So i'm at that stage and trying to decide whether to go with a t-bar ceiling or drywall..........?

Drywall looks better....a lot better and cheaper

t-bar has the advantage of access and if panels need to be replaced, it's not a big deal


what have you used??

if it's t-bar > what specific tiles have you used?

thanks

I've had drywall on every ceiling, in every room, in every home I've owned (5) since 1975. I've had water pipes, showers, bathtubs, toilets, HVAC, Vents, Ducts, Electrical, Gas Pipes, Fireplaces, all located above the drywall and have NEVER needed access and had to replace a panel.

On my last house for the basement I didn't even give it a thought. With all the LFE I was planning I needed two layers of Drywall as my first line of defense to contain the sound.

Drywall. It's a pain to do it, in fact I highly, highly suggest hiring a crew to do the mudding and taping, but the results are worth it.

Drywall. It doesn't feel like a basement.

Drywall. Much more finished look.

Try to plan ahead to avoid having access issues in the future, but if there's something you foresee absolutely needing to get to like a trap cleanout or stop valve, you can always put in an unobtrusive access cover door or something, which in a way is even more convenient than knocking out a panel.

As for covering up HVAC, supply and DWV as BigMouth stated, it should not need to be touched for the lifetime of your basement finish if properly installed. For LV future needs, run blank conduit.

It's funny that everyone i've talked to thus far thinks t-bar would be a better choice....I was orginally going to go with drywall for the exact reasons mentioned above but i just know that my 2 year old little girl will eventually try to flush her barbie down the toilet and then i'm faced with all sorts of a mess. There's also the thought of running future cable...i've already run 2 conduits and lots of extra wire / LV cable for future but you just never know what you may need in a year.
If you look at armstrong.com there are lots of different options for tile, not just the 2x4 panels you see in offices.

I'd like to hear from anyone with t-bar...what are your thoughts?

I used the CeilingMAX system. The 'T's are made of vinyl instead of metal and you mount them dirrectly to the ceiling joist, so you don't get the vibration like you may get with the suspended metal framing. I tiled with a 1/2" thick 2 foot square tile. I'm very happy with the results. I also had a leak problem come up and had to replace a couple of tiles. :( Replacing the tiles was alot easier than cutting drywall and patching.

I used drywall but if I were to do again, I would go with a drop for access and repairability. Also, there are some really great looking tiles available that IMO are better looking than drywall. Pat

I am just getting to the ceiling on my from scratch HT and on Monday ordered Black Stratford Ceilume 2x2 tiles. (find at www dot empirewest dot com) I started painting the standard metal grid black yesterday.

I currently have an Optoma Movietime DV10 that cannot be ceiling mounted. So, while I put an switched outlet in the ceiling, I have no clue exactly where my next projector will need to be mounted but I know that the next projector will be ceiling mounted. So I opted for the drop ceiling panels.

In my last house I had a drop panel ceiling and several times I needed to go into the ceiling because of plumbing problems, to wire ethernet and to bolt a safe to the floor on the first floor. With these new sculptured panels, I don't think it gives that basement look.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Bob

but i just know that my 2 year old little girl will eventually try to flush her barbie down the toilet and then i'm faced with all sorts of a mess.

In all probability it will get caught in the toilet before it ever gets to the drain pipe in the floor. This is something I have personal experience with as my wife has flushed the spring loaded toilet paper holder bar down the toilet twice.

Both times required taking the toilet outside and turning it upside down and in various directions while flushing it with a garden hose to get it out.

If you have t-bar ceiling can you post some pics?
i'm leaning towards 2'x2' tiles with no pattern but rather just a texture of some sort

For those of you who installed the t-bar yourself, how long did it take and was it hard?

Drywall as well. How often do you think you'll need access? If it ends up being every 5 years, then access and repairability are no big deal. Have a problem? Cut out a section of drywall, fix the plumbing problem and repair the drywall. No big deal.

I also agree that drywall looks a lot better.