How to Frame a Basement Ceiling

[@Dave-sd7us]

Your videos are epic, Eddie! My basement came out amazing - owe it to you!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Thanks Dave! Good luck with all of your future projects brother! Thanks for watching... ~Eddie

[@perrydoerr8668]

Dude it’s not confusing….It’s clear and concise. You’re a Pro. 👍👍

[@Berryxplays-u7v]

Perfect solution! Going to give this a try tomorrow!

[@paulcalif]

Exactly what I needed. I have plumbing hanging down into my laundry room. I thought about building around it then thought why not lower the entire ceiling. You showed me how to do it, simple. It's only 10 x10 so it should be easy. Thanks for the tips, you got a new follower.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Thanks for watching Paul! Good luck with the ceiling framing.

[@paulcalif]

@@BasementFinishingMan Thanks, piece of cake now :-)

[@YaBoyDC]

I learn so much from your videos

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Thanks for watching! -Eddie

[@jwm6314]

This is great. This is the only real question I had going into a basement re-remodel. Just bought a house with a drop ceiling in the basement and I hate it with a passion. I intend on ripping everything out and making it right so it feels like a house down there.

[@panhandleprepper6510]

Eddie you're right that's a rocking soffit. Great job. You're the man with the plan. Thanks for the product information on the vents and lighting. Thanks Donnie

[@BasementFinishingMan]

You're welcome brother. Thanks for tuning-in! ~Eddie

[@Cessnaman55]

This is awesome. I’ve been MacGyver-ing my framing in my old home’s basement due to all the overhead stuff and this is going to help a ton. Thanks Eddie!

[@tnphi482]

Perfect timing for this video for me. Getting ready to do this in a bathroom to cover all the same things. Thanks!!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Awesome Kurt! Good luck with the bathroom project... ~Eddie

[@adamkennedy329]

Outstanding videos and explanations! Gives great advice and ideas on how to plan out improvements or renovations. I have a basement that I am looking to finish as the builder left it unfinished knowing my wife and I wanted to finish a little later down the road. A few challenges in making the ceiling not so "basementy" with the main HVAC trunk on one side of the LVL beam and several pex water lines and HVAC lines dropped well below the floor joists. This video helped me visualize what needs done to accomplish a finished look here in Duncannon PA!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Awesome Adam! Hello Neighbor I'm in Hershey not to far from you! Sad to see the Sled Works go...used to love going there! ~Eddie

[@adamkennedy329]

@Basement Finishing Man OH wow, yes we are neighbors! My family and I were sad to hear that the Sled Works was closing too. We are about a 10 minute drive from there. The kiddos always enjoyed going every other weekend for various things. Thanks again for the outstanding videos, they have been extremly useful for me as I struggled with the vision of the finished basement. The first project was putting in the half bath that was roughed in so I used your videos to put up my very first walls. I will admit installing dry wall to the "aluminum studs" they use for Superior walls aren't ideal!

[@glohlson]

I'm about to start this crossover ceiling framing, and i have one question. I am dropping the ceiling to cover the ductwork, which will also lower the three smaller room's ceiling to the same height. Would you frame the interior walls all the way up to the floor joists and use wall banding, which is 9 feet, or do the crossovers first and then support the crossover spans on top of the wall, nailing the walls to the underside of the spans? The crossovers will be about 13' in width, leaving a 2' sofit in the main room and the inner room width at 11'.

[@Cynos_3D]

I hear you about the drop ceilings, living in a big basement apartment completely covered in them, horrible stuff and so easy to accidentally tear, messed up a pannel real bad with a fir tree last Christmas, stuck living with that now. Really noisy too when they start to crackle anytime my heaters turn on.

[@alphabravo1499]

Eddie!!! Finally with a new video drop!!!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yeah I know...I've been up to my neck in basements the last few months. Got a few more videos up-my-sleeve over the next few days! Thanks for watching Selam. ~Eddie

[@alphabravo1499]

@@BasementFinishingMan thank you for the amazing content Eddie. Your videos helped me so much.

[@mandingoteck]

Great video

[@davidbracetty]

Thank so much for sharing this. Tackling my soffits now. What do you recommend if the floor joists are varying heights from laser level? My joists vary in height from 10 5/8" to 11 1/8" from laser line. Should I cut to the shortest heigh and use shims?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes cut the length of the wall studs to the lowest floor joist height. We never use shims. Eddie

[@middleclassthrash]

I support this content.

[@fragu0]

Hey Eddie! Is that a green plate you used for the ceiling at 14:02? I'm framing my basement and ran out of regular 2x4s but still have a few treated 2x4s that could go in the ceiling. Would that be okay?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes that’s okay…won’t hurt a thing! Yes we use them from time to time for wall studs and anywhere else we need a 2”x4”…

[@SteveMannn]

Are the ceiling studs spaced 2’ on center? Thanks for all the vids!

[@richdewitt760]

Nice Soffit Eddie! How many access panels do you think you will need on the ceiling to future access all those damper motors and that fan-never seen so many? Do you have a preferred access panel to recommend, assuming is it like plastic & paintable? Rich

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Hi Rich! We have around 12 or so access panels on this ceiling.

[@jcokeeffe]

Great question. I was wondering how Eddie was going to deal with the required access

[@Soltap623]

Yes ,do you plan to put in access panels??

[@Trentfully]

Would this technique provide decoupling to reduce sound transfer from footsteps overhead? I was going to do Resilient channel with sound clips, but am curious if something like this would work in the same way?

[@trp2413]

Thanks Eddie

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Thanks for watching! Good luck with your project. ~Eddie

[@TheCHRISCaPWN]

My only issue with finished ceilings is future wire running or repairs. I did drop ceiling in our whole basement except for the main area. I did a bulkhead and drop ceiling in that are, and it still looks great. Had to go with 3D type ceiling tiles though, instead of those outdated standard tiles!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Sounds nice Chris!

[@TheCHRISCaPWN]

@@BasementFinishingMan I do agree though, drop ceilings do give you a completely different feel, and more complete feel. 👍 Keep the videos coming! I'm always ready to learn new things! Cheers. 🍻

[@trp2413]

Ugly Basement & Pretty Basement If possible dry wall the pretty and go ceiling less in storage areas Gives options to work / modify in the future but skips the 💩 drop ceilings

[@Trainman0401]

How did you address the fire blocking code requirements with so many openings in your walls and soffits? I am going crazy trying to meet code on my renovation project. 🙂

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Stuffed ROXUL Fireproof insulation everywhere they require blocking areas... Eddie

[@JWPhotosanddesigns]

Love it! I wish you guys were in my area. I need my home renovated. Looking for a trustworthy company.

[@Natural-Causes]

Do you have a video that covers tips on building a wall going the same direction as the floor Joyce? I appreciate your videos, I just found them and you just gained a new subscriber…👍

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes… several videos on this channel discuss building walls where there is no floor joists present overhead. Watch the 6 part framing series, I think it’s part 2 or 3 where I show you how to use “wood blocking’ between the floor joist to create your nailing surfaces overhead. Thanks for watching brother. ~Eddie

[@Bax522]

The 2x4's that you have going down the length of the room, sitting on the cross over beams. Are those nailed into the cross over beams before or after attaching the hanger brackets? Are these 2x4's necessary to the project? Do you have any other videos that cover this process?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Before.

[@garypic4083]

I got basement in NEPA im going to finish thanks Eddie

[@StevenHartung]

Hey Eddie! I have plenty of height room to install my crossovers on end. I know this adds more rigidity to the structure but is it enough to avoid extra support in the middle or do we still need to attach support hangars from the floor joists?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

It depends how wide your spanning Steven. I would add center support hangers from the joists as normal if it were me. ~Eddie

[@rajeevc27]

How do you prevent the wood from splitting when you toe nail into the narrow side of the spanners? I am trying to build something like this now in my basement and every time I shoot a nail into the narrow side the wood splits. What size nails are you using? Thanks.

[@davidbracetty]

Do you ever strap the ceilings with 1x3's? Would love to know why or why not.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

No we don't , we like getting the 16' lumber and 2" x 3's are not available in 16' length. Plus we like the 3.5" width of the 2"'x4"'s for added stability since we layout our banding at 2' centers. Hope this helps. ~Eddie

[@davidbracetty]

@@BasementFinishingMan Thank you! Just about done framing my basement. Hi from allentown, PA

[@AdamMayor]

Having watched most of the soffit videos in this playlist, the very end of this one may hold the key to help resolve my quandary. Almost all of my water and waste lines are tucked in the floor joist nicely (or in an area with HVAC ducts that I would have to soffit over anyway). However, I have a probably 6'x10' area in the back corner of my basement where one of the waste lines dips about 2-3" into the space where drywall will go. Also the water lines in that same area were run in a sort of stray manner where 3 or 4 of them are running below the a few of the joists. At one point I thought about doing a soffit but then I saw you double-band something at the end of this video and I think that may actually work for this scenario. Are there are rules-of-thumb for double-banding that I should be aware of, or any decision tree for double-banding vs full-on soffit? Thanks for any advice you may have in this area. Again really appreciate the knowledge you are sharing here.

[@teutatezify]

You are a legend.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Thanks for watching my brother!

[@goofyahhturtle766]

Is that dryer vent plastic and if so aren't they a fire hazard to have now a day? Plus how long of a run is that dryer vent? If it's to long it won't work correctly.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Turns out it was just a bathroom exhaust fan from a 1st floor bathroom...we re-routed that line out the front of the house and made it shorter. ~Eddie

[@JuanSidberry]

What are the 2x4s in the middle of the soffit running the length of the room? Are they there to stabilize the middle of the 14ft/16ft lumber crossing the room? Just curious; did not see that explained in the video. Thanks for the video.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes that is EXACTLY what they are doing. Each cross-over member is attached to those "stiff-backs"(long pieces in the middle) at every intersection...so when you hang the cross-overs pieces with the hanger framing pieces the entire span is supported at each intersection evenly creating a super-strong structure. ~Eddie

[@fredericbell203]

Eddie, Great, great videos and help...been following along during my own basement finishing project. Quick question on the 2x4's that span the entire width of the ceiling, what's the benefit of installing them flat (vs. on end)? is it so they offer more area to mount drywall? would they offer more rigidity if on end, a benefit one vs. the other?

[@StevenHartung]

This is my question too. Good to see Eddie liked the comment and looks like he answered in another question.

[@julioschulz4236]

Good job

[@fm2895]

You are great 👍

[@michaelbrandle]

Really enjoy watching your videos. Always informative and detailed. Thanks for sharing! One thing that caught my eye was the vinyl vent line. You mentioned it was a dryer duct. I would be concerned with enclosing a vent like that. Especially if it is in fact hooked up to a dryer and over a long distance. Maybe you can clarify. Thanks!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Hello Michael! That vent was re-routed out the front of the house in a 3" metal duct line Michael. Turns-out, It was not a dryer vent line afterall...rather it was a 1st floor bathroom exhaust fan. ~Eddie

[@michaelbrandle]

@@BasementFinishingMan Thanks Eddie. Always the professional. Thanks for clarifying!

[@csimatthew1]

I have been looking for videos on dropping ceiling height. My basement is unfinished, but there are so many ceiling obstacles to account for

[@christophschinkel6724]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for for months now. How to properly put a whole ceiling in. Question: What is your total room height now? With this ceiling, my basement room height would be about 7'10", so every sheet of drywall would need to be cut....

[@BasementFinishingMan]

8'-0"

[@shuttleboy65]

Probably a dumb question - why did you place the 2x4 spanners with the long side down. Wouldn't they sag less with the long side vertical? Thanks for a great video. I am getting ready to finish a much smaller room 12' x 12'.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

I can get the ceiling higher this way 1.5" vs. 3.5 in thickness gives me a higher ceiling under obstacles.

[@shuttleboy65]

@@BasementFinishingMan Ah I get it - of course - thanks. And with the verticals attaching upwards to the trusses, you get the support.

[@viper1884]

Question, it looks like a couple of your crossovers are pressure treated any specific reason for doing so?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

No...just using up extra lumber that was just lying around on the job! No specific reason!

[@deshrajrana]

hi, Can you please share if we can hang the basement internal ceiling with TJI 230 joists with hangers like you did to remove the sag ?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes you sure can! -Eddie

[@deshrajrana]

@@BasementFinishingMan The New Jersey Building Inspector says that he has not seen this kind of design even in his 37 years of careers. he is asking for drawings and vetting it by engineers ?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

@@deshrajrana "There's one of these assholes in every crowd"! The TJI-Beam is more structurally sound(stronger) than a regular 2" x 10" ceiling joist, what the heck is he so worried about? The load of a drywall ceiling is no match for the TJI joist...so he's just being a complete worry-wort for no reason other than him just flexing his inspector muscles to make your life miserable. ~Eddie

[@davesmith7328]

Do you guy’s hang the drywall? Soffits look great!!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Yes we do Dave...Thanks for watching brother!

[@tompiscitelli2548]

I needed this banding design *&% copper water lines !!

[@daviddubois4744]

I just wanted to come on here and thank you. I finished my basement with your help on your video series. If you would like me to give a video of my basement for your use let me know. I would be glad to help promote Thanks again.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

David hello! Thanks for your purchase...I'm just assuming you are a BFU 2.0 member from what I'm reading here. YES! send me a video of your finished space I'd love to see how it turned-out brother. ~Eddie

[@BK-qu6lj]

Hey if you are running out topics, how about floating walls!

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Sorry BK...we are not required to build floating walls in PA. But I have seen a few floating wall videos here on KZbin that could help you out.

[@phumes4783]

Don't you add a exterior barrier (Typar) behind the wall to guarantee an air space between the wall and the concrete?

[@BasementFinishingMan]

No...No vapor barriers needed. Vapor barriers contrary to popular belief, cause more mold issues than they have ever solved. It's best to NOT use a vapor barrier(plastic liner) between the new framed walls and the "cold space" and exterior walls...this is the perfect-storm for condensation to form on that plastic vapor barrier and eventually spawn mold. ~Eddie

[@phumes4783]

@@BasementFinishingMan Hi - I was referring to using TYPAR not plastic vapour barrier. What would hold the insulation in place so it doesn't touch the foundation walls? I watched this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXjNgGStmcmLbaM

[@BasementFinishingMan]

@@phumes4783 That guy is setting those walls up for failure down the road...all that plastic and TYPAR are going to create a jungle for mold to form and live happily ever after behind those walls...I've seen it many times over the years. Just let those walls and insulation breath. It's okay for the insulation to touch the masonry walls. ~Eddie

[@phumes4783]

@@BasementFinishingMan Eddie - Thanks for the warning. I'm so confused now on framing and insulating. I'm in Toronto so we have 4 seasons would that make a difference? One more question. What are your thoughts of rigid foam glued to the foundation walls and then framing on top with pink insulation? Currently I've put in a subfloor and will be building the walls on top.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

@@phumes4783 In Canada the 2" Styrofoam attached to the walls may be the way to go...that is overkill in most of the States as we do not get you frost line depth in most regions in the Northern States. It won't hurt Phumes. ~Eddie

[@patricklastname5646]

Full of himself. Good technics. Crappy video. Bad lighting. Talks to much. Moves around to much.

[@BasementFinishingMan]

Jealousy gets you know where Boy…you probably wouldn’t recognize a good technique if one walked up to you and bit you in the ass. I’m so sick of haters on KZbin…people like us make videos to help people with their projects and insecure assholes like you feel the need to bust our chops. Get a life punk.