Basement ceilings - paint them, drywall them or put up drop ceilings?

Question

My husband and I are ready to tackle the basement and finish remodeling it - we already have it framed. Our biggest debate right now is how to finish the ceiling. One part of me wants to drywall it but my husband hates that idea, because maintenance in the future could suck.... I get that. I personally hate the loook of a drop ceiling. Should we paint the basment ceiling white, as it is, and go with a contemporary look? Would that be a good compromise? Can I still achieve a great finished look that way or would it look cheesy?

So you are all saying painting the ceiling as is - it's a bad idea?

Answer 1

Drop ceilings are the way to go. You don't need much space anymore. The different textured tiles are great ( go with 2'X2' tiles) you can get different grids, or paint them if you want. You can fix leaky pipes or run speaker wire or lights anytime you want.
It's not difficult at all. And it isn't cheap looking. Go for it. You won't be sorry.

Answer 2

Painted Basement Ceiling

Answer 3

I know that the thought of a possible leak or needing to run a wire or something like that later makes your husband not want to drywall his ceiling , but the over all look compared to a drop ceiling - is quite a difference think about the last time someone said how nice a grocery stores ceiling looked. I am actually a builder and get alot of requests to change other people ceilings from a drop to drywall - ( As they get sick of how shabby they look) - And as for price wise drywall is cheaper per sq. ft. it is the labor price that is costly //// So if later down the road you have to do a drywall patch- so what - the ceiling didn't look like something just thrown up there to cover pipes

Answer 4

As someone who works in the trades, I have to say that the only way to go is a drop ceiling so you can have access to future potential problems in plumbing, electrical, and structure. Go to the store and look at the ceiling systems. Some of them are quite nice.

Answer 5

In agreeing with those who said Drop Ceilings, I wanted to be sure to add that in the case of a water leak or pipe burst, drop ceiling tiles are so much less expensive to replace/reinstall than other alternatives.

Answer 6

Menard's has tile ceiling that attaches directly to rafters--not dropped so you get full height--and then if you have to access pipes or wires you can remove the panels(2'X2'). Looks very nice.

Answer 7

Put up drop ceiling it helps in noise reduction.

Answer 8

i would use a dropped ceiling.......cuts down on the noise, and allows u to exspand......

lic. gen. contractor