How can I update my 1957 house’s basement ceiling that is stapled to wood and covered in filthy tiles?
Asked by Ümit Karaduman 
2 months ago
Last Updated: September 15, 2024
Hey guys! So, we just moved into our new house which was built way back in 1957. I’m pretty sure nothing has been changed cosmetically since then. Check out my basement ceiling – I initially thought it was a drop-down with metal bars making it an easy fix, but it’s not that simple. I took down a few tiles today and realized they’re stapled to wood underneath. Any suggestions on the best way to spruce up this old ceiling? The tiles themselves aren’t too bad, but these ones are super dirty and just look gross.
You can’t paint those if you can’t clean them. They’ve accumulated 50 years worth of dust, debris, and possibly cigarette smoke with nicotine inside. Personally, I’d remove them all just like I did with the same ones in my basement.
What did you end up using instead?
Installed drywall with recessed lights
When you begin removing them, make sure to have good ventilation and wear goggles and a mask, as they crumble easily and produce a lot of dust. Dispose of them in a large garbage bag and take them outside promptly, as they tend to disintegrate.
I just have to say, besides the fact that the ceiling tiles are old, I absolutely adore this basement!
Hey , thanks a lot! I love it too, except for the ceiling! Haha. My style is more on the darker gothic side, so I’ll blend that with the vintage. I can’t wait!
Hey , are you planning on keeping some of the orange along with it?
If you only need a pry bar and a stapler to install new ones, I’d say they’re pretty simple to replace.
I’m not sure what to use though. I prefer not to hang up the same ones.
Oh, I remember you mentioned “tiles aren’t the best” so I thought about getting new ones, same size, maybe a different color, and just staple them. If they’re worse than expected, then remove them all and put up drywall, but that’s a bit more challenging than stapling.
Take them down and consider installing Sheetrock or metal/fiberglass ceiling tiles instead. You could also go for beadboard plywood or shiplap to add some texture. All of these options are paintable.
Hey , do you think it’s possible to staple those onto wood? That’s how the tiles are currently up.
Metal tiles could be secured with Brad nails, but for the rest, we’ll need to use screws or stronger nails into the wood strips
I’m not certain about the presence of asbestos in these, but if there is a concern, it’s best to wet them, remove them, and bag them. Another option would be to install drop-down ceilings or sheetrock. After that, mud, sand, prime, and paint as needed.
I had something similar in my basement but decided to remove them. At first, I was worried it might be asbestos but after testing, I discovered it’s just cellulose (wood pulp). Just a heads up, there were mice living above mine with lots of droppings and dead mouse carcasses, so wear a dust mask. I opted to leave my floor joists exposed and painted everything the same color using a spray gun.
Oh man, , I appreciate the nightmare you gave me tonight.
No worries. I reside in the woods, so mice are not a problem for me. They’re just a common occurrence here.
I actually removed mine and ended up with a rain of mouse poop. 0/10 would not suggest
Those ceiling tiles seem like the standard surface mount type. They are usually glued to the drywall ceiling above and feature tongue and groove edges. If they are not attached to the ceiling, they are typically stapled to furring strips connected to the structural framing.
Those staples are meant for wood. I’m just not certain about the replacement process.
We had a similar situation. We decided to take them down and opted for drywall instead. The idea of dealing with a potential leak and having to replace individual tiles was too stressful since they were all interconnected.
If your ceiling tiles are made of wood pulp, you can definitely give them a fresh coat of paint. When we first moved in, our house had these tiles in three rooms. They were drop ceilings from 1961 that lowered the 10-foot ceilings to 8 feet. We painted them a few times but eventually decided to restore the higher ceilings. We still have one more to take down. Just be sure to check for asbestos before removing them.
You know what? Just go ahead and put drywall right over it. It’s that simple.
So what should we do with the drywall? Paint it?
You could try bead board, or check out the panels available at stores like Home Depot. There are also updated ceiling tiles that imitate the look of old-fashioned ones, if that’s your style.
Do you think the bead board should be placed over the tiles?
I’m not certain if it’s a common practice. I personally would do it in my own home. 🙂
Bead board
Do you think the bead board could cover the tiles?
Hey , I’m thinking of removing the tiles.
Just slap some drywall over them. No need to deal with the mess. Use 1/4 or 3/8 and finish it up. If you try to remove them, it could cause more problems. Drywall will probably be the end result anyway.
I’m really not sure how I would approach that. How do you deal with the lights?
Remove them gently. Create openings in the drywall to accommodate them. Reattach them once the hanging is complete.
Consider covering it with a tin ceiling! If the tiles are nailed into wood slats, you can attach the tin to them. Tin is lightweight, so it won’t add too much weight.
You can choose to cover it with drywall or another type of ceiling material you prefer
How can I add more to it and how do I go about installing it?
Remember, there is plumbing above so if you install drywall on the ceiling, any leaks may be difficult to reach
It seems like those tiles are probably secured to 1×3 strapping boards, which are then attached to the floor joists. The strapping is typically spaced 1 foot apart, making it suitable for drywall or other materials.
Time to give it a fresh coat of paint!