From dampness issues to building permits to the height of your basement’s ceilings, finishing a basement comes with challenges that just don’t apply in remodeling other parts of your home. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is working with your basement remodeling contractor to decide on the right ceiling. Here’s why:
Water pipes, wiring, and ductwork all run above your basement. Remodeling means finding a way to achieve the look of a finished basement ceiling without restricting access that will be critical should you need to make repairs, service ductwork or fix or add wiring. You don’t want to have to cut a hole in your drywall ceiling every time service people need access. So, how can you give the basement ceiling the same polished feel of other rooms in your home without causing yourself ongoing headaches and expense?
Well, we’ve certainly done plenty of basement renovations involving drywall ceilings. But whenever we do, we recommend designing in strategically placed access panels so that service personnel will be able to get into the ceiling without having to cut through it. But drywall access panels are not the only option.
As a basement remodeling contractor, I know that homeowners hear the words “suspended ceiling” and think it always an industrial or DIY look. True, plain ceiling tiles and aluminum grids do give a low-end look to basement remodels. But if you design those grids from wood and use elegantly textured creamy tiles and you could achieve a very upscale “shoji” screen feel for the ceiling. With a suspended ceiling you can also get very creative. Imagine installing lighting to shine through a grid of ultramodern, translucent panels. It could be quite dramatic or glow like a “skylight” – quite a nice feel for a finished basement! Given the height of the basement, you may not be able to suspend the ceiling but so far. That’s fine, too. There are many ceiling options that look great in basements but take up only about an inch in depth.
The point is that creativity makes all the difference in choosing the right ceiling for your finished basement. Contractor experience makes all the difference, too, helping you turn a problem-solving ceiling into a design asset. For ideas on your own basement remodel, take a look at our photo gallery.
