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AR15.COM
12/29/2010 4:57:00 AM EDT
We have a 1300SF basement of which 600SF is finished out.  We have a drywall ceiling in the finished section and we are getting ready to finish out the remaining area.  In the 9+ years we've had our finished section, we've never had to get up in the ceiling for any reason.  No doubt, a drywall ceiling looks better, but something is telling me to consider a drop ceiling with decorative tiles just in case we ever have to get up in the ceiling down the road...any thoughts?  Thanks.
12/29/2010 5:00:36 AM EDT
[#1]
Thirteen years ago, we did a drop. We also have removable panels in the walls to access the plumbing at certain spots. We never have needed to access any of it...HOWEVER, I advocate being cautious and doing the drop ceiling: for 13 years we enjoyed a fab party pit. In March of 2010, The 100 year storm caused flooding and my basement filled with water and had to be torn out and re-built.

We finished it just before Christmas.



I am not much of a gambler. I've found Murphy screws up shit that's expensive to fix.
12/29/2010 5:06:54 AM EDT
[#2]
I had a drop ceiling installed.  The installer put it as close to the joists as he could and it is less than 2" lower than a drywall ceiling is and it allows access to valves in the outside water lines.
12/29/2010 9:06:14 AM EDT
[#3]
I wouldn't use drywall in the unfinished areas. It's nice to have the option to run electrical, fix plumbing, run speaker wire, run network cable, etc...
If you do put up drywall, I'd wrap, both hot and cold, pipes with pipe wrap to prevent sweating.