Not sure what to do with my existing basement cieling
#1
05-20-14, 12:19 PM
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Not sure what to do with my existing basement cieling
I have a walk out basement that leads passed my garage and out to my driveway. Its pretty much just a hallway that houses my laundry and utility sink. The house was built in 1912 and has had many renovations over the years. It looks like the last owner tried to jerry-rig a ceiling in. It looks like he nailed up a couple 1x3 furring strips and hung 1/4" sheet rock panels.
I have no idea why, but someone cut five holes into the "ceiling", three of which are quite large. Its never bothered me, but we are getting ready to sell, and our realtor is concerned.
I don't think I can patch the panels because there is nothing for me the screw the new sheet rock to. I thought about tearing it all down and doing a drop ceiling but that would be a giant pain in the neck with all the odd angles (Our HVAC trunk rights right through this area.) The only alternative can't be to tear it down and start over from scratch, could it?
Anyone have any thoughts?
Pic: imgur.com/nICzu3D
I have no idea why, but someone cut five holes into the "ceiling", three of which are quite large. Its never bothered me, but we are getting ready to sell, and our realtor is concerned.
I don't think I can patch the panels because there is nothing for me the screw the new sheet rock to. I thought about tearing it all down and doing a drop ceiling but that would be a giant pain in the neck with all the odd angles (Our HVAC trunk rights right through this area.) The only alternative can't be to tear it down and start over from scratch, could it?
Anyone have any thoughts?
Pic: imgur.com/nICzu3D
Last edited by DaveInPhilly; 05-20-14 at 12:45 PM.
#2
05-20-14, 12:23 PM
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Your picture didn't come through.
I'd be concerned about 1/4" drywall sagging, not sure that was a good choice in the first place.
Does this area need a finished ceiling in the first place? Sounds similar to a utility room and open ceilings are normal there.
I'd be concerned about 1/4" drywall sagging, not sure that was a good choice in the first place.
Does this area need a finished ceiling in the first place? Sounds similar to a utility room and open ceilings are normal there.
#3
05-20-14, 12:31 PM
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Hm, I'll take another crack at getting a picture up.
No, it doesn't need a ceiling, but it is the main access to the house from the driveway. So having a ceiling is definitely a plus. The ceiling certainly does sag, but not so much that the sagging alone would be a problem.
Edit: third time's a charm... picture
No, it doesn't need a ceiling, but it is the main access to the house from the driveway. So having a ceiling is definitely a plus. The ceiling certainly does sag, but not so much that the sagging alone would be a problem.
Edit: third time's a charm... picture
#4
05-20-14, 01:08 PM
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I'd be inclined to take it down and then I'd have to decide whether to hang new (thicker) rock or leave it open.
#5
05-20-14, 02:12 PM
I agree! You can still patch drywall when the framing isn't there but that ceiling is already sagging. It won't cost that much to hang/finish new and even though it probably won't bring a higher price - it won't be a stumbling block either!
#6
05-21-14, 09:10 AM
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I am concerned that hanging new sheet rock would be beyond my limited capabilities. It would involve tearing down the ceiling in the entire basement, not just this particular hallway, and framing out the entire thing before I could hang new sheet rock. With the duct work hanging down, and the odd angles in the rest of the basement (it makes a 90* turn with a rounded corner) I don't think I could do anything that would look better than it does now.
For the sake of argument, how could I patch the drywall without studs? Though, to be honest, I am considering just leaving it as is. It didn't bother us, or our inspector when we bought the place.
For the sake of argument, how could I patch the drywall without studs? Though, to be honest, I am considering just leaving it as is. It didn't bother us, or our inspector when we bought the place.
#7
05-21-14, 09:52 AM
To patch drywall where there isn't framing you either add framing to attach the drywall to or screw pieces of wood to the drywall that is already there [with half of the wood hanging in the open area] and then screw the patch piece to it.
I couldn't tell from the pic but how far is the nearest joist the drywall is attached to? For larger patches you really need to have some of the repair piece attached to framing.
I wonder if a thin piece of paneling, painted white would be an acceptable fix ??
I couldn't tell from the pic but how far is the nearest joist the drywall is attached to? For larger patches you really need to have some of the repair piece attached to framing.
I wonder if a thin piece of paneling, painted white would be an acceptable fix ??
#8
05-21-14, 10:02 AM
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Thanks. There are no joists at all. The sheet rock is screwed into two 1x3s (laying flat, not vertical). It was a pretty hack job.
#10
05-21-14, 12:33 PM
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There aren't any joists at all. It's hard for me to see without opening the ceiling up, but it looks like the floor joists are about 6" above this ceiling and were covered, at least partially, in decking of some sort. The furring strips that this ceiling is attached to look to be just sitting on top of the wall paneling.
Would it be grossly against code if I were to cut out a couple squares of 1/8" paneling and just fit them up there, to sit loose on top of the existing sheet rock? As a type of ersatz access panel for the plumbing/ electric.
Would it be grossly against code if I were to cut out a couple squares of 1/8" paneling and just fit them up there, to sit loose on top of the existing sheet rock? As a type of ersatz access panel for the plumbing/ electric.
#12
05-21-14, 01:48 PM
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You know, that's something I hadn't considered. I just assumed since it passed inspection when we bought it, it was kosher, but I guess our guy could have missed it.
