- Jason. Decide you want to colour match to your walls or do a unique colour pattern? You need to plan ahead and move everything into an access panel so you can get into the ceiling. We recently bought a 143 year old house in Minnesota. I'm going to do the walls in 4 X 8 MDF panels, $34 each, shiplap design, 1/'4", glued over studs. In almost any new house in the last 10-15 years all pipes and wiring are installed above the bottom of the joist - there's almost no additional framing needed to accommodate drywall. There's just too many work-arounds to deal with and since it sounds like you're okay with the look, which isn't bad at all BTW, I think you're right. Mechanically transmitted sound can originate from: something dropping on the floor, an air-conditioner mounted to an exterior wall, a ball bouncing off the driveway or a wall, the furnace, the plumbing, or other sources. My basement ceiling has a lot of pipes, ductwork, and boxes at variable heights. YES! Craft/workshop project literally exploded? 1 Step by step method to soundproof walls and ceilings without removing the drywall. Grandpas are awesome! The extra hurdle I have is that my home does not have the typical wood joists, but the more commercial open webbed steel joists so I think I would need to install/secure some sort of wood framing to the bottom of the joists in order to sheetrock to. A 1600 sqft basement using this option would cost about $3032.00. Our house was built in 99' and when I was negotiating the home purchase, both tubs were leaking into the basement. The cost of adding a layer of 5/8” sheetrock to your basement ceiling is about 37-cents a square foot for the DIYer. Hat or resilient channels are thin metal furring strips that have a hat like profile. I may yet be converted, then again, wood paneled ceilings would be kind of bad ass. It's a 45 year old house, and the wiring in the ceiling is an archaic mess. I have had several varieties of workers have to access the plumbing, or wiring through this dropped ceiling. He is very careful and takes his time but in an older home that wasn't perfectly squared it was a hassle. IF I liked drop-ceilings I would probably go for that, looks easy that the traditional install method. It can even reverberate around corners and through closed doors. It's a block glass window with a vent in the middle. You're paying to much. The 5/8” drywall, plus screws, mud and tape work out to about $0.47 a square foot. A solid core door is also a must-have. the 1st time we had a plumbing company snake it for us. In regards to our basement, it has a drop ceiling that looks to me to have been poorly installed, and most of the tiles are in bad shape. Is a drop ceiling with acoustic tiles an option? A drop ceiling has some acoustic properties that reduce the movement between floor levels. In the process of remodeling my 25 year old home, and have been wrestling with this issue for some time. Built that basement right and you'll be super happy with traditional drywall ceiling. I personally don't see anything wrong with a white tiled ceiling. Acoustic mats and underlay are also available. The media room that's so important today may get suddenly changed into a teen's bedroom when Grandma has a fall and needs to move in. Thanks so much, Jason! Then I thought "drop ceiling!" However, it will slump and compact over time, reducing its soundproofing qualities. I think we're definitely getting a win/win for appearance and practicality. 3. he said a lot of homes have it all finished off and he can't help them. For anyone who doesn't live in the Lowcountry of South Carolina - we have insane humidity year round with the exception of a week or two and our "first floor" is 10' off the ground. I think a drop ceiling is our only option and that is fine as this room is strictly storage and workshop, but is there any drop ceiling system out there that doesn't cost a fortune? It has to be built to last. I can fix it and be at work before lunch. Additionally most drywall is s a poor insulator compared to suspended tile . It hardly ever works without being able to see it. Here are some suggestions: Used on any floor, carpet and underlay also reduce the echo within rooms and absorb sound improving listening quality within those rooms. A 1000 SQ Ft basement (assuming 20X50) would run you $707 in ceiling link parts, $40 in screws and $700 to 900 in panels (2' X 4'). We are going to be adding insulation and air sealing to other parts of the house, but inside, I am thinking the suspended approach might be better. - Jason. and raising them up to the ceiling requires two sets of strong arms or a drywall lift. The space is 15x20 with 7 1/2 ft ceilings when the drop ceiling was installed. An unfinished ceiling with exposed joists does little to reduce sound transfer. Just like Andrew, I have looked at the "ceiling link" system, and like the look of it, and the ease of installation. No matter how well you soundproof the ceiling, vents, ductwork, lighting fixtures, and other electrical and mechanical systems can negate everything. One other option is to spray paint the ceiling white, a lot of people do this and leave it that way permanently. I understand that I will probably not live in this house forever, so I don't want to do anything permanent to the space downstairs that restricts it to only being viewed as a media room and not a full basement upon selling. We insulated with R-13 and spaced studs one inch from concrete. The noise of the kids and family dog makes it difficult to concentrate on work or have a conversation with clients. 3. If you found the article of use, share it with others. The technical term is Impact Isolation Class Transmission or IIC sound transmission. THEY ALSO ADD TO THE STABILITY OF THE UPPER FLOORS AND CAN PROVIDE A BETTER FIRE BARRIER THAN TRADITIONAL NON FIRED RATED DROP CEILING TILES. I said to myself, 'why not just drywall it?' The jump in the STC rating doesn’t come cheap; the cost of soundproofing also jumps. The green glue is a viscoelastic compound for damping sound. I've never heard of ceiling type determining tax status. I've repaired ceiling drywall and you will always see the line and that, to me, is more trouble and more unsightly than a nice drop. I have a 30 year old house and the basement ceiling tiles are sagging and discolored. Use the Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant to seal cracks, seams, wire holes, and other gaps that will channel noise from one floor to another, and room to room. Thoughts? Hi Jason, I'm curious about leaving the basement ceiling unfinished, at least no drywall or drop ceiling but instead painting it black or staining the joists. BUT... if you ever intend to sell the house - you would be much better off going with drywall and can lights. Go for it! So I think we have plenty of room overhead and there are a lot of pipes and things that we would need to drywall around anyway. My recommendation is to drywall your ceiling. I'm looking to add a full bath down here in one area/corner. Thought/suggestions? Quick Review of Soundproofing Basement Ceiling Options, How To Soundproof Basement Ceiling – Step by Step Guides, 1. If you want to use a thinner panel, a ½â (1.3cm) sheet will still perform well, although not to the same standard as a 5/8â ⦠SCOTT CUSTOM CEILINGS IT REALLY ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOUR DUCT WORK, WIRING AND PLUMBING IS RUN. I recently put a TV on the wall and ran all the cords in the wall. Go ahead and do the rest of the framing, you can always come back and add in either drywall or drop-ceiling. Using standard 4â² x 8â² drywall, you would need a maximum of 1,159 / 32 = 37 sheets. Not so easy , in my 40 years of doing remodeling, I have yet to find a dry wall repair that didnât cast a shadow when lights are turned on. Mistyped. Only use tiles where you need to improve the sound quality where you want. We are working on finishing the basement in our new home and he was pro traditional drop vs drywall for reasons of access. EVERYTHING STARTS THERE AND WHEN SERVICE IS NEEDED (AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE NEEDED) IT CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY! The STC rating jumps to 55 and the IIC to around 50. I think the drop ceiling, coupled with running a dehumidifier might be a better plan to avoid condensation. If I pursue this route, could I eliminate overhead blocking and secure the frame to the wall instead? hello, You shouldn't need to cut open your ceiling, so not shortcuts for sloppy work for me. Wish more people knew about the drop ceilings. Loved finding this thread. The pre-made cabinets are currently on sale for 50% off. Also, I'm one of those you need to contact. Is there any good reason not to proceed with this plan? It is also easier to add mass and sound absorbing material to improve its noise reduction ability than soundproofing a finished drywall ceiling. I would be open to painting the ceiling, but there is so much exposed insulation, I'm wondering if that would really work. Drywall sheets average about 60 lbs. 1. Some products that you may want to have on hand for this are: For patching nail or screw holes in drywall, 3M Patch Plus Primer 4-in-1 is all in one product has an applicator, putty knife, and sanding pad. There are also additional steps that you may want to add before completing all the steps in soundproofing the ceiling. If you impress me with the "access door" option, maybe I'll be 'converted' to a drywall ceiling guy... Soooo - these laminate wood planks will be our answer to the "to drop or not to drop" ceiling question. because we have a garbage disposal you need a perfect balance so the liquids don't drain faster than the solids otherwise the old garbage can clog up the works. The thing that had me on the fence was the acoustic advantage and "breathability," but I 've concluded those are not really good reasons. If drop ceilings are so great, why not just drop ceiling your whole house??? The sealant is viscoelastic material and will create a sound vibrational barrier and help with damping sound through the ceiling from the floor above. Best thing we ever did and made our modest 1000 sq ft ranch into a very livable 8 room 1700 sq ft house, nearly perfect for raising a family, Holidays or retirement. Soundproofing your basement ceiling depends on what you begin with. Also, seal around all pipes and wires with caulking or spray foam. And you can avoid a lot of cost renovating the main floor by doing much of the work of new installations from below. The use of soundproofing caulking will improve the sound quality in the basement and reduce noise between the floors. Teens threw a party? Again, I don't love it. But let me put it this way. - Jason. 6. in response to 3/8" on ceiling, watch out for sagging. No need for overhead blocking but you will need to fire block behind your finished side walls. Area is so much more livable now. Here's a great Pinterest page dedicated to ceilings - great ideas! My first reaction is that you should spray the entire ceiling white without finishing it. ... vs. moving the speakers around the framing like last time. Mine is EQUAL! The Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) rates products on how well they block sound transmission. The previous tenant (from whom I bought the business) split the cost of installing sound board above the drop ceiling on the neighboring walls. I just want to insulate the ceiling. You almost always need access. There should be no end gaps. The easiest way to prevent this is to fill the space between the joists with 6-inches of fiberglass or mineral wool. It's such a great solution. we drywalled a ceiling outer "tray" and will use drop ceiling for the center with decorative vinyl tile. That's crazy expensive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hey Susan - Great question, I'll try to answer as best as I can. Thanks for the help. It certainly can be a difficult decision and it's specific to each families circumstances and needs. - Jason. I have your basement ebook, Jason and have just finished your ceiling article here (don't do a dropped ceiling). However, I have radiator heat, and my radiator pipes are not inside the joists, but rather 3-4 inches below them. Our ceilings are permanent. I can no longer associate with you. Unless your basement is ginormous. Maybe epoxy paint floors. Placed opposite the sound system, they will reduce feedback and give truer sound, and will reduce echo in hallways and stairwells. Try this first. How exactly should we soundproof ceiling? our home is 15 years old and we have been here 7 months. Thanks for the tips. It has a lot more character than a solid slate of white above your head. I feel it just looks better. Don't want that to happen. Yes, I love it! They are pretty random and no set spacing anywhere. I also had two in the family room, one I replaced with a 4 gang box and added a switched outlet for the light over my pool table. It is also paintable. Drywall repair is not that expenses or difficult - and as the author of this article said - how often will you need to do it? NO PROBLEM JUST TAKE A FEW TILES OUT DO THE WORK PUT TILES BACK AND YOUR DONE. Real pictures, details, and info coming to a thread soon, but feel free to PM me if interested. What is the best soundproofing material for the ceiling? 1/4" is an option, but in my opinion is too thin. So, they’re rather important and shouldn’t be blocked or torn out. Finished Ceiling – Good Soundproofing but More Expensive, How to Soundproof a Drop Ceiling in Basement, Additional Steps for Better Soundproofing, Lay Down Carpets, Rugs or Mats on the First Floor. The unfinished ceiling began with an STC rating between 32 and 35, so a definite improvement. We will be living above them on the house's ground floor. Thoughts? Hi Troy - Sorry, I don't really have a recommendation for drop ceiling panels that reduce heat. 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. Those fees often get included in the overall project bill. Great article. No issue with first floor noise going down. I have debated this as well (and see your argument that we don't have drop ceilings everywhere), but have two outdoor taps between joists in the basement to turn on each spring, and shut off each fall, and need access to those areas. Chris G - I respect your strong opinion and applaud you willingness to take a position. Why? It will be cheaper to fix the existing tiles and lighting in your grandmothers basement. Drop ceilings are great. It's true. Sound waves travel through the airwaves, so airborne noise is any of the thousands of noises we commonly hear. We do have a framed floor with hardwood flooring, so we lost some headroom but no more than the suspended ceiling was. the current house has a drywall ceiling, vapour barrier, with blown in insulation above the vapour barrier. If the naturual light it okay without there's no reason you can build an wall right over it. Yes, if everything is done right the first time, drywall is a great option but I'm a firm believer in Murphy's law. I am in this same situation now, and decided to go with drywall for the following reasons. Well not me. There are three types of tin ceiling, as well as three coating options. No way! It can even be used for curtains to deaden street noise. However, this is not my house, but my grandmother's. Most drop ceilings are made up of tiles sitting in a frame suspended below the joists of the floor above. In this situation, a drop-ceiling would be third in line. Then I imagined the difficulty of recruiting my lazy friends to help me drywall the ceiling. You don't need the drop ceiling and it's drawbacks to get the same look. Here are the reasons why I think know that you shouldn't either. The only other option is use "channels" to separate the drywall from the floor joists so that it can't carry the sound as well. For a 1600 sqft ceiling that works rounds out to $750.00 including screws, mud and tape. If it stops the wind, it will stop the noise. It has nice 2x2 drywall tiles wrapped with textured wallpaper for the drop ceiling. Like if the only room above it is a living room. Knowing this, a 1600 square foot basement well cost about $7200.00 to soundproof in this manner. I made detailed and accurate drawings of where my water lines, electric lines, duct work and lines for my hot water basrboard heat. As you suggested, leaving them where they are. Noise dampening and access to the main wires and pipes are a part of the argument too (yeah other floors have them, but the ones in the basement are where they actually join together to the service panels and other useful stuff), but mostly it's that drywall has been worse for moisture problems -in my experience- and doesn't actually go with the basement. 1 good reason for drop ceilings FLUSH MOUNT LED PANNELS! If so, I would just drywall the ceiling and paint it. I know waterproofing alone won't solve the issue. After my insistence and then the help of this article he is agreeing to drywall. ", Another Issue to think about if you are going to Drywall your ceiling. What would be the best way to deal with floor joists that are uneven? A rating of 35 or higher identifies a high-performance sound-blocking tile. That being said, I just ripped out the previous white dropped ceiling tiles and grid. Luckily the plumber came out the next day to fix the pipe. The air-space created by a drop ceiling is also helpful for insulating against the lower temperature of the basement and not just noise cancellation. Drop the Ceiling Cost only 50 cents a square foot. Take a look a Ceiling Link, it's a PVC based "drop ceiling" system that only costs you about 1" of space, only twice the space of drywall. I would NEVER put drywall on a basement ceiling. I'm real old fashion that way. I like the idea of some noise insulation to keep noise in the basement from coming up. Drop ceilings can also be replaced one panel at a time, if one gets damaged, without having to cut out and replace whole segments of ceiling. I grew up in a house with a drop ceiling in the basement, never bothered me one bit, I don't think I even looked at it much. Wall to wall Berber tight loop carpet, walls painted with pastel colors and clam shell moulding in white. I plan on buying Drywall and cutting them into 2x2s for my drop ceiling in the HT room. The noise proofing sealant stays pliable, so prevents noise and vibration from flanking all the soundproofing work. Wrap the ducts in foam or line the bulkhead with it. No my favorite option. Do you think we will be able to carpet the floor and drywall the ceiling and still fit the cabinets in? You are probably already dealing with a low ceiling it's not a good idea to make it even lower. It's "less than". Before you begin soundproofing and finishing the ceiling, you want to seal anywhere light peaks through to the basement from the floor above. A bedroom might become an office or a craft room. However, drywall is not only more durable, but it will also give your home a more polished look than a drop ceiling would. At some point you can completely blur the line between basement and main living space. #3 Ceiling Mohawk The owners had to fix it before I'd buy. Cut drywall to fit the grid and paint them however you like. Jason, thanks for your post. I Agee. Surface or wall mounted lights don’t make holes in the noise barrier. The DIY cost for this ceiling depends on how you purchase the soundproofing sealant. Fiberglass insulation may be less expensive, can reduce the STC (Sound Transmission Class) from 35 to 42, and has an NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) of 1.05. 6500 to replace 800sq ft....that is ridiculously high. My realtor says I'll never get $6,500 in appreciation. Replacing the ceiling tiles with a denser tile material or inserting dense plates above your existing tiles will add mass. Remember to check around the door frame and under stairs depending on how your house is set up. Alright, I give. Additionally, resilient clips and channel are not cheap. I at a minimum would need to go to mosture rated tiles made for a bathroom, but inclined to go to a hard ceiling in the bath. There's not getting around that bit, but it's also not that big of a chore. Here are the four main elements of soundproofing: Sound travels on airwaves, so the more airtight, the better; if air can get through, then sound can too. Make sure to leave a 1/4″+/- gap between the drywall and the building walls. Drilling holes that weaken them and the cost of a plumber to move water pipes , People change kitchens like socks these days. (excuse my language, I've been watching a lot of Downton Abbey "bastard child" is their favorite phrase). Removed a 32 X 32 piece. 2, You have to move all your pipes into the joists. But I have see some kick-ass basements with drop-ceilings. Instead of having to settle for acoustical ceiling tiles that do one and not the other, the good news is that there are ceiling tiles that do both equally well. WE INSTALL BOTH DRYWALL AND SUSPENDED. If you can, wrap these ducts in acoustic material or paint the inside with sound reducing paint. This is how you adjust the to make the ceiling level. If anything it will most likely be cheaper, as framing is not hard if you know what you are doing. Hi Jason, The reason is that most of these drop ceiling tiles are made of polystyrene. Or is there a way to build our own ceiling system? Just my two cents on it. The recommended insulation is fiberglass rolls with the kraft facing up. Is that really a problem. CEILINGS IS MY PROFESSION, I AM THE OWNER OF SCOTT CUSTOM CEILINGS. That should be plenty of space. Electrical boxes for ceiling lights and fans should be mounted to the joists with a dense vinyl between the wood and electrical box. Could just two of us do it? Made our heating bill go down. I had two Junction boxes in the bedroom ceiling, one I was able to move into the closet, the other I brought down and installed a cover, I then covered this with a smoke detector and it is hidden. I'll TRY NEWER PANELS! Especially if you have even the slightest concern with headroom. Here’s a quick list of the steps or layers for getting the best value for your soundproofing dollar: Adding insulation to the joist cavities helps to absorb the movement of sound. What do you do about all of the wires, pvc pipes, copper pipes and the hideous octopus looking air ducts? I PREFER DRYWALL OVER MY EXISTING 12X12 DAMAGED TILES. The difference is, you don't consider your basement to be equal to the other levels of your home. I'm going to rip out my ceiling, raise the joists, and put in a drop down ceiling. If you are going to be living down there as your permanent living space I would really push for drywall. Kenny - I hate it when that happens, but I'm still sticking with drywall over drop-ceiling. Office buildings have drop-ceilings. I'm sure you'll find that some people like their basements to have stone walls, it doesn't have to look bad or uncomfortable, or even "basement-y".