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Hanover, NH on Sep 06, 2012

cheap and easy idea for basement studio ceiling

due to extensive house rewiring, the ceiling in my basement studio is gone. all that remains is lots of strapping. i would like to do it myself but could not handle drywall. my thought is what about the pink or blue foam insulation panels.they are light and cheap and i could easily handle them. is there anything wrong with this idea?

tia

10 Comments

Becky Blair, NE

I think you'd have to glue them up and even though they are light weight anything over your head is not easy to do. Especially by yourself. Will you have any help at all?

on Sep 06, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

The only concern I would have is fire. You do not want any foam materials being left exposed. If by chance a fire started. The fumes given off by the foam boards will kill you in short order. Use ceiling tiles, or paint everything black, then place lattice panels over the entire ceiling. Use white or another bright color so to block out the wires above. Simple, Light and easy to cut. And not to expensive also.

on Sep 07, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Good point about the fire hazard WE. That's the first thing I thought, but forgot to mention it. I was going to use foam to build a cornice for a client, but once I read the precautions on the foam I vetoed that idea.

on Sep 07, 2012 · Like 0
Elinor A Hanover, NH

it appears that people believe the foam is unsafe. so can anyone think of anything else that is lightweight and cheap to staple or nail to the many pieces of wood lining on the ceiling. there is definitely no room for a suspended ceiling:(

on Sep 11, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Why not just paint it all one color. If you rent a sprayer and where protective gear so you don't wind up painting yourself it ought to look pretty nice. Here's a Google Image search to show what I mean....
https://www.google.com/search?q=painted+base...

on Sep 11, 2012 · Like 0
Elinor A Hanover, NH

can't paint as there is no ceiling just a bunch of wooden strips and they too are i horrible condition. my only solution is to put a new ceiling

on Sep 11, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

Did you check the link? That's what I was talking about painting. Unless you are wanting this to be a completely finished basement there isn't too many ideas that are cheap and easy. Can you share a picture of the ceiling please?

on Sep 11, 2012 · Like 0
Elinor A Hanover, NH

becky i have not made myself clear . there is NO ceiling just a haphazard arrangement of old strapping that existed to hold up the original ceiling which was torn off. i can't paint tose bits and pieces and have holes to the underside of the living room. painting is no option. i must get some sort of lightweight paneling to staple or nail to those pieces of wood and the exposed joists.

on Sep 12, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

I know there's no "ceiling". I'm talking about painting the joists, bottom of sub flooring and anything else (duct work and such) as shown in the photos I linked to earlier. When everything is painted the same color it doesn't look too bad at all. Obviously you don't understand that concept or don't want to do that so I suggest you head to HoDe or L's and ask someone there what they have available. Some of their older clerks have worked as contractors and can be very helpful. ...»

If you truly have "holes to the underside of the living room" you have a bigger problem than your basement ceiling to deal with and may need to hire a contractor.
Though I'd like to help more, at this point the above suggestions are all I have.

on Sep 12, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

What about simply purchasing some large rolls of burlap, Dye or paint color of choice then tacking it up? Will hide all sorts of things and is cheep. just be sure all your electrical wires are properly capped and splices are covered in boxes. And be sure that no light bulbs can come into contact or near the cloth. A staple gun is all that is really needed to install.

on Sep 12, 2012 · Like 0