Bulkheads and soffits — the boxes above your cabinets
Add the ceiling-hung boxes real kitchens have — over cabinets, ductwork, or plumbing runs — and see their true clear height everywhere.
Real ceilings aren't perfectly flat. A kitchen has a soffit boxing in the space above the wall cabinets; a basement has bulkheads hiding ductwork and beams. RoomSketch3D models these as a box you hang below the ceiling, so the plan shows the true clear height underneath.
This page covers adding a soffit or bulkhead, sizing its footprint, and setting how far it drops.
Step by step
- 1
Place the bulkhead
Build Panel → Soffit / Bulkhead, then click where it goes on the plan.
The bulkhead's footprint on the plan — drag and rotate like any item. - 2
Size the box
In the inspector, set the width and depth of the footprint and the drop — how far it hangs below the ceiling (a typical duct chase drops about 12 inches).
- 3
Check it in 3D and elevations
In 3D the box hangs from the ceiling; in Elevation views it appears sliced with the reduced clear height visible below it.
The dropped box reads clearly in 3D.
Tips
Match the cabinets
A kitchen soffit usually runs the depth of the wall cabinets (about 13 in) along the top of the run. Size the footprint to the cabinet line.
Duct chases drop about 12 in
A boxed-in duct or beam typically hangs around 12 in below the ceiling. Set the drop to match and the clear height below updates everywhere, elevation views included.
Common mistakes
Confusing a soffit with a lowered ceiling
A soffit is a partial box over part of the room. To lower the whole ceiling, change the ceiling height instead.
Losing head height under a basement bulkhead
A bulkhead over a walkway can drop below head height. Check the clear height in an elevation view before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a soffit and a bulkhead?
They're the same tool — a box that hangs below the ceiling. 'Soffit' is the kitchen term (over cabinets); 'bulkhead' is the basement or duct term.
How do I set how far it drops?
Select it and set the drop in the Inspector — how far it hangs below the ceiling. A typical duct chase is about 12 in.
Does it show the clear height in elevation views?
Yes — elevation views slice through the soffit and show the true clear height underneath.
Can I put one anywhere, not just along a wall?
Yes — drag the box out wherever the real soffit or bulkhead runs, along a wall or across the room.
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