Replies

1. Expert Member
   BILL WICHERS | Dec 21, 2019 10:24pm | #1

   It sounds like you want to build small soffit to provide space for the fan. It’s not difficult to do, and is commonly done to hide ductwork in finished basements. You basically just frame out a box, then drywall over it.

   Another option you may want to consider is a wall mounted exhaust fan. This might be easier and/or less of a visual impact than building out a soffit to house a fan.

   Bill

2. 
   joenorm | Dec 22, 2019 09:15am | #2

   Thanks Bill,

   There is room in the ceiling and it'd be easy to drop in a small portion. I just cannot see how I'd have the fan installed and still have the insulators and drywall guys be able to do their work around it to create an air barrier on the sloped portion of the ceiling, leaving the dropped portion without insulation.

3. Expert Member
   Akos | Dec 22, 2019 10:22am | #3

   You don't need much room for a bathroom fan. You can even frame a small box around it, as long as it is high up in the ceiling it will do a good job of clearing humidity even if not directly above the shower. If you get one of the shallow ones, you can even mount it inside an interior stud bay.

   The way to do it is have the drywall folks hang all the drywall. You then tape the seams where the bulkhead will go (you can use drywall mud or 3M tape) then have the GC frame in the box and install drywall over it. The tapers then can come and finish the whole thing.

   This ensures your air barrier is continuous behind the bulkhead.

   I've attached a picture of how I did this, you can just see the box for the fan above the built in.

   
4. 
   joenorm | Dec 22, 2019 11:04am | #4

   I suppose I could insulate the sloped ceiling, then install a vapor barrier or smart membrane, then frame the dropped portion, then call the drywallers?

1. 
   DCContrarian | Dec 22, 2019 05:09pm | #5

   That would be my vote. I'd frame the dropped portion with metal studs, much easier working over your head since they weigh almost nothing.

1. Expert Member
   BILL WICHERS | Dec 22, 2019 05:34pm | #6

   They’re also trickier to connect at corners if you’re not used to working with them. Always a tradeoff :-)

   Bill

5. 
   joenorm | Dec 22, 2019 08:14pm | #7

   Could I use Tyvek for this? I have extra lying around. As opposed to buying a whole roll of something else?

1. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Dec 22, 2019 08:25pm | #8

   Joe,

   You are trying to maintain the underside of the trusses as an air-barrier, and also hold up the insulation above. I'd be using taped plywood.

   Don't forget, you also have to provide fire-stops in the walls at the level of the lowered ceiling.