The Best Ways To Finish A Basement Ceiling

If you are fortunate enough to have a basement in your home, you have the opportunity to increase the amount of usable living space for your family. This area can normally be finished for a fraction of what a home addition would cost. One of the key areas of refinishing any basement is your decision for ceiling material.

Elements to Consider

There are several factors you will need to take into account when deciding on what type of ceiling you want to install in your basement. For instance, do your heat and air (HVAC) ducts run through the basement or in the attic? Do your pipes run through the floor joists or just beneath them? Are the wires traveling through the joists or attached to the bottom of the joists? Each of these elements not only can add difficulty to the project but can increase the cost. The answers to these questions will heavily influence your decisions.

Suspended Ceiling

If your wiring, HVAC or plumbing run overhead, you should consider installing a suspended ceiling. With this option, you can place the ceiling at whatever level is required to clear any overhead obstructions. This would eliminate the need to reroute these items, which can be time-consuming and costly. Even if the wiring and other elements are contained within the floor joists, you should consider a suspended ceiling. Should you need to make repairs to phone lines, electrical, plumbing, HVAC or Internet lines, a suspended ceiling offers easy access. A suspended ceiling is also easy to install if you are working alone. A suspended ceiling can also offer some acoustic value and can be insulated if you wish. A major drawback can be the resulting lower ceiling height due to the suspended ceiling.

Sheetrock

If you have no overhead obstructions, or if you are able to reroute them, a sheetrock ceiling is another option. If you decide on a Sheetrock ceiling, be certain to use adhesive along the floor joist for extra holding strength. You will also want to use screws rather than nails for added holding power. You will need to check your local codes for the thickness required. In some areas, fire codes require 5/8-inch Sheetrock be used. A Sheetrock ceiling offers a sturdy and attractive ceiling. Some homeowners also feel a Sheetrock ceiling portrays a higher quality than a suspended ceiling.

Paint

If your ceiling is free of the obstacles mentioned above, there is another easy and inexpensive option. You can paint the entire ceiling a solid color, normally white or black, but this is strictly a personal preference. In some cases, homeowners paint duct work as well. While this is fast and requires few materials, it does have drawbacks. Of the three options, painting offers the least soundproofing and little, if any, insulation. You must also consider this is a look that will not be universally accepted. This could result in problems for potential buyers should you ever place your home on the market.

Tags: suspended ceiling, Sheetrock ceiling, basement your, ceiling also, ceiling offers