Basement Drop Ceiling Finished Remodeling Job

The easiest way to finish a remodeling project in the cellar is by using a basement drop ceiling to hide all the necessary pipes, wire and duct work while providing a finished look to the area. They are relatively easy to install, can be a do-it-yourself project and allows easy access to the ceiling area if the need arise for repairs in the future.

There are three main components to a basement drop ceiling, which include the wires that are attached to the floor joists, ‘T’ shaped metal tracks that are installed in a grid form and lightweight ceiling tile that fit into the grid. The openings are usually two by two feet or two by four feet for standard drop ceilings, but there are other sizes available, depending on the style chosen. The metal strips are usually in white, but they can be found in numerous other colors as well as the tile, which also are available in white and other common colors.

A majority of the lightweight ceiling tiles used in basement drop ceilings has a fiberglass board with a textured cover on the outer surface, and due to the fiberglass should be handled with care. Wearing a breathing mask is also recommended to prevent the inhalation of any of the fibers. Since the tiles are sold in sizes to fit the grid, there should be no reason to cut them, except around poles or pipes and along the edges if the room size is not divisible by two.

Begin With Perimeter Of Grid Edging

When beginning the installation of a basement drop ceiling it is recommended to mark a level line around the perimeter of the room, insuring it is level on all surfaces. An edge grid is then attached to the wall, forming a perimeter of the edging that will be perfectly even all the way around. The wires that will hold the grid are then fastened to the floor joists, usually with nails pounded through a circle on one end of the wire.

Take one piece of grid and attach one end to the edge and working towards the free end, hold a level on the piece and raise or lower it until it is level, then secure it with the next wire hanging from the ceiling. Continue down the length of grid for the basement drop ceiling until the entire piece is hanging level. Repeat this process for the remainder of the ceiling grid. Once all the grid has been hung in one direction, start placing the shorter pieces it pre-measured intervals.

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