taller kitchen cabinets or simply want to create a space between the ceiling and the top of your kitchen cabinets, you can remove the soffits yourself without having to hire a contractor. This is not a difficult job and only requires the use of a few tools.

Plastic sheeting
Safety glasses
Dust mask
Leather gloves
Stool or ladder
Chisel
Hammer
Flashlight
Reciprocating saw

Instructions

- 1
  Remove everything from your counter tops and cover them, along with the floor, appliances and sink, with plastic sheeting. This will catch the dust and particles as you remove the soffits from the kitchen.
- 2
  Put on safety glasses, a dust mask and leather gloves. Set a stool or ladder under the kitchen soffit.
- 3
  Climb onto the stool or ladder with a chisel and hammer. Hold the chisel at a 90-degree angle and strike it firmly with the hammer, breaking a hole into the soffit. Break two to three more holes horizontally across the soffit.
- 4
  Shine a flashlight into each hole, looking for electrical wiring and/or plumbing. Note the location of the wires or pipes, if applicable.
- 5
  Insert the blade of a reciprocating saw into one of the holes in the soffit and begin to saw away the plaster or drywall, along with the wood framing inside the soffit. Take down the soffit a section at a time, sawing through the drywall or plaster and wood framing. Pull the cut sections down as you go.

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