Old kitchen soffit removal and disposal isn’t exactly a walk in the park. The truth is, this is very time-consuming and laborious work. Although it is relatively straightforward, it’s definitely not an easy DIY job. Now, the actual tear out isn’t all that complicated. But, what follows after will require some serious carpentry and electrical wiring skills. This is what makes an old kitchen soffit removal and disposal a real challenge.
Remodeling Debris Disposal
Before you bring in your tools and start ripping things down, you should first plan for the enormous amount of debris you’ll generate. Too often, homeowners and others alike just don’t amply plan for the aftermath. They focus on the finished product. And, it isn’t until they can’t avoid it they must deal with all the material debris.
Making the decision to remove the soffits means that you have committed to a big project. Just how big depends on what is lurking behind the soffits. The only way to tell is to cut a hole in the drywall big enough to shine a flashlight and get a good look around. If you’re really lucky, it will just be empty space. But chances are pretty good that you’ll see wiring, air ducts and/ or plumbing pipes. If you are still intent on removing those soffits, all that “stuff” has to be re-routed and you have officially committed to a major remodeling project. --Kitchen Craftsman
Make no mistake about it, a kitchen soffit removal will generate a whole bunch of junk. What’s more, the replacement process will only add to it. So, be sure to schedule remodeling debris cleanup before you start your project.
Old Kitchen Soffit Removal in Englewood
To proceed with an old kitchen soffit removal, you’ll need a few sheets of plastic or tarps, flashlight, eye protection, a dust mask, gloves, a utility knife, pry bar, power drill-driver, hammer, and a ladder. Here’s a general overview of how to go about an old kitchen soffit removal:
- Turn off the power. Some kitchen soffits contain electrical wiring and serve as a great concealment. But this presents a really big safety hazard. Go to the main electrical panel and find the breaker powering the wiring inside the soffit. Turn it off and use a meter to ensure the power is no longer flowing.
- Take a quick peek inside. Next, you can start to remove the kitchen soffit but before you start hammering or sawing away, be sure to take a quick look inside. Cut out or hammer out a small hole, then use a flashlight to look inside. You're looking for unexpected things, like pests or anything out of the ordinary.
- Begin to tear down the soffit. Once you know what's inside, it's time to tear down the soffit. Use a reciprocating saw to remove the drywall or other material to fully expose the entire frame. Throw the debris into one pile to mitigate tripping hazards and have more room to work.
- Remove all the soffit framing. Lastly, you'll take the soffit framing down using a drill-driver and pry bar. Once the kitchen soffit frame is completely removed from the wall and ceiling, you can add more cabinets or patch the area to blend.
Before you start your kitchen soffit removal in Englewood, be sure to phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services.
