10 ft vs 9 ft basement?

gaonmymind

11 years ago

Would these ceiling heights make a difference to you?

Featured Answer

david_cary

11 years ago

I know some do a 12 in the basement. We have 10 with a tray in 1 room for ductwork. Basements tend to be like caves and the higher ceilings really help.

This of course is in a walkout situation where you can have large windows with the taller ceilings. If you are talking traditional, I suppose it matters less.

Basements tend to be larger open areas which fit better with tall ceilings.

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Comments (9)

Missy Benton
11 years ago
Not in a basement. We have 9' in the basement and it feels fine to me.
motherof3sons
11 years ago
Same here. 9' finished ceiling in the lower level.
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dyno
11 years ago
I would pay for 8' to 9' but not 9' to 10'.

If you are doing forced air, then perhaps 10' makes sense to end up with 9' clear after all drops are framed in.
athensmomof3
11 years ago
We have somewhere in between, finished height. I think it is 9'8" They feel great. There is an area where we had to lower the ceiling to 9' to fit in ductwork (we didn't want to tray out the ceiling in one room and the solution was to lower the ceiling in the half bath and hallway outside the guest room). They don't feel as open, but maybe that is because they aren't ;)
worthy
11 years ago
A builder I know did a nearly 11 foot high basement in his own home. Since it's virtually all below grade with no walkups or walkouts, and just small windows at the top, it feels like being trapped in a well. In a fire, you will be trapped. Nine foot clear is plenty. Work with the HVC designer to minimize return intrusions.
dyno
11 years ago
I guess the other consideration is building height restrictions. Where I am, 29' is the maximum allowed so basements/cellars tend to be pretty deep if on a level lot.

As worthy mentioned, it can tend to feel pretty cave-like if your windows are high and small.
gaonmymind
Original Author
11 years ago
Our basement is walkout on the entire rear and right side. Every room other than storage you cna walk out to the yard. So there will be plenty of light.

Not sure if it worth the extra expense to deepen it or not. It's about 6k to do it. While that is not alot of money by any means...it's still money. I am trying to reserve as much as possible for extras I may want as we build. Which I know I will want. But many of those things will be cosmetic...not structural. Moldings, light fixtures and such. I am also toying with making the house all brick again. That will cost about 20k. That is money that could be spent on that.

What would give me higher resale? I guess it would be in the eye of the beholder.
Melissa C
2 years ago
I'm sure the OP has already answered their question. But as someone just finding this, I would get 10 ft basement ceiling so it would be 9ft finished. We currently have an 8ft ceiling, finished basement and it feels like a basement. My teen won't even sleep in his room downstairs because he feels as if he's down in the dungeon. Which I agree. The newer homes around us have 9ft finished ceilings and there's a huge difference. We are moving soon and we all like the taller ceilings in the basement. It makes the downstairs feel like it's a part of the house.