Finishing your own basement can be a tough challenge and needs to be approached with a well thought out plan. You should come up with a creative layout that will work well for your family's needs as well as help with resale. When a professional basement finishing company takes on a basement to finish it usually takes two guys anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on the size and detail of the basement. When a homeowner decides to take on a DIY project as big as a basement finish, it usually takes close to a year to complete. Many of the different phases of construction will require a second hand to help with various tasks such as standing walls, hanging drywall, installing crown molding, installing cabinets, and a few other tasks. So it is important to have a good friend you can count on.

When it comes to framing a basement ceiling, it will require creative thinking to suit the utilities that often run throughout a basement. Elements such as gas lines, water lines, cables, and other wire can typically be moved. One utility that cannot be moved is the duct work. For these areas, a soffit or wood sub-surface is built to support the weight of the finished ceiling. It is important to leave as much head height as possible without compromising the integrity of the structure. In certain applications ceiling joist can be turned on edge for added clearance. Additional
support is usually required.

Another method of finishing your basement ceiling is to install a drop, or suspended ceiling. A drop ceiling is typically best suited for commercial applications and is not typically preferred in a house. However, it does leave the ceiling accessible.

A drywall ceiling in a basement can often be textured to leave a knock down effect. This is preferred over a popcorn texture. A smooth ceiling is possible, but may require extra work and added cost due to the amount of drywall seams in large ceiling. A knock-down texture has become a much more popular method throughout most areas.

Any type of finished ceiling will create a noise barrier between the basement, and the rest of the house. By using a thicker drywall you will create a greater barrier for sound travel. Another method of reducing sound travel is the use of insulation between ceiling joist. It is important to make sure you use type IC can lights if they will be exposed to insulation. Another type of recessed lighting will get too hot and create a fire hazard.

Even if you want to take on the entire project yourself, certain phases may be better to sub-contract out to specialist. This is especially true with drywall, cabinetry, and some plumbing. It is important to find a sub-contractor that will guarantee his work. It is easier to hold one person responsible for a problem than it would be if several people are involved in the basement finish.