Making a bulkhead: neatly concealing pipes and services

Making a bulkhead is a neat way to hide pipes, an extractor duct or a roller blind from view. A bulkhead is a boxed-in section against the ceiling or wall, usually a timber or metal frame with plasterboard, which is then plastered or spray-finished. Done well, it is barely noticeable and looks like part of the ceiling. A bulkhead can also add something, such as recessed spotlights or a hidden projector screen. In Amsterdam we made exactly that kind of bulkhead.

What do you use a bulkhead for?

It often starts with something that needs to be hidden: a waste pipe after a bathroom renovation, a heating pipe along the ceiling or a kitchen extractor duct. A bulkhead covers it without you having to lower the entire ceiling.

More and more often a bulkhead is also designed on purpose, as a clean strip along the wall with lighting or as a place for a curtain track. Then it is no longer a fix but part of the interior.

• Pipes and drains out of sight
• An extractor duct above the kitchen
• Recessed spotlights or indirect LED lighting
• A hidden curtain track, roller blind or projector screen

How do you make a bulkhead?

First a frame is fixed to the ceiling and wall, made of timber battens or metal stud profiles. Metal stud is straight and does not warp, timber makes it easier to attach things. Plasterboard is screwed onto it. In a bathroom, moisture-resistant board is used.

Then the joints are finished and the corners fitted with corner beads, so the edges are crisp and impact-resistant. Finally the bulkhead is plastered or spray-finished, so it blends seamlessly into the existing ceiling.

• Frame of timber battens or metal stud
• Plasterboard, moisture-resistant in wet rooms
• Corner beads for crisp, sturdy edges
• Plaster or spray finish matching the ceiling

What should you look out for when making a bulkhead?

Think about access beforehand. If there is a valve, a bleed point or a coupling inside the bulkhead, it needs an access hatch. Otherwise the bulkhead has to be cut open when there is a leak.

Consider noise as well. A waste pipe inside a bulkhead can be audible; insulation material inside the bulkhead dampens that. If a bulkhead runs past the meter cupboard or between two rooms, have someone assess whether fire-resistant board is needed.

Can a projector screen go inside a bulkhead?

Yes. In a home in Amsterdam we made a bulkhead with a projector screen inside it. Retracted, the screen is invisible; rolled down, it hangs in exactly the right place. After installation the bulkhead was plastered so it forms one whole with the ceiling. See the project at the bulkhead with projector screen.

With a bulkhead like this, the screen determines the dimensions. The housing, the power supply and the slot the screen comes out of have to be fixed in advance. Otherwise it will not fit later.

What does making a bulkhead cost?

For a simple bulkhead including plastering, allow roughly €60 to €150 per linear metre (indication, 2026 price level). Extras such as spotlights, an access hatch or a built-in screen come on top. A short bulkhead is often more expensive per metre, because setting up and finishing always take time.

Where possible, combine a bulkhead with other work. With a new bathroom or a larger renovation, the plasterer is there anyway. Ask for a tailored quote for your situation.

Frequently asked questions