K custom home said:
Grid cieling makes it feel like a basement--Drywall makes it feel like living space.
Amen, my brotha...
Basement remodeling seems to be the bastard child or "real" remodeling for some reason. I see so much half-assed stuff in basements, it makes me sick. I just demoed a basement bathroom today where the "studs" (I use the term loosely) came off with the drywall because some knucklehead used finish nails at the top plate. There was also one "wall" (again, term used loosely) behind the toilet that had six different types of wood cobbled together to form a surface for the drywall. I will be issuing a CO to replace both walls.
Drop ceilings are what some people expect for a basement because they don't know any better. They think it's the thing to do because their lazy, cheap neighbor has one.
Drop ceilings are a last resort for me. Drywall looks a million times better every time. On a current job, I have to use a drop ceiling due to circumstances beyond my control. The only way to go is use the 2x2 commercial grade tiles. Whatever you do, please don't ever use 2x4 tiles. The should come from the factory pre-sagged because they ALWAYS end up sagging.
Another alternative I would like to see is the Armstrong Woodhaven laminate ceiling systems. Kind of like Pergo for the ceiling. Very slick looking. I might actually install some in my own basement to see if it's something worth offering as an upgrade to drywall.