How do I screw in the bottom 2X4s when building soffit

yummy mummy · 06-22-2007, 10:14 PM

I have built a soffit around my heating ducts that run against a wall.

I am about to put in the bottom 2X4 lookout piece. On one side I have the 2X2 to screw it in from, but on the other side, do I toenail in the screw, and if so will it interfere with the drywall?

Or do I put 2 screws in from the sides.

(I'm not sure if I'm explaining this clearly.)

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 06-23-2007, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummy mummy

I have built a soffit around my heating ducts that run against a wall.
I am about to put in the bottom 2X4 lookout piece. On one side I have the 2X2 to screw it in from, but on the other side, do I toenail in the screw, and if so will it interfere with the drywall?
Or do I put 2 screws in from the sides.
(I'm not sure if I'm explaining this clearly.)

Lost me....Can you please put the glass of wine down and re-phrase your question?

yummy mummy · 06-23-2007, 10:25 AM

I have put the wine glass down, just long enough to take this pic.

If you notice the 2X4 that I have screwed in, it it screwed in on the sides.
Is this OK or should I be screwing it in from the bottom?
Does that not interfere with the drywall if I did that. (toenailing it in)

(If you notice, I had a glass of wine in hand when I cut that 2X4 piece.'
Will put it down next time I cut the next one.

)

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 06-23-2007, 11:11 AM

YM,

Unless you are able to sink the heads of the screws, I wouldn't bother screwing underneath - because, as you assumed: Protruding screw heads will interfere with the sheetrock installation.

Screws put in on the sides, like you have in the picture, should suffice....

You can now go back to your wine....

yummy mummy · 06-23-2007, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the info. Atlantic.

I can't even finish a glass of wine without falling asleep half way through it.

I'm a cheap date.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 06-23-2007, 01:57 PM

Light weight....

yummy mummy · 06-23-2007, 01:59 PM

most definitely light weight!!!!

Imagine if I wasn't......my poor husband.....

I quite crazy at the best of times.....

skymaster · 06-23-2007, 02:25 PM

Yummy; the next time you do this; You build the soffit as a complete frame before you hand it, this way all you have to do is screw thru framing into wall studs.
JackM looks good tho

yummy mummy · 06-23-2007, 03:58 PM

How do you mean a complete frame?

send_it_all · 06-23-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummy mummy

How do you mean a complete frame?

I think what he means is the same thing I was thinking when I first saw this thread.

Build two complete frames. (miniature versions of a regular stud wall....bottom plate, studs, top plate.) build them completely, then hang one from the ceiling...nailed/or preferably screwed to ceiling joists...then put one horizontily on the wall, nailed/screwed to the wall studs and nailed/screwed to the frame hanging from the ceiling.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 06-23-2007, 06:02 PM

From time to time, we will pre-build the components for a soffit. It takes at least 2 guys to get it up and in place and nailed off.

I don't think that would work in YM's situation since she is doing all the work herself......

gregzoll · 06-24-2007, 11:54 AM

You can still do it yourself, but will have to build a "Helper's assistant", unless you can "con" the neighbor to come over and help.

warnerww · 06-24-2007, 11:55 PM

Yummy what you did will work great. The duct work is less than 2 feet wide. You really do not even need to put any sheet rock screws into your 2 by 4's. if you can hit the 2 by 2's the drywall will be fine. Heck I have seen many people not even bother to build soffits. They screw the rock directly to the ducts. I would not do it but I have seen it done many times and have never seen a problem. The claim is, if you do this lint and garbage will collect on the screws in your duct work but I have not seen it yet. My buddy did it 15 years ago and still lives in the same house and has had no problems. Give it another 15 and who knows. Maybe the stuff is building up and he does not know. The drywall looks great though.

yummy mummy · 06-25-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warnerww

Yummy what you did will work great. The duct work is less than 2 feet wide. You really do not even need to put any sheet rock screws into your 2 by 4's. if you can hit the 2 by 2's the drywall will be fine. Heck I have seen many people not even bother to build soffits. They screw the rock directly to the ducts. I would not do it but I have seen it done many times and have never seen a problem. The claim is, if you do this lint and garbage will collect on the screws in your duct work but I have not seen it yet. My buddy did it 15 years ago and still lives in the same house and has had no problems. Give it another 15 and who knows. Maybe the stuff is building up and he does not know. The drywall looks great though.

Thanks warnerww.
The measurement is only about 13 inches wide. Thanks for answering a question that I was eventually going to ask. Whether I should put the drywall screws into the 2X4s or if onlyI should put them on the 2X2s, because it is not very wide.

warnerww · 06-25-2007, 12:40 AM

Yummy the secret of finishing a basement is do the best you can and do not sweat it. When I bought my first house I was an accountant and knew nothing of construction. I paid a monkey to do the drywall and it looked really bad. The wife spent a lot of time sponge painting and we received so many compliments on the paint job it was amazing. Just remember even if you make a mistake it can be hidden. Trust me you will know it is there and it will bug you for a while however over time it will fade. And if you make a mistake you can come here and we can all laugh and say, been there done that, and help you out. I really hope you are having fun finishing your house.