Basement Ceiling - Paint it or Drywall?

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Pretty self-explanatory. Would you paint the ceiling of the basement to save money (which seems to be a trend) or do drywall? I’m leaning toward drywall for resale value even though we don’t plan to sell for a long time. The contractors are telling me they are hardly ever doing drop or drywall ceilings any more.

 

[Searc]

Drywall, for insulation and sound-proofing. If the contractor doesn't want to do it, find a different one who will.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Ask a real estate person what would impact the resale price

Plus how do you intend to use the space?

 

[kdonnel]

What would you be painting?

The exposed plumbing, electrical, and floor joists from above?

That seems real industrial. I would not like that.

That doesn’t seem to be a trend in my area. All the estimates we got for finishing our basement included building all the necessary trey and soffits to drywall the ceiling.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Painted is in style and I prefer that look. Something like this: https://loveandmarriageblog.com/painted-basement-ceiling/

A drywalled ceiling in the basement adds $0 of value for me as I know it'll eventually have to get cut to modify mechanicals.

 

[fla4fun]

We had the industrial look in our Ohio home, and we have the drywall ceilings in our current basement. I prefer the drywall look, but I understand why some people would prefer easy access to services. I agree with the idea of talking with a local realtor to see if one or the other is more appealing to buyers.

 

[kdonnel]

In my case the cost savings in not doing drywall would be completely eaten up by having to deal with all the duct work.



The perimeter of virtually all the rooms in my basement has HVAC duct work from either the floor above or the basement. Running it so that all that duct work would be up in the ceiling joists would have been cost prohibitive.

The framing crew built either full trey ceilings or soffits to hide the duct work.

The idea that one day you might have to cut into the ceiling holds true for all the finished floors above. I have plumbing and electrical running all through my main floor and second floor ceiling. It never would occur to me that those floors should not have a drywall ceiling because one day I might need access.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Will you be doing the work yourself? I've done drywall ceilings before and they are a literal pain, it is very hard to work overhead like that, even with a drywall lift. Is your basement completely finished? Because that's the only case where I would consider closing in the ceiling, if the basement was completely finished with carpet on the floor and finished walls. Are your pipes and wires up in the rafters? Because if you block access to them with drywall then you will have to redo the ceiling if you ever need to get to them. Leaks happen, or you might need to run a new water line for something. If it were my basement, I would paint the rafters white or a light color.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

The idea that one day you might have to cut into the ceiling holds true for all the finished floors above. I have plumbing and electrical running all through my main floor and second floor ceiling. It never would occur to me that those floors should not have a drywall ceiling because one day I might need access.

Yes but you can minimize the impact in the rest of the house if you have open access in the basement. When we had internet installed they ran it down the wall, across the rafters, and over to the junction box. Same goes for when we had to run a power wire from the furnace to a thermostat.

 

[low-key]

just dont go to the basement anymore

 

[_19disnA]

Putting up drywall in a basement ceiling is a bad idea since piping and shutoff valves are usually there. Any tiny leak will stain the ceiling and be hard to replace. I agree as someone else mentioned, doing it yourself is a BIG job since drywall is heavy to lift and taping/seams are best left for the pros. Do they still make suspended ceilings? Those are very easy to install and allow easy access to the area above it when something goes wrong.

 

[Searc]

Painted is in style and I prefer that look. Something like this: https://loveandmarriageblog.com/painted-basement-ceiling/

A drywalled ceiling in the basement adds $0 of value for me as I know it'll eventually have to get cut to modify mechanicals.

Eww. That is hideous.

 

[kdonnel]

Putting up drywall in a basement ceiling is a bad idea since piping and shutoff valves are usually there. Any tiny leak will stain the ceiling and be hard to replace. I agree as someone else mentioned, doing it yourself is a BIG job since drywall is heavy to lift and taping/seams are best left for the pros. Do they still make suspended ceilings? Those are very easy to install and allow easy access to the area above it when something goes wrong.

In my case they are installing access panels for the two shut off valves located in the basement. One for the gas line to the first floor fireplace and the other is to the rear exterior hose bibb.

The access panels are appropriately sized plastic boxes with friction lids. They can be painted to match the ceiling color.

Suspended ceilings still look like an office. Even the higher end ones look like an office. Not a look I want in my home.

 

[sara mom]

We just had our basement finished and went with the painted. I love the industrial look.

 

[RamblingMad]

Trends change so quickly.

Grey paint is obviously in right now. Do I want my entire house painted in shades of grey? Nope.

 

[kdonnel]

I’m leaning toward drywall for resale value even though we don’t plan to sell for a long time.

Your first concern with any home improvement should be will I enjoy living here after the improvement? YOU are the one that will be living there for "a long time". YOU are the one that should enjoy the improvement.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I’ll be honest, the more I look at pictures, the more I think the painted ceilings look unfinished and cheap. If industrial is your style, then I’m glad you like it, but it isn’t mine. If we go with the painted ceiling it will simply be to save money and have access to things. Real estate agents are telling me that it does come across as not truly finished to future buyers. And I’m being told that if you don’t have carpet on the first floor then the noise is ridiculous.

 

[jrmasm]

Painted is in style and I prefer that look. Something like this: https://loveandmarriageblog.com/painted-basement-ceiling/

A drywalled ceiling in the basement adds $0 of value for me as I know it'll eventually have to get cut to modify mechanicals.

That looks unfinished.

 

[tvguy]

I have never had a house with a basement. Everyone I have been in had a dropped ceiling to access to plumbing etc.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I like the painted ceiling because it makes the ceilings look higher.