How to Box Around Ducting in a Basement
A common basement remodeling project is boxing around ducting. A basement may contain unsightly ducts that should be covered when putting finishing touches on the room. A box-like structure, also referred to as a soffit, is built over the ductwork to camouflage the exposed pipes. Although it is a time-consuming process, boxing around the ducting in your basement is worth the work when the finished product is revealed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Making the Soffit
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1
Measure the length and width of the area to be boxed in. Also measure the height of the pipes. Record the measurements.
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2
Locate the ceiling joists with a stud finder along the area where you will be attaching the soffit. Mark the areas with a pencil.
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3
Cut 4 pieces of wood in the length you previously recorded. Cut the lumber for the width of the ductwork. The amount of lumber cut for the width depends on the length of the soffit. Cut one width piece for every 24 inches of length.
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4
Cut the lumber for the height of the ductwork. The amount of lumber cut for the height depends on how many pieces were cut for the width.
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5
Measure and mark the length pieces of wood every 24 inches. Assemble the box using a hammer and nails.
Attaching and Finishing the Soffit
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6
Lift the box to the ceiling. Enlist the help of one or two people to avoid injury.
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7
Secure the frame to the ceiling with a hammer and nails. Hammer the nails in at the ceiling joists to secure.
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8
Finish the soffit by hanging drywall. Paint the finished drywall a color that matches the ceiling.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When doing measurements for the soffit (length, width and height), add 1 1/2-inches to allow adequate clearance of the ducting.
References
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