How to Build A Soffit Around Ductwork
Soffit Skirt Wall: different Ceiling Heights
In some situations [photos above] you may be separating two different ceiling heights. In these situations the vertical plywood panel may be all that you need. If this is the situation make sure that the lower ceiling terminates into the 2x material and for a better look and less error make sure the 2x material is ½ to 1 inch lower than the lowest ceiling.
When framing a skirt-wall soffit make sire to include bracing to keep the plywood from bowing or twisting.
By leaving the 2x lower I can have my plasterer install blue board and plaster on the exposed plywood and then install two lengths of corner bead on the lower 2x and plaster up the side of the 2x. This way the lowest ceiling terminates into a plastered surface. It’s results in a sharp, clean look.
Note on the photos in this article:
There are way too many soffit situations to detail in this article so I will show photos from a most recent project. The photos show a room that is being finished into an exercise room and how to build a soffit around duct work.
The floor joists are over 9 feet off the floor and floor height was truly amazing. Originally we were going to install an acoustical ceiling at 7’4” to completely cover the duct-work and create a flat ceiling.
The homeowner then changed her mind and decided to purchase some exercise equipment that necessitated an 8 foot ceiling. We decided to build a skirt-wall soffit around the HVAC duct work and have a taller ceiling in half of the room and a 7’4″ ceiling at and around the HVAC duct-work.