I,m just finishing the framing and getting ready to build soffits. Yes, I am building very slowly but stay pretty close to my original drawings/plans.

The only problem that I am continually up against is wether I should put a suspended ceiling in the basement or drywall. My help/friends think it should be a suspended ceiling but every time I go downstairs to work on the basement I can't help but think about what to do with the ceiling. It's driving me nuts because I have to make my decision soon.

Please tell me what you did with your ceiling and why? My friends say that you will want access to the services in the ceiling just in case there is a problem. I agree but I don't want to lose 4" of headroom. What did you do?

thanks
Eric

Please tell me what you did with your ceiling and why? My friends say that you will want access to the services in the ceiling just in case there is a problem. I agree but I don't want to lose 4" of headroom. What did you do?


I have a two story house with a basement. I have 3 toilets, 4 sinks, 3 bathtubs and a shower on the 2nd floor. I also have a furnace/AC in the attic. these items have plumbing, drains, vents, gas lines, electrical connections concealed in the walls and ceilings. Nobody ever says they should have used a suspended ceiling on the first floor because you might want access.

When I did the basement it was a no brainer. Drywall.

So just give yourself an honest evaluation, if everything is basically sound what will you need to access? Also ask yourself it you have any remodeling plans that will require rerouting of the utilities if yes, then factor that into the equation.

One vote for drywall.

I,m just finishing the framing and getting ready to build soffits. Yes, I am building very slowly but stay pretty close to my original drawings/plans.

The only problem that I am continually up against is whether I should put a suspended ceiling in the basement or drywall. My help/friends think it should be a suspended ceiling but every time I go downstairs to work on the basement I can't help but think about what to do with the ceiling. It's driving me nuts because I have to make my decision soon.

Please tell me what you did with your ceiling and why? My friends say that you will want access to the services in the ceiling just in case there is a problem. I agree but I don't want to lose 4" of headroom. What did you do?

thanks
Eric
Another for drywall. Hands down. Better sound control, cleaner.
Tom
Chinaclipper

Drywall. It's a pain to do yourself, but well worth it.

Just finished the basement ceiling--in drywall. Every time my wife and I go down there we can't help but comment on how much better it looks than a suspended ceiling. In the event that drywall removal/patching is required, it isn't so bad.

Another one for drywall. Especially if you are doing it yourself. In the event you ever DO need to open it up for some reason, you should have the skills (OK, the confidence at least) to go ahead and open it up and repair it yourself.

Good luck,
Tom

I'd do drywall as well.

Add me to the drywall. I suggest 2 layers with Green Glue between them.

Well, chalk me up as half-n-half;)
I'd place the theater where running anything new wouldn't be an issue and drywall it. For the rest of the basement, I'd use a drop ceiling. Much easier to run anything new that way. Sure, you can say "use conduit", but it isn't always that easy. For example...do you have an alarm system? Would you want one in the future? Central vac system? You get the idea.

Thanks for all the responses guys. I have (with your help) decided on drywalling the ceiling. I have to build alot of soffits which would make laying out a suspended ceiling very difficult. I could just picture an uneven mess.

Thanks for yor input.

Eric