Performing a Soffit-Ectomy

How many times have you looked at those ugly soffits and wanted them out of your kitchen? Yes it will give you more room for cabinets, it'll open the space up to help give it height, and you can have your cabinets to the ceiling. You are sitting with your designer and in the design phase the decision is made to remove the soffits to give you what you want in the new layout, you are happy. (but should you be?)

Before you start selecting cabinets and crown molding ready to place your order here are some things to consider...

1. Not knowing any better and trusting that the designer knows what they are doing, you place the order for the cabinetry and then wait until they arrive and imagine yourself in the beautiful new kitchen.
2. The contractor shows up and starts demolishing the old kitchen and says hey did you check the soffits before you ordered the cabinetry?
3. Why are there pipes in the way, a header that cannot be moved, a maze of electrical lines, a hidden pipe or some other obstacle? 
4. If this happens to you, your designer failed you and your remodeling project because they assumed it would be alright
5. Look before you leap I was always told....

There of course is a better way to begin your kitchen remodeling project.

PLAN - INSPECT - ORDER - ENJOY

Ideally before your design is created is the time to inspect, however very few designers or contractors will touch your home until you have signed a contract with them so you may have to do this step yourself.

Just be sure to open up the soffits and inspect so there are NO unexpected surprises.

• STEP # 1 - Gaining access:

Before the remodel begins cut access panels into the space with a sheetrock saw.

I have seen may people get excited about the thought of demolishing the sheetrock and use a hammer to open soffits for inspection. Certainly that is one way of gaining access alright, but you could do more damage than you think.

While this seems like a fun approach, you do not know what’s on the other side; what if there is a bathroom waste line right behind the sheetrock?

You might just break it and have a costly repair that you do not need. Which if you do discover something that simply cannot be moved it is much easier to repair a saw cut piece of sheetrock.

• STEP # 2 - Inspecting:

 Use a flash light and looking all the way inside the area to be removed, you may have to cut a few holes that’s ok because you want to be sure of what’s inside.

• STEP # 3 - Seeing it all:

 Look everywhere inside; sometimes it is hard to see inside or you just do not feel comfortable sticking your head in the access hole. Here is a trick I learned from one of our electricians, put in a flashlight and then hold your cell phone inside and snap a picture or record a video. You then have a lot to look at without hitting your head or risking getting cut.

• STEP # 4 - Closing it back up:

Who wants to spend the next (6) weeks with holes in the ceiling? Depending on the season winter or summer you will be wasting energy heating or cooling the space. Also, you could have inspecting in the soffit or even mice so there is no reason to keep it open until the remodel begins.

• STEP # 5 - Patching it up:

Put the piece you cut out back into place and secure it with masking tape. Several pieces will hold it while your new cabinets are being made and your remodel begins. 

If your designer and/or contractor are willing to take a little extra time up front in planning, it will save everyone headaches in the end. I find that if you go to a premium quality showroom you will find designers with a rolodex of reputable contractors they work with regularly.

Happy Remodeling!

Bob Gockeler can be reached at bgockeler@kitint.com.