I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.
http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

On Sep 28, 5:43*pm, Mikepier wrote:
I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

I would recommend against screwing into duct work. Its not a huge
deal but added weight & little screw tips to the interior of the ducts
is not a great idea.

I would make the framing out / boxing out of the duct work a totally
separate structural unit.

cheers
Bob

"Mikepier" wrote in message
...
I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.
http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

You are gonna put the hat channel directly on the duct ?? NOT a good
idea....You need to hang the framing off the floor joists.....Why not just
do a suspended ceiling ???Much easier to frame around duct work..Though it
does lend a commercial look to it...You could just sheetrock around and over
it and leave it exposed and just paint it white....Don't screw framing to
the duct work though....A BIG no no....

On Sep 28, 8:43*pm, Mikepier wrote:
I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

Check out the USG web site for their online drywall manual. It will
give you a lot of ideas.

The standard way is to screw some angle or track to the ceiling and
hang vertical pieces of 1 5/8" steel stud from it. The bottom can be
finished with either angle or track. If the span is not too great,
you might not need any horizontal framing under the duct at all - the
drywall will span 24" with 5/8" board.

It is also possible to just use angle/track at the ceiling and hang
the drywall with no "studs" with some more angle to attach the drywall
under the duct. You should allow a bit of room so the framing won't
contact the duct so it doesn't pick up the duct vibration and turn the
soffit into a drum.

R

On Sep 29, 1:29*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Sep 28, 8:43*pm, Mikepier wrote:

I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

Check out the USG web site for their online drywall manual. *It will
give you a lot of ideas.

The standard way is to screw some angle or track to the ceiling and
hang vertical pieces of 1 5/8" steel stud from it. *The bottom can be
finished with either angle or track. *If the span is not too great,
you might not need any horizontal framing under the duct at all - the
drywall will span 24" with 5/8" board.

It is also possible to just use angle/track at the ceiling and hang
the drywall with no "studs" with some more angle to attach the drywall
under the duct. *You should allow a bit of room so the framing won't
contact the duct so it doesn't pick up the duct vibration and turn the
soffit into a drum.

R

Thanks for the info.

You suggested hanging track from the ceiling with no studs, just
attach drywall. Does that mean the drywall holds up the entire
structure with just sheetrock screws?

On Sep 29, 6:41*am, Mike rock wrote:
On Sep 29, 1:29*am, RicodJour wrote:
On Sep 28, 8:43*pm, Mikepier wrote:

I have an ongoing project in my basement and was considering framing
out my HVAC ductwork. I was considering using furring hat channels
like this.http://www.phillipsmfg.com/images/pr...chan/78DWC.jpg

The furring strip is only 7/8" thick. My main concern was fastening
these directly to the ductwork using small "zip" screws. Are there any
drawbacks drilling into the ductwork? Are these furring channels a
good idea? I figured it would be a lot easier framing than using wood
for framing.

Check out the USG web site for their online drywall manual. *It will
give you a lot of ideas.

I just checked out the USG Gypsum manual and it did not seem to cover
the method I mentioned. It was covered in earlier editions of the
manual - I haven't checked it out in years. Nevertheless, hanging the
soffit using the drywall is a good technique.

The standard way is to screw some angle or track to the ceiling and
hang vertical pieces of 1 5/8" steel stud from it. *The bottom can be
finished with either angle or track. *If the span is not too great,
you might not need any horizontal framing under the duct at all - the
drywall will span 24" with 5/8" board.

It is also possible to just use angle/track at the ceiling and hang
the drywall with no "studs" with some more angle to attach the drywall
under the duct. *You should allow a bit of room so the framing won't
contact the duct so it doesn't pick up the duct vibration and turn the
soffit into a drum.

Thanks for the info.

You suggested hanging track from the ceiling with no studs, just
attach drywall. Does that mean the drywall holds up the entire
structure with just sheetrock screws?

Yep. Seems odd, but it is a suggested construction.

http://books.google.com/books?id=k9-...age&q=&f=false
The picture shows the fully framed method of building a soffit, but
the text describes what I mentioned.

Only caveat - if the soffit might be subject to abuse, I'd frame it as
it would be stiffer and less likely to get damaged, but those aren't
really major concerns in most instances.

R

Thanks for that link descibing the drywall supporting the soffit. I
will look into it

I came across this picture of ductwork enclosed in metal framing:
http://www.narrowgauge.org/sn3/graph...os/photo6.html

Could that be done? Its not attached to the duct.

On Sep 29, 2:10*pm, Mike rock wrote:
Thanks for that link descibing the drywall supporting the soffit. I
will look into it

I came across this picture of ductwork enclosed in metal framing:http://www.narrowgauge.org/sn3/graph...youtConstructi...

Could that be done? Its not attached to the duct.

Sure it can be done that way - you just saw some pictures of it!

The metal framing is touching the ductwork and that will just transmit
the duct noise to the soffit. Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I
tend to eliminate noise problems whenever I can.

You could build that same thing by using three lengths of metal
framing angle and two pieces of drywall. Faster, cheaper and still
plenty strong. Is your soffit so big that you have to have
conventional framing?

R

On Sep 29, 2:36*pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Sep 29, 2:10*pm, Mike rock wrote:

Thanks for that link descibing the drywall supporting the soffit. I
will look into it

I came across this picture of ductwork enclosed in metal framing:http://www.narrowgauge.org/sn3/graph...youtConstructi...

Could that be done? Its not attached to the duct.

Sure it can be done that way - you just saw some pictures of it! *

The metal framing is touching the ductwork and that will just transmit
the duct noise to the soffit. *Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I
tend to eliminate noise problems whenever I can.

You could build that same thing by using three lengths of metal
framing angle and two pieces of drywall. *Faster, cheaper and still
plenty strong. *Is your soffit so big that you have to have
conventional framing?

R

Here are some pics of my ductwork. Its a supply and return next to
each other, along with another small branch that goes off at an angle.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mikerock...eat=directlink