The Cheapest Way to Finish a Basement Ceiling

Measure the ceiling and determine how many sheets of drywall you will need. Measure the length between floor joists. The drywall will be attached to the floor joists and need to be wide enough to reach two joists. Drywall is normally sold in 4-feet-by-8-feet sheets. Measure the location of all light fixtures or any ductwork and pipes that fall below the floor joist.

Cut the drywall with the utility knife to fit the ceiling and accommodate all light fixtures and other obstacles.

Set up two ladders in one corner of the basement for you and your assistant to stand on. Place a box of drywall screws and a drill on a ladder so that they are easy to reach. Safety goggles need to be worn when installing drywall on the ceiling to protect eyes from falling screws. Set up the other two ladders next to the first two and lay one sheetrock or drywall panel on the ladders.

Place the drywall sheet on the floor joist with the corner of the drywall lined up with the corner of the room. Position the drywall so that it covers half the floor joist on the outside edge of the drywall.

Screw the drywall into place with nails placed ½ inch from the edge of the drywall in 6-inch intervals. Because of the foot traffic above the ceiling, screws work better than drywall nails.

Hang the rest of the drywall in the same fashion until the ceiling is covered. Remember to line up the cutouts for the light fixtures and other obstacles that hang below the floor joists.

Cover all the screw holes with the drywall putty or joint compound. Place the putty in all the joints and edges of the drywall. Apply drywall tape to all the drywall edges. This includes where two sheets of drywall meet and around cutouts for ductwork, pipes and light fixtures.

Paint the ceiling with the paint and paint brush or roller. No primer is needed for dark colors, however, primer should be used for lighter-colored ceilings.