This spring I am going to gut the basement and reframe out the walls to change the size of the family room and bedroom in the basement. Right now there is a drywall ceiling, but my wife and I are interested in leaveing the beams exposed, just painting them a flat black or something.

My question is, what kind of lighting can be used in a situation like this. I really like cans, but they would look pretty ugly sitting in between the floor joists not being hidden by drywall. It may be my only option, but I'm looking for some ideas.

Thanks,
John

 

John,

If you are suggestion on painting your floor joists black and then deciding on light fixtures, the issue is what interest you, just highlight type lighting or more lighting to totally light the space?

I would suggest leaving your existing drywall and install recessed cans or alternative type lighting, maybe conventional surface mount fixtures. With modifying room sizes, the patching of the removed wall area may not be too dificult to apply drywall,tape and paint.

Problem with this is;

Making a hole and finding cross bracing or a pipe. Now before you go crazy...if you did make a hole and were able to do so between the floor joists, you could easily use a mirror/flashlight to determine what else may be in your way and where to install to avoid problems.

Conventional light fixtures can disperse alot of light but they also would infringe on the total ceiling height which may not be to your liking.

If you chose to leave the drywall, it would eliminate alot of demo work. Installing recessed cans would not be that hard to fish wires and you could install them on a dimmer.

If you wanted to do the demo, tape everything up, cover your flooring, rent a sprayer and do your black paint to everything. This works very well and is fast - DO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND WEAR A MASK/EYE PROTECTION. Halogen lighting may be an option and you can see many varieties of these at Home Depot or Lowes, etc. Sometimes the painted ceiling with all the wires, piping etc may not look too appealing but your eyes may not take notice to this as most activities are at eye level.

Make your choices and good luck!

 

Thank for the advice...there are many reasons I want to take down the ceiling in the basement...sorry I ddin't mention all of them before, but here are a few more...I didn't think they would matter, but I guess they do...my bad...

The previous owner ran wiring through the ceiling and did not use a junction box or conduit...a little freaky. Second, the drywall job they did onthe walls and the ceiling is so bad that it simply must be taken down. They popcorned it and it's totally uneven and the butt joints they made are so obvious.

I saw a picture in a magazine or a book with a ceiling like the one I describe on my original post...exposed and painted black. I just cannot find it anywhere to get another look at some of the elements. I also read about the ceiling and it stated that the flat black will not make your eyes drawn to it...

As far as my preferences go I'm really looking for something more as an indirect lighting. or something that comes from the ceiling. I thought about making some kind of box that would go in between the joists to hold the cans or other lights...that way it would hide the back of the fixture that's meant to be hidden. They don't make cans that look finished do they?

I guess I'm just going to have to be creative and look around at every retailer of lighting.

I noticed you have a web site...do you maintain it? Do you like your hosting company? I own my own web development/web hosting company. If your interested email me at john@jodenwebdesign.com or go tomy web site www.jodenwebdesign.com.

Thanks again,
John

 

You said, "The previous owner ran wiring through the ceiling and did not use a junction box or conduit." That description fits 90% of all the houses in the U.S. Do you mean that there are inaccessible splices? If so, that's a problem. But if not, then I don't understand the concern.

I'd worry about how well you will be able to provide even lighting with a black ceiling. I know that restaurants sometimes do it, but they use A LOT of lights. I don't think indirect lighting will work well against a black ceiling.

I suggest that you rip down the drywall, correct any wiring problems, install can lights, and put up new drywall, painted white. The effect is quite pleasing, expecially if you put the cans on a dimmer. I love can lights.

Not only is drywall inexpensive and easy to work with, it's a miracle substance when it comes to fire. The drywall will also allow you to install sound insulation in the ceiling if you choose. In certain situations, this makes a big difference.

 

I too prefer can lighting...it's inexpensive and allows for light disbursement. I'll have to see what I can do...

The wires, including the hot wire, are just running through the ceiling sitting on top of the drywall. Is that normal? You don't ned for that to be in conduit and a junction box?

I'm not sure about the indirect lighting either...I'm just looking for something that's not going to be bright and in one spot. I think tha cans are the best option. Like I said, if I do decide to leave the ceiling exposed, then I will probably still use cans, and build a box around it to finish it off some how...not sure yet. I'll have to get creative that's for sure!

I will try to let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again...you've been a big help!
John

 

per your post-The wires, including the hot wire, are just running through the ceiling sitting on top of the drywall. Is that normal? You don't ned for that to be in conduit and a junction box?


i assume this means that the cable does not run through holes in the floor joists when needed - this is ok for an unfinished ceiling as long as properly attached to bottom of joist but not good if the cable is sandwiched between the drywall and bottom of floor joist. - too easy to skewer cable with drywall screw etc. for redo would run cable through holes at least 2 inches from bottom of joist per code. only need junction box where there is a junction of two cables - i hope there are not open splices! what a hack job! i am a wiring neophyte- would recommend rex cauldwells book -"wiring a home "it has all this stuff in it and more! good luck -john

 

Are we taling about individual wires or Romex cable?

I assume that this cable sitting on the drywall was fished through the joist space after the drywall was installed. This is okay and allowed by the National Electrical Code. If you tear down the drywall, then you can staple that cable to the sides of the joists.

 

thanks for all your help and answers john nelson. i find it interesting that some of the code requirements for new work do not seem to apply to remodel type work- for example that cable needs to be anchored every 48 inches(or is it 41/2 feet i can't remember) but in remodel work it's ok to run a cable in a joist space above drywall ceiling without anchoring as you suggest in the above reply. how is this apparent difference in standards reconciled in the code? john

 

It's 4.5 feet.

The electrical code is practical. It tries to balance safety and cost. It doesn't just blindly require the maximum safety. Although secured cable is safer, it isn't such a significant difference to requre it in a remodel. But it is so simple an cheap to do in new construction, that it is requred.