I'm currently finishing up my basement and I'm in a bit of a bind regarding the ceiling. I can't decide whether to leave it exposed and just paint it, or to go with drywall. The ceilings aren't super high, but my main concern is noise. When I watch TV down there at a reasonable volume, it can be heard on the first floor. If I do decide to drywall, I'm worried about needing access to the plumbing in the future, which would mean cutting into the drywall. I'm wondering:
- Will drywall installed right onto the joists actually help with soundproofing?
- Are there other options I haven't thought of? I don't expect it to be completely soundproof, just less noisy.
- The basement size is pretty small, around 500-600 sq ft.
1 Answer
Honestly, I would avoid drywall for the basement ceiling. It complicates any future repairs for plumbing or electrical work. Instead, I recommend stuffing some insulation between the joists and painting the ceiling in your desired color. If you want to cover it up, consider a coffered square drop ceiling or large removable panels. They can look nice and still give you access when needed!
That coffered ceiling option (or suspended acoustic ceiling) is great for minimizing sound! Just make sure you invest a bit more for better aesthetics.