Hi joep0325!
This may not be quite what you want to hear, but this is just "for
what it's worth" from someone whose done a bunch of home improvement
type stuff. :-)
I've found that every Home Depot has at least one guy who Knows What
He's Talking About in every department. Locating him can be more of a
challenge, but I've learned a lot of skills from the nice man in the
orange apron. Your local hardware store may also have resources
available to you--either in the form of reliable contractors or ideas
for do-it-yourself. These folks can point you in the right direction
as far as availalbe materials, cost-vs-quality, and tools you will
need to complete the job.
Before starting on your basement, you may want to set out a radon
meter to make sure your basement is free of this carcinogenic gas.
Home Depot sells Radon test kits for about $10 (go to
www.homedepot.com , enter your zip code, and search for keyword
"radon.")
Something else I've recently learned is the wisdom of moisture
management in one's basement. Be sure that your basement is dry
before you go about finishing it, or you may just be setting up a huge
mold/mildew farm for yourself. Many paint manufacturers do sell a
high-moisture formula paint which is less suceptible to growing mold
and mildew. Other manufacturers have an additive that can be mixed
into any paint in the same way one might mix in color tint. Generally
these paints are designed for bathroom or kitchen use, but can also be
handy in basements or other damp areas of your home. Certainly be
sure to use all of these paints with plenty of ventilation, even if
you have to open a door to the upstairs and run a large fan.
Drop ceilings come in a variety of styles, but generally they all have
a frame of some sort, into which you slide the tiles, or onto which
you glue/staple tiles. These are not terribly difficult to install
yourself, though the work can be strenuous and very dirty. The tiles
I worked with have all been made of some sort of gypsum fibers which
are heavy and break unevenly. You certainly want a dust mask and
goggles to be doing that sort of work. Again, I learned how to do
this with a little bit of research at Home Depot and poking at a few
other drop ceilings to see how they were put together.
Good luck!
--Anlon |
