Any ideas on how to hide water pipes and other stuff on the ceiling of an unfinished basement without drywall?

Question

We have an old house with old water pipes and wiring - it wouldn't be very smart to drywall over all of that in case something breaks and we need to get to it. I am wanting to fix up our basement good enough for a play room for our kids - I can paint the walls and put carpet down, but I don't know how to hide all the "stuff" on the ceiling!!I also have a very limited budget to work with!! Help!!

Answer 1

Ok this may sound a lil odd but worth a shot.

Measure out Ur area of stuff & try to sketch or draw it, take a pic, etc.....

Pick out some colors the kids like. Hopefully these wont be expensive. Or if the kids rnt quite outta diapers or havent arrived yet is even better. ~ U'll see y in a sec...read on...

Go to WalMart & head for the Fabric Department. Usually they have a $1 & a $2 a yard section.
If U're think'g the normal kid colors like blue, red, yellow, or others, buy yards of each.
If U have kids, taking em w/ could prove costly. So get an idea of what they like ~ animal prints, army prints ~ jets, & buy yards of it.
I f U dont see anything U like, buy the cheapest fabric U can find in a white or close to it color & a couple bottles of Dye in colors U like.
Head home & take the fabric ~ this is where it pays to pick the colors Urself & cheaper too...& lace them over/under/& around, the pipes & stuff. & then cut the fabric to fit & U're done.

Whether or not U have kids, make mobiles & hang them from the pipes & stuff. Or butterflies or airplanes cut out of posterboard, or whatever theyre into. ~ a good heavy yarn &/or wire hangers works here.

This will help dress up the Pipes & Stuff & still keep them accessible for later when U need to. Hopefully by then, U or the kids will be ready for some new colors or prints to place up & over this area.

Answer 2

Unfinished Basement Ceiling Ideas

Answer 3

A hanging ceiling would probably help. But the problem that I can foresee is that a hanging ceiling also requires some additional space. So if you have a seven foot ceiling in the basement, the hanging ceiling would probably reduce it to 6 ft 8 in. Why do you need access to the wiring? Consider it for a moment, if you install the drywall, you can always install junction boxes before the drywall goes up. The junction boxes will allow you access to part of the wires, especially if you consider where it would benefit you the most.

Answer 4

Well you can just paint them just like you would the walls.

The second hung ceiling is an option, but unless you understand how the grid is hung and leveled it will not look right in the end.

However you can do some interesting paint techniques to make the pipes less noticable.

Answer 5

Agree that the hanging ceiling is probably the best way to go, but if $$ is limited you can stretch fabric across the ceiling. Something cheap like burlap would work nicely. It will develop a sag overtime, but you can lightly spray with water and it will tighten up some as it dries.

Answer 6

I agree with the answer #1 ..... the advantage of these is that they are put on a frame and if there is some reason to look above the tiles, you simply lift them up and have a look .... and if there is water damage, and it leaves a mark on the tiles - which it will - sometimes you can spray paint them white .... or you can replace just the affected tiles...in any case, it looks nice and will add to the overall value of the house




Peace .

Answer 7

Owens Corning makes a Basement Finishing System. It is panels that lock in place, but can be easily removed to access pipes, wires, etc...

http://www.buildingfoundation.umn.edu/OCBasementSystem/default.htm

The link is from a review. Might be just the ticket you are looking for without you having to be a creative carpenter type. The materials it is made of is not likely to mildew either.

Answer 8

Spray paint the entire ceiling black. Hang strings of white lights to look like stars. This works best with a modern decorating style.

Answer 9

A suspended ceiling is probably your best way to go. You can do it yourself, however it is pretty time consuming. Go to your local building supply store and you can pick up a pamphlet on how to do it. You might also want to measure the room and get an estimate on what the material would cost.

Answer 10

Use a hung ceiling with accoustic tile, like what you see in schools and offices.