How To Figure Out What Animal Is In My Basement Ceiling Tiles

A drop ceiling costs almost the same if not more than a drywall ceiling. I'll tell yous exactly why in just a minute.

When I was figuring out how to finish a basement I thought to myself "Self… should we save money and drywall the basement ceiling on our own?" Then I imagined the difficulty of recruiting my lazy friends to help me drywall the ceiling.

So I thought "drop ceiling!" that's the respond. Cheaper, easy to do by yourself. The only trouble...it screams BASEMENT!".

I did some research and pondered it for well-nigh iii weeks.

That's the kind of guy I am. I get an thought, then I stew on information technology for a spell. I'thou real one-time fashion that way. My wife thinks I should accept been built-in in the 1820s.

After all that pondering I decided not to go with a driblet ceiling as well known as a suspended ceiling. Here are the reasons why I ~~think~~ know that you shouldn't either.

Price of a Drop Ceiling

If you're thinking of going with a drop ceiling to save money… think again. The savings are slim to none. If you're hiring a drywall crew to do the walls anyway (which I highly recommend) then it'due south not a much more to have them practice the ceiling also.

In newer houses peculiarly, a drywall ceiling is about the same or cheaper compared to a suspended ceiling. Why?

Because the real cost of drywalling a ceiling in a basement deals is in framing around the pipes and wires that were installed below the joists. In almost any new house in the last 10-15 years all pipes and wiring are installed above the bottom of the joist - at that place'due south well-nigh no boosted framing needed to conform drywall.

Here are two links discussing drop ceiling costs (this is for the plain white panels type). Effectually $two,000 for a ane,000 square foot basement. Link i, Link 2

Basement Head Room with a Drop Ceiling

Wait hither basement friends. I'chiliad a half-dozen foot iii inch giant of a man. I practice not similar hitting my head on a ceiling or feeling claustrophobic.

With a drop ceiling you lot're going to lose 4-5 inches of room height. In a finished basement that is a ton!

You are probably already dealing with a low ceiling information technology's non a expert thought to brand it even lower.

Yeah, but What Well-nigh Admission

Then as I was doing my research for this article I ran across a common reason people give for installing a drop ceiling. Admission. Easy access to the pipes, wires, etc.

It's true. A drop ceiling provides easy access. Honestly though, how ofttimes are you going to demand access? And what for? A leaky pipe? The other floors in your business firm have the aforementioned pipes and wires and you lot don't see people installing drop ceilings in their business firm?

Drywall is not that difficult to cut out and supercede. It's done all the time. Easy admission is not enough of the reason to deal with the drawbacks.

iii Reasons for Not Installing a Drib-Ceiling

#1 They're Ugly and Weird - You will debunk the value of your business firm

Several existent estate agents I spoke to said that a drib ceiling will negate some of the abode equity y'all'll gain by finishing your basement. People want the basement to feel like the rest of the business firm. They don't want some bounder room in their house. (alibi my linguistic communication, I've been watching a lot of Downton Abbey "bounder kid" is their favorite phrase)

#2 A Saggy Ceiling

Sagging ceilings, yup, that'due south only awesome. Peculiarly in the basement where at that place's a trend to have additional wet in the air. The tile absorbs that moisture and begins to get weighted down. Armstrong now sells drib ceiling tiles with "Humiguard" to attempt and prevent that trouble… which tells me it really is a trouble.

#3 Not That Easy to Install

I know they tell y'all it's like shooting fish in a barrel but it's notwithstanding a fairly big projection to tackle. The biggest issue I read about was leveling. If you don't become it level the whole look is off and yous may not observe it until you're washed and someone points information technology out. At the very least y'all need to buy and know how to use a laser level. (If you decide drop ceiling is for you, hither's a very good and inexpensive laser level)

4 Reasons FOR a Drop Ceiling

Cracking drib ceiling expect! Only very expensive.

#1 Y'all Want A Really Cool Looking Ceiling.

Let'due south say you wanted a really cool tin or paneled ceiling look. Newer drop ceiling panel styles offer a lot more diversity than the old white square blocks we grew upwardly with.

But… could you but as easily buy that same finished panel without a drop-ceiling? You don't need the driblet ceiling and it's drawbacks to get the same look.

Here'south a great Pinterest folio dedicated to ceilings - great ideas!

#2 Racket Suppression.

You need a lot of noise suppression for a film room or recording studio. OK, now we're talking a real reason. Drop ceilings do help a lot with dampening racket. It's something to consider.

#3 Ceiling Mohawk

You're not installing drywall on the walls but you all the same desire a ceiling. If this is you, email me, I desire to know under what circumstance this style conclusion is occurring.

#iv Grandpa's General Condolement.

Your Gramps had a drop ceiling and he'd feel more than at domicile if you had one. 'Nuff said. Grandpas are awesome!

Alright, I give. For some people a drop ceiling (aka suspended ceiling if we're going to exist respectful) IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. And for more than than the 4 reasons above. If you lot're thinking it may be the right pick for you lot click hither to read Adam'south article on why he loves his suspended ceiling.

And another bonus - he wrote all about how to install a drop ceiling, click through to read that.

Final Thought On Drib Ceilings

My recommendation is to drywall your ceiling. I don't recommend installing a drib-ceiling. Primarily because of the expect. Information technology just doesn't look as good because it doesn't lucifer the remainder of your firm.

If you lot insist AND y'all hope to go with a newer design... then I judge we tin can however be friends. If you go with the sometime outdated white panels... I can no longer associate with you. Y'all are dead to me.

Hey, I'm a fair minded 21st century human being - if there IS a good reason to go with a drop-ceiling and I oasis't covered it here - shout at me in ALL CAPS in the annotate box beneath.

If you want a bunch more than information just like this article plus my unabridged basement story, basement design files and more - cheque out the ebook (over one,237 people already have)

Cheers - Jason

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