If you’re bored by a plain boxy room, take heart. You don’t
have to rip apart walls and ceilings to make the space more inviting, better
lit and more dramatic. The simple soffit project we show here will do all that.
A soffit is a dropped section of ceiling that’s usually positioned along the
walls. It creates a multi-height ceiling, which in itself adds a visual
feature. But even better, it offers a perfect home for lighting—general
lighting for the room as a whole and recessed lights for practical uses like
illuminating closets and reading, as well as for highlighting artwork and
display shelves.
BEFORE
In this article, we’ll show you how to dramatically improve any
room with a soffit and lights. We’ll walk you through a simple soffit building
method that leaves the existing ceilings and walls intact, so there’s no messy
drywall repair work. And we’ll show you how to install electrical fixtures and
run wires inside the new soffit so you won’t have to open up walls for the new
electrical work.
If you’ve successfully tackled any simple carpentry project,
such as building a deck or installing utility shelves, you’re more than
qualified to handle this project. Most of the project is just a matter of
cutting 2x4s and plywood to length and screwing them into
place.
Figure A Soffit Details
Click Image to enlarge.
This soffit cross section
illustrates the framing, wiring and trim details. You can build deeper or
taller soffits, but it’s important to make yours at least 8 in. high to leave
enough room for mounting recessed lights.
Start to finish, you can complete this project in two easy weekends.
You’ll only need everyday carpentry tools,
including a 4-ft. level, circular saw, screw gun, jigsaw and a miter saw for
accurate cuts on the trim.
You’ll also need basic electrical skills to
complete the wiring (see “Planning the Wiring,” ). We won’t show in this
article how to set new electrical boxes, run new wires or install the fixtures.
If you’re unsure about these details, refer to “For More Information,”, or
hire an electrician. Apply for an electrical permit before you
start.
Designing your soffit
Our soffits are 8 in. high and 28 in. wide,
and they’ll fit in any room with 8-ft. or higher ceilings (as long as the door
and window trim is at least 10 in. from the ceiling). You can make soffits
wider or taller to suit larger rooms if you wish. But the 8-in. height is the
minimum needed to handle the depth of the recessed lights. The 28-in. width is
about the minimum needed to position recessed lights far enough from walls to
effectively light wall-hung features. Larger rooms may benefit visually with
upsized soffits.
We added three wood trim bands to finish off
the soffit (Figure A).
Choose wood profiles, types and finishes for these that match or contrast with
the room’s other trim. Our trim is lightly stained 3/4-in. thick
maple.
The lighting fixtures in our soffit are of
two types: “rope” lighting for unobtrusive mood lighting and recessed soffit
fixtures for specific lighting tasks. Rope lighting’s all the rage among
designers. It’s cheap, and it can be cut to length for shorter runs or spliced
together for longer ones. Special splicing connections and end caps make that
easy. Measure the inner perimeter of the soffit to determine how much rope
light you’ll need. The home center will carry lengths from just a few feet to
dozens of feet. The rope light is controlled by two three-way switches so the
light can be flipped from either the bedside (for those midnight bathroom runs)
or from near the door.
Recessed lights are perfect for specific lighting tasks (see opening photo). You’ll need to select trim rings and bulbs designed for your purposes. We’ll say more about that in “Selecting Recessed Lights,”.
Mark your lighting locations and the ceiling framing
Begin by walking around your room and
deciding where you’d like more light. Artwork, display shelves, tables,
favorite reading spots, closets and entry areas are all prime candidates. After
you decide the best locations, mark them on the wall with painter’s tape about
1 ft. down from the ceiling (Photo
1). Then draw up a wiring plan and apply for your electrical permit.
(See
Figure A above
and “Planning the Wiring,” for more details.)
Use a stud finder to find any ceiling
framing that falls within 24 in. of the walls. On two sides of the room,
ceiling framing will run perpendicular to the walls, and on the opposite sides
it will run parallel. Mark the framing locations with chalk lines and pencil
marks as shown in
Photo 1. Lay
out the soffit framing by snapping a chalk line around the perimeter of the
room 24 in. away from the wall where the joists are perpendicular and 22-1/2
in. away where the joists are parallel (Photo
1).
Planning the wiring
Click Image to enlarge.
Draw up a diagram showing the light and switch positions to help you plan the wiring. The power
source will be an existing circuit at a switch box or outlet. To make sure you
don’t overload the circuit, add up the wattage of each bulb you intend to use
(our total was 450 watts) and any other appliances or lights already on the
circuit. Divide that number by 120 (volts) to get the total amperage load on
the circuit with the new lights. That number shouldn’t exceed 80 percent of the
rating of the circuit breaker that protects the circuit. (See “Ask The Family
Handyman,” for more details.) If it does, find another circuit or have
an electrician run a new one.
Try to select switch
locations that are easy to reach with a cable from the power source. The soffit
will serve as easy access to most spots. Alternatives include running cable
through an unfinished basement or the attic, and mounting switches near an
existing light switch in the same stud space.
Spend some time thinking
about your switch locations to best suit each individual light or group of
lights. For example, consider placing the switches for nightlights and reading
lights within easy reach of headboards in bedrooms. Also consider your switch
options: dimmer switches for lighting artwork or display shelves, three-way
switches for controlling lights from two locations, and motion detector
switches.
Measure the room and buy the materials
Measure the length of each wall in the room, and using our photos and Figure A, write up a materials list. If possible, buy 2x2s and 2x4s as long as each wall. You’ll need roughly:
- Three 2x4s for each wall, the same length as the wall For every 8 ft. of wall:
- One 4 x 8-ft. sheet of 5/8-in. thick CDX plywood
- One 4 x 8-ft. sheet of 1/2-in. thick drywall
- One 8-ft. length of “tear-away” drywall edging
- One 8-ft. pine 1x2
In addition, buy:
- A 1-lb. box each of 3-in. drywall screws, 16d nails, 1-5/8 and 1-1/4 in. screws (enough fasteners for all but the largest rooms)
- A 1-gallon pail of taping compound and roll of tape.
You’ll also need 1x4 material for the soffit
trim (Figure A) and
3/4 x 5/8-in. trim for the soffit underside and ceiling joint. Rip the narrow
trim from a 1x3 with a table saw or buy slim moldings. For accurate trim
lengths, it’s best to measure the soffit after it’s framed. Avoid splices for a
more polished look.
Frame the soffit
Anchoring the soffit to the ceiling requires
two different techniques, depending on whether the ceiling joists run
perpendicular or parallel to the wall (Photo 1). Along walls with
perpendicular joists, simply screw a 2x2 even with the chalk line that’s 24 in.
away from the wall (Photo
2). You can buy 2x2s, but they’re notorious for being crooked and
only come in 8-ft. lengths. If you have a table saw, simply rip long 2x4s in
half.
Along walls with parallel joists, screw 2x4
blocks to the ceiling joists and nail 2x2s to the ends. If you only catch one
ceiling joist, toe screw the 2x4s to the top 2x4 wall plate (Photo 2). Then
nail the ledger to the wall studs (Photo 3). Keep it exactly even with
the 8-in. guideline. (Take down any pictures on the other side of the wall or
Whistler’s Mother may take a dive!)
Finding studs and joists behind drywall is
easy with a good stud finder, but if you have trouble, probe with a nail in a
spot that’ll be hidden by the soffit. The rest of the framing will be spaced
either 16 or 24 in. from any that you find.
Now rip each sheet of plywood into two
widths: one 28-1/2 in. for the soffit underside and the other 8 in. for the
soffit facing. Measure and cut both pieces from opposite edges of the sheet so
you leave a straight factory edge on each one. It’s important to set the 8-in.
facing pieces perfectly level (Photo
4). Check for level at a few places in between. If you have a
sagging ceiling, you may have to scribe the plywood against the ceiling and cut
it to accommodate variations. If all is level, drive the rest of the screws,
spacing them every 6 in. and working your way around the room. Then add the
2x2s and lookouts to the lower plywood edge (Photo 5).
Rough-in the wiring
We’ll show you how to route and run the
cable here, but we won’t show how to install boxes or make wiring connections.
See “For More Information” on p. 94 for these details.
Carefully cut holes for new switch boxes and
then knock holes in the wall behind the soffit directly above them (Photo 6). Feed
the cable down through the soffit hole and out the remodeling box hole, then
run the cable to each soffit light location, stapling it every 2 ft. to the
upper part of the 2x4 ledger. Cut the cable at each light, leaving at least 2
ft. of cable for hooking up the lights later. Don’t scrimp on the extra cable
or you’ll have problems later. Coil both ends and temporarily tack them to the
framing with a staple, then continue running the cable to the rest of the
lights (Photo
7).
Select a spot for the duplex outlet that
powers the rope lights. Cut the outlet hole at the bottom of the soffit just
above the 2x2 with a jigsaw. Run a cable from the switch box to this outlet.
(You’ll have to carve out the back of the drywall later to eliminate the bulge
caused by the nailing flange.)
Finish up the framing
Walls are rarely as straight as you might
think, so use this technique to get the soffit straight. String a chalk line
even with, but not touching, the inside edge of the 2x2 and use it as a guide
to measure exact lengths for the 2x4 “lookouts” (Photo 7). Wedge
each lookout into place and check the string to make sure it fits before
nailing it into place. Lookouts can be spaced anywhere from 2 ft. to 3 ft. But
keep them at least 6 in. away from the recessed light
locations.
Drywall the soffit faces first. Cut a 7-3/4
in. wide strip from each sheet and set the larger leftover sections aside for
the soffit underside. Place the tapered edge of the strip near the bottom of
the soffit where it won’t show.
Next, screw the plywood to the underside of
the soffit. If you have wavy walls, you may have to cut some sheets narrower to
make them fit. Cut the plywood so the ends join under soffit lookouts
(Photo 9). Then
cut out the holes for the light fixtures (Photo 10). These holes are extra
large because the fixtures will mount to the drywall, not to the
wood.
Next, screw the drywall to the underside of
the plywood with the cut edge facing the wall, leaving a 1/4-in. gap for the
tearaway drywall edging (Photo 12). Reach over the top and
score the drywall along the soffit face. Then snap the piece and finish the cut
from the underside. Recessed lights usually come with exact templates to help
you mark the mounting holes (Photo
13). Then cut the
openings.
Finishing the drywall
Begin finishing off the drywall by
installing the tear-away edging. Staple it about every 4 in. and wherever the
edging puckers. Fill in the edging with compound using a 6-in. putty knife.
Ride the knife’s edge on the ridge of the edging near the wall (Photo 14).Apply
at least two coats, letting it dry between coats. Also tape the drywall joints
and fill the screw holes as well. It’s not necessary to tape against the
ceiling because trim will cover that joint. Tear off the flange, then sand over
the flange and any joints, then
paint.
Add the trim
Prefinish all the trim and nail all trim
pieces with 2-1/4 in. brads. The ends of the trim will show from below at
corners, so if you’re a persnickety trim carpenter, miter the
corners.
Finish the wiring
Hook up the recessed lights by pulling the
cables free of the opening and stripping off 8 in. of the sheathing. Slip the
wires through the back of the fixture box and tighten the wire clamps. Join the
wires with electrical connectors and reclose the metal electrical box. The
directions that come with the fixtures will make the clamping system clear.
Wire and install the rope light outlet and then the wall switches, adding
remodeling boxes where needed.
Finish up the lighting by screwing in the
bulbs and snapping the eyeball trim rings into place. Lastly, cut the rope
light to fit or splice together lengths so it fills the trough around the inner
perimeter of the soffit (Photo 18).
Selecting recessed lights
For your soffit lights,
we recommend 6-in. diameter recessed fixtures that are labeled “remodeling.”
They’re simple to install because they have little clips that clamp the housing
onto the drywall lip that surrounds the opening. They also make building the
soffits a breeze because they don’t require special
framing.
“Trim rings” finish
off the fixture at the soffit underside. You can choose between a number of
different styles and finishes. We chose eyeball rings (opening photo) because
you can aim the light in whatever direction is best for the
task.
Finally, select the
type (spot or flood) and intensity (wattage) of the light bulbs. Spot lamps are
good for highlighting artwork, while flood lamps work best for spreading the
light over larger areas like the inside of a closet. Each fixture has a wattage
limit, but you may not want the maximum output. The best way to work out these
variables is to buy a couple of each type of bulb in different wattages and
experiment to find the best choice for each fixture.
SPOT LAMP
FLOOD LAMP
For More Information
- “Power from a Switch Box,” Ask Handyman, Feb. ‘03.
- “Add an Outlet,” Nov. ‘01.
- “Electrical Overloads,” How a House Works, Dec./Jan. ‘00.
- “How to Install a Dimmer Switch When the Old Box is Too Small,” June ‘04.
1. Find the joists with a stud finder. Snap a chalk line 22-1/2 in. away from walls parallel to joists and 24 in. from walls perpendicular to joists for the soffit framing.
2. Screw 2x2s along the line that’s perpendicular to the joists, and 22-1/4 in. blocking at a right angle to the line that’s parallel to the joists. Use 3-in. screws.
3. Nail 2x2s to the ends of the 2x4 blocks. Then snap a chalk line on the wall 8 in. down from the ceiling and nail 2x4 ledgers into the wall studs with 16d nails.
4. Rip 8-in. facing strips from 5/8-in. plywood (one from each sheet). Level the bottoms even with the ledger and screw them to the 2x2 with 2-in. screws.
5. Clamp 2x2s flush with the bottom of the facing and fasten the plywood to them with 1-5/8 in. screws. Span plywood joints to make them solid.
6. Install the wiring. Cut holes for the switch boxes, feed in the cable and run it to all the light locations. Leave an extra 2 ft. of cable at each light.
7. String a line along the bottom inside edge of the 2x2 and cut 2x4 “lookouts” spaced every 24 in. Keep them at least 6 in. away from light locations. Mount a duplex box just above the 2x2 in the soffit facing.
8. Cut 7-3/4 in. strips of 1/2-in. drywall (one from each sheet) and screw them to the soffit facing with the tapered edges facing down. Trim off overhanging edges.
9. Rip 5/8-in. plywood to 28-1/2 in. wide and screw it to the framing with 1-5/8 in. screws. Orient the plywood with the factory edge facing the room.
10. Center 7-in. square holes at each recessed light with the outer edge even with the 2x2. Drill 1/2-in. starter holes and cut out each hole with a jigsaw.
11. Clamp and screw a 1x2 nailer flush with the plywood lip using 1-5/8 in. screws. Make sure to overlap plywood seams by at least 1 ft.
12. Screw 1/2-in. drywall to the underside of the soffit, leaving a 1/4-in. gap against the wall. Trim the outer edge flush with the plywood.
13. Mark the exact center of each recessed light 18-1/2 in. from the wall. Position the light template and trace the fixture opening. Cut the opening with a drywall saw.
14. Slip the fixed flange of tear-away edging behind the drywall and staple it into place. Fill the edging with taping compound. Tape the butt joints and fill over screwheads. Peel the tear-away flanges free, then sand and paint.
15. Wire each recessed light following the manufacturer’s instructions. Slip them into the openings and anchor them with the locking flanges.
16. Cut the ceiling trim and nail it into place. Then nail the 1x4 flush with the top of the 1x2 with 1-1/2 in. brads. Finally, add the trim on the back of the 1x4.
17. Install the switch boxes and hook up the light switches. Then install the bulbs and recessed light trim rings.
18. Install the switched receptacle for the rope lights. Assemble enough rope light length to fill the soffit perimeter. Then plug it in and lay it into the trough.
