QA

Question: How To Finish Basement With Low Ceilings

Can you finish a basement with a low ceiling?

Having a lower ceiling height does not mean you cannot finish your basement. You may just need to be a little creative to create a design that works best for your specific space. Working with a dedicated basement finishing company will be your best bet in achieving the desired look and feel you want for your space.

How do you make a low basement ceiling look higher?

Luckily there are a number of tricks you can do to make them appear taller than they really are! Use Recessed Lighting. Skip Crown Molding. Paint the Ceiling White. Use High- Gloss. Let the Ceiling Color Creep. Go for Vertical Wall Details. Hang Décor Higher. Use Low Furniture.

How low is too low for a basement ceiling?

In most cases, a basement ceiling is too low if it violates local building codes. For older builds, that means anything below 6 feet 4 inches. For new construction, ceiling heights under 7 feet or obstructions below 6 feet 8 inches would be too low legally.

How high does a finished basement ceiling need to be?

What is the minimum height for a basement ceiling? Local codes for basement finishing vary, however, according to the International Residential Code (IRC), a basement living space must have a clear floor-to-ceiling height of at least 7 feet (6 feet for bathrooms).

Is 7 ft ceiling too low?

How low can a ceiling be? Lots of people think 8 feet is the minimum ceiling height because that’s a common height in most homes, but it’s actually 7 feet according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z765). Technically ANSI says it’s okay to have a ceiling height at 6’4″ under beams though.

How can I improve my basement headroom?

Raising the Ceiling If you can’t dig deeper into the ground due to the structure underneath, the best option is to raise the ceiling joists. Ceiling joists are the support beams of your home’s flooring. To boost ceiling height, raise the height of these joists by two to three millimeters per day.

How can I make my 8 foot ceilings taller?

How to make 8-foot ceilings look taller You can install crown moulding. You can install hanging lights. Take advantage of full-length curtains. Anything that can be installed up to the ceiling, should be. Embrace painting your ceilings. Install full-height decorative moulding.

How can I make my basement look bigger and brighter?

10 Tips to Make Your Basement Look Bigger and Brighter Light Colored Walls. Walls painted in light colors reflect light and also help a room appear larger. A Monochrome Style. Glass Doors. A Clear and Bright Floor. Well Maintained Windows. More Greenery. Varied Light Sources. The Mirrors.

Does crown molding make ceiling look higher or lower?

Crown molding can certainly be used to make ceilings look even higher. If you paint over the trim in the same color as the walls, the ceiling will seem to blend into the wall, and you won’t notice the height as much. Thin trim can also make the ceiling line appear further away.

How can I cover my basement ceiling?

Cover the Ceiling with Fabric Staple sheets or other fabric to the floor joists overhead, allowing them to billow down in tufts. This technique softens the space while hiding the mess above. For a more dramatic effect, use colorful parachutes or sail shades.

What is underpinning a basement?

Also known as underpinning, basement lowering entails digging out the basement floor several feet down. This will add value to your home by ensuring the basement can easily be accessed and used. In addition, underpinning also enhances the integrity of the structure thus uplifting the face of your home.

Why do basements have lower ceilings?

The space in the basement of an older house was a utility space, most often used as a store room or food cellar. It was somewhere cool and dark to store fruits and dried or canned foods. It was also dug by hand. For what was essentially a closet/storage space, it was too expensive to dig a full-height basement.

Are 9 foot basement ceilings worth it?

Basement Ceiling Options Allow for Better Living Spaces Homeowners are increasingly realizing that the basement space is more inviting and thus more usable and valuable when designed with the advantage of a high ceiling. Today’s most desirable homes include basements with nine-foot, ten-foot or even higher ceilings.

What should be height of basement?

The basement shall have the following requirement: i) Every basement shall be in every part at least 2.5 m. in height from the floor to underside of the roof slab or ceiling and with maximum height not more than 4.5 m. ii) Adequate ventilation shall be provided for the basement.

How much does it cost to raise a basement ceiling?

Cost to Raise Basement Ceiling It costs between $10,000 and $90,000 to raise your basement ceiling. On a basic level, a contractor has two options to raise the ceiling height in your basement: Dig deeper into the ground: $50,000–$90,000. Raise the entire house: $10,000 or more.