Am taking the plunge and finishing my basement, have just started. You may see me on this board with many questions to come ...

First is the size of drywall to buy. My cieling is 9' tall to the joists with at least 1' of this holding pipes, electrical, duct work, etc. Have definitely decided on a drop ceiling. My neighbor recommended just getting 8' sheets to save money (the drop ceiling will cover the rest) - but in many places the sheetrock can easily go just about 9' to the top along the walls. I could use advice on what best to buy before I have 7500 lbs. of the stuff delivered. Am trying to do things right and purchase the paperless wallboard - so cost is a bit of an issue.

Second question is the vapor barrier. If I do use 8' sheets and a drop ceiling, do I actually create an opening at the top for moisture to form and drop down the walls? Is there anything good to do to remedy / patch up this top part? Some insulation possibly? The walls will have a nice coat of drylock on them first against the concrete part - it's a daylight basement with about 1/2 poured foundation, the other 1/2 framed.

Thank you in advance ...

labman

Moisture is going to be a big problem. Do you have good foundation drains? On my crawl space I put plastic sheeting over the Dry-Loc covered walls and the floor. I have also regraded, running water away from the house. The crawl space is meticulously sealed except for the vent for combustion air for my furnace. It stays dry year around. Go down there in the summer time, and the pipes don't have moisture condensed on them.

I would put plastic over the outside walls, foam insulation all the way to the floor above, and go with the 8' drywall. Use your central A/C or a dehumidifier to keep warm, moist air out of the basement in the summer. Dry-Loc the floor too or something. Maybe it has a good sheet of plastic under it.

SCNetworks

Thank you labman - here's the rest of my ideas on the basement so far, please let me know if a good alternative:

- 8' Sheetrock as you say.
- Drylock on poured concrete walls. 1/2" Polystyrofoam (Dow) sheets over that between the wall and framing, paperless wallboard on top of this. Was all I was going to do, but now maybe an extra sheet of plastic between frame and wallboard?
- R19 paper faced out on 1/2 frammed section already (not below grade) - paperless wallboard on top of this.
- Between top of sheetrock and joists - use plastic with foam insulation.
- Some type of Drylock treatment for the floor (if any one has a good product to use / recommend please let me know).
- If and when I can afford (will do first with bathroom) use "Dricore" (http://www.dricore.com) sections on top of painted floor. I do not have a basement drain internally - but think this will help.

The footings for my basement actually sit about 15' below my poured slab - and this is where the drains actually sit. There is some grading externally that will help a bit - but all in all it's usually dry, although the dehumidifier does fill up twice a day during the summer. I'm located in HotLanta.

Final touch is to tap into the furnace for two outlet / inlets for HVAC. This I think is most important.

My winter project ...

labman

Mostly sounds good to me. I am not sure about the extra layer of plastic or the paper in. The great thing about foam insulation is that often the dew point is inside it, inaccessible to water vapor. Otherwise, vapor can collect on the cold side of a vapor barrier, and condense. Better to let it go.

Do not be impressed by the Ultra expert after my name. Any idiot can be an ultra expert here by making enough posts and a few have. I am just a home owner who has worked out a few of his problems himself. I also have some industrial maintenance experience and am in charge of the maintenance of my church. The only area I really have much special knowledge is in dogs.

We have some good people in plumbing, computers, and electrical; some areas I can't say, and some we are thin.