Ideas for ceiling in basement

Pennywise

I have a basement - it's dry and habitable. Only problem is that the ceiling is a fibre-board dry-lining glued to concrete slabs which form the floor above, then covered with polystyrene tiles. Obviously I want to replace the tiles due to the fire hazard, but the fibre board is also in need of replacement as it is very old, quite shoddy in places with rough joints between sheets, etc, loose in places, etc - basically hidden by the tiles.

I intend to remove the tiles and fibreboard which will leave me with the underside of the concrete slabs as my ceiling which is a sound base, but not very nice to look at.

Could I have the concrete plastered or would I need to fix plasterboard first, and if so, presumably that would mean drilling, plugging and screwing the boards into the concrete slabs as I assume adhesive won't be strong enough to hold plasterboard?

As an alternative, is there any relatively cheap form of artificial ceiling - the type used in shops and offices with tiles in a suspended metal framework. If so, would it be cheaper/quicker than plaster board and plastering? As ceiling height is already low (around 6'6") I wouldn't want anything that hangs down too far.

Any other ideas or advice or options?

cyclonebri1

Screw studding, or if low headroom, roof laths to the ceiling.

Plasterboard with short phosphate screws to these.
Over plaster.:money:
Cheap as chips,;)

keystone

You could fix the plasterboard up with drywall adhesive (sticks like the proverbrial to a blanket) but certainly not with NMN.

There is a but though. You need to have ventilation between the plasterboard and the concrete to prevent mould growth and whilst it could be argued that D&Ding plasterboard will provide ventilation space I would suggest that CBs solution is correct. Batten the ceiling then screw the boards to the battens then skim.

Cheers

tlh858

Pennywise wrote: »

presumably that would mean drilling, plugging and screwing the boards into the concrete slabs

That will take forever.

Far quicker and easier is to hire a Hilti cartridge hammer and nail the battens to the concrete.

cyclonebri1

tlh858 wrote: »

That will take forever.

Far quicker and easier is to hire a Hilti cartridge hammer and nail the battens to the concrete.

But a heck of a lot safer in none expert hands, and cheaper too ;):money: