Instead of putting up dry-wall or a drop-ceiling, we took an easier approach, and it come with many benefits! It gave us higher ceilings, the appearance of a larger room and a unique industrial look!
It started out as old (1945) bare wood and asbestos return-air ducts...
Some of the air-ducts were wrapped in old fiberglass insulation...
They were also covered in 66 years worth of dust and spider webs...
...Now back to the asbestos, since it can be hazardous to your health when airborne we first sprayed it with spray paint to keep it contained, took a sample and sent it to get tested, got a confirmation, called in the professionals and paid a very pretty penny to have it removed. I personally would have grabbed some heavy-duty trash bags, put on a heavy-duty mask and gone to town... but it worried Trav and to me his peace-of-mind was well worth it!
They also detected asbestos around the air-ducts between the floors so we sealed them with spray foam and foil tape...
And ran flexible tubing through them.
After replacing the return air-ducts, removing the old fiberglass insulation, cleaning all the boards, steal beams and air-ducts, reconfiguring the plumbing higher, and installing can-lights we used a paint sprayer and sprayed it all with flat black paint...
With everything on the ceiling painted black it doesn't draw your eyes upward... Yet when your eyes do glance up I personally think it looks quite intriguing!
Other Finishing Basement Projects:
{This post was shared on The DIY Showoff.}
XO,
Jaclyn
Your ceiling looks awesome. I plan on painting mine black this weekend. Any tips? What type of primer did you use? Also, what did you use for the molding around the top. Anyway, you could show a closer picture so I can show my wife. Thanks
ReplyDeleteRaleigh~ Thank you! You'll love it! If you don't have a paint sprayer you can rent one at Home Depot. We went ahead and purchased one at Lowes because we knew we would get a lot of use out of it. And make sure all your plumbing and electrical work is done first so you can spray it all at once. I like the Bulls Eye 123 Plus Advanced Technology Primer For All Surfaces, and Kilz Clean Start (it's Zero VOC, though I've only seen it at Wal-Mart). After spraying the ceiling we added a piece basic crown molding around the top. We didn't have much room between the ceiling and windows but wide crown molding looks great with this type of ceiling finish! ...Hope that helps you! Good luck this weekend!
ReplyDeleteWow. In our basement we have a tone of pipes and wiring that hang down low so we would have to move a lot of things around if we want to put a ceiling in. This seems like a much better idea. I'm your newest follower. I would love it if you linked your project up to my link party.
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Great work! I'm in the process of finishing our basement and am struggling over low duct work. This looks like a very appealing option. At some points, my ceiling is just under 7 ft. Just curious, how tall are your ceilings? Do you think this is an appealing option with such low ceilings? Thanks and again great work!
ReplyDeleteLove your post. We also painted our basement ceilings with a flat black paint about 1 year ago. I could not be happier with the outcome!! Suspended ceilings just don't appeal to me. We get sooooo many compliments on our basement ceilings. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm prepping my basement right now for the same paint job. Couple of questions....
ReplyDeleteHow did you prep the surface? My ceiling is covered in dust and we are shop vac'ing it, wondering what you did to get a "clean" surface.
What brand paint did you use? Did you try a couple different brands? did you prime it as well?
Thanks!
Wow. Looks great. Did any paint come through on the other side of the floor, that is, any seepage? Also how did you insuate the outside ceiling cornter prone to drafts? Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks! Nope, no seepage! We insulation along the outside wall between the floor joist by measuring and cutting out pieces of foam board and spraying around the edges with spray foam, then painting it all black.
ReplyDeletehello. your ceiling looks great! i am in the latter stages of finishing my basement and we have to get the ceiling sprayed because it is too low and has too much going on to do anything else. many told me to spray it black and i am hesitant because i dont want it to look too low- i was thinkin white or gray... what made you decide on black, does it feel "closed in" and how hih were your ceilins to begin with? i just dont want to make a decision i will regret! thanks for your help if you can!
ReplyDeleteYour ceiling is amazing - before I saw your pictures, I thought we would have to have stick w/a an unfinshed ceiling - yours is dramatic - love it! we have quite a low basement especially where the air ducts run - did you put a solution on any of the duct work that had an oil film - we were told that vinegar would get rid of it - could I ask you what black paint # & brand you used - I went out and purchased a dark brown (which I thought you had used) so I'll try to change it. Any advice w/wires, etc. - do you cover them before painting? thanks, Tina
ReplyDeleteI'm also curious about all the wiring. I've just taken down a drop ceiling only to reveal a hot mess of wires that were just strung everywhere. Can you just spray over them? Some of them will be re-strung as I'm changing out the huge work shop lights that are there now. But will the paint damage them in any way? Thanks, L
ReplyDeletethis is just what I was looking for. I just took down a drop ceiling and thought it would be cool to just leave the wood exposed; painted black..thanks for the pics
ReplyDeleteNo problems with paint sticking to the foil tape?
ReplyDeleteI have a basement return air duct thats asbastos and is nailed to the floor joyces, can I Dry wall over the asbastos.... help!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour ceiling looks great. I'm going to do this also but I'm going to paint mine white. Gret job...
ReplyDeleteI think I would paint the crown molding black and maybe paint the doors black too!
ReplyDeleteHow did it go painting the can lights? I'm getting ready to paint my ceiling and was wondering about the heat from the lights messing up the paint on the cans.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Thank you for the fantastic article. The place else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
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While other focus on improving their living room or kitchen, there are those who take the time to think of ways to renovate their basements for various purposes. The given sample in this post is admirable. This gives other home owners an idea as to improve their basements. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHealth is one issue we shouldn’t take for granted. Especially when buying older houses with the possibility of asbestos! Glad to see you got rid of that nasty stuff. You ceiling looks great, the flat black color went so good with the vents. It is a great improvement of what you had before. Thanks for this article!
ReplyDeleteYour black painted ceiling is awesome, gives it a loft effect. My basement project already has tile, carpet, theater system, bar, but I really want this black ceiling. Who can I contact for a bid? Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm the assistant multimedia producer for HouseLogic.com, a site published by the National Association of Realtors® covering home ownership-related topics.
Would you be interested in granting us permission to use your painted ceiling image in an upcoming article? Email me at libby@houselogic.com for the details. Thanks!
Libby