Framing a Soffit Above Bathroom Cabinets

The empty space above a set of wall cabinets can be used for open-faced storage, or you can frame it in with a soffit to give the area a finished drywall or paneling reveal. Adding a soffit gives you the opportunity to hide things like wiring, pipes, duct-work and cables that are part of the overall bathroom vanity. They can be framed in a variety of ways, depending on your preference for finish material.

Basic Framing

Soffits are made out of the same basic framing material that is used in wall framing for homes: two-by-fours. A basic frame is a horizontal header along the top of a box and a footer along the bottom of a box, with vertical supports run in between. Since there isn’t a load to support, you don’t need to follow the 16-inch space rule for load-bearing walls. Instead, you can set the vertical supports at 24-inch intervals and save on material. If you're building a soffit prior to cabinet installation, keep the bottom edge of the soffit level to help aid in the cabinet installation.

Recessed for Finish Material

You need a face and either one or two returns on the side of the cabinet box, since some cabinets are in corners and only have a single side revealed. The finish material you have chosen to cover the framing for the soffit needs to be taken into consideration so you flush out with the face of the cabinet. If you are merely painting or wallpapering over drywall, only include the thickness of your drywall. If you are also going to add tile to the soffit, recess it the depth of the tile plus at least 1/8 inch for thinset mortar. Wood paneling needs to be recessed to accommodate the thickness of the panels.

Tying Into Existing Framing

It's unlikely that you'll be working with naked wall studs and ceiling joists unless you're framing the soffit in advance of your cabinet installation. If you are, mount the frame directly to the framing of the home where applicable, after you have built it to accommodate your soffit size. For existing installations, a stud finder shows you where to mount the fasteners for the framing. You can mount on top of drywall since no weight is affecting the soffit and it's just there for show. Alternatively, cut out the drywall with a utility knife and go straight to the wood if you prefer.

Screws vs. Nails

Trying to use a framing nailer in a soffit area is a recipe for disaster, and a hammer and nails just aren’t expedient. Although you can nail things together if you prefer, it takes a far longer time than if you simply use a hand drill and some 3-inch wood screws. This allows you the depth necessary to mount the frame boards to each other and then to the framing of the home where applicable. It also gives you the flexibility to come back after the fact and remove the soffit for a remodel, whereas nails are much harder to remove and pry loose in a remodel setting.


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