My in-laws just purchased a new build with an unfinished basement. I will be doing the majority of finishing the basement myself as I've recently done my own. Due go building code, the builder drywalled the entire basement ceiling. Bringing new drywall into the basement is going to be an absolute pain with the stair/door setup. My question is: can this drywall be taken down and rehung? I'd obviously be smart taking it down but I'm wondering if it ruin the integrity of it. Would I use the same screw holes or better to make new? Yes I'm aware drywall is fairly cheap and they'd have no problem just getting new but that means discarding of the old and 50 more sheets to bring downstairs. I'm also aware of the possibility or more work for the mud guy. I discarded all of the ceiling drywall I took down in my basement but it was a damn pain. Thoughts?

 

Why would you need to remove the ceiling? I understand the problem with getting the new drywall down, but there's got to be a simpler method than tearing down a professional job. Perhaps cutting new dry wall for ease of transporting into the basement. You will need to tape and mud seams anyway. What's a few more?

 

I mean, the sheetrock needs to be removed to frame, run HVAC, electrical, etc. It's just screwed up, it's not finished.

 

Well now you're talking major renovation. If you going to run ductwork for heat and cooling, then yes, I guess removing the ceiling is the first step.
It's possible to frame without removing the ceiling. You could also use a space heater for heat in the winter. And being in the basement your cooling should not be a problem since it's below grade. I would recommend a dehumidifier though.

 

If the drywall isn't taped/mudded it should be simple to take it down and reuse it. I would probably use different screw locations.

 

In all my years of building homes I have never, ever, heard of any code requiring a basement ceiling needing to be covered.

If it was installed, why would you need to remove?

 

My question from earlier. Apparently, his location says it's code. Sounds odd to me also.

 

It's fire code in Minnesota. I'm also a Firefighter, so it's absolutely true. How would i go about installing any of he HVAC, electrical, etc without access the the space above the ceiling?!

 

Your asking a question that cant be answered based on the questions provided.

 

You must remove the ceiling as you originally planned on. I doubt you could re-use the material unless you were very careful in removing it. And as CW mentioned, don't use the same screw holes.

 

 

So, this is not a below ground level. You said basement. It's assumed at least partial below ground level!
Now it makes sense as to why the ceiling is wall boarded. If this were below ground does the code still say non-living quarters are to be wall border ceilings?

 

See the half poured concrete walls in the back? Those are below ground as is about 1/3 of the side walls.

 

Yes I do. This is very similar to many homes built here also (can't think of the term for that style house, Not split level, or is it?). What you're showing is considered usable living area and is subjected to all the codes for any other part of the house. What I do see as surprising is that toilet facilities were not already installed and walled off. Your heating/AC is located here and walled off?

 

This particular home is not split level - mine was. It's typical for builders to not finish anything in the basement. The furnace/utilities are off the camera to the right in this pic and all of that is also not walled off.

 

It's is still considered a basement. That is a "lookout" basement. My house has a walkout basement. This is common in new homes in MN and started about 3-5 years ago. Coming to your state soon.

 

Here they are called "Daylight Basements"!

So the real question is what is it you need to do that requires the drywall to be removed?

 

Locally they are called walkout basements, they've been around here longer than I've lived here [30+yrs]