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Should I finish my basement

Moved in to a new house....one of the main selling points was a concrete basement; walls and floor slab.
The dimensions are perfect for my setup and I will finish the ceiling and do sound treatment as necessary but really wonder if I should also put up sheet-rock ?
As of now wall are painted with water-seal paint, and I have a large carpet on the floor.
I can just hang few drapes on the walls, do some sound treatment and leave it as is...
The looks are OK either way for me - no bearing on my decision.

Just want to hear if some of you have experience with such a "dilemma" (finished vs cement walls) and what would be recommended?

PS: I would NOT want to do any sound treatment under the sheet-rock...as a matter of fact I would only mount aluminium rails to the walls and then attach 1/2inch sheet-rock
ether
czarivey
5,692 posts
 
Yogiboy, why town should look inside the house? Whatever's inside the house isn't the town's business. Finish basement and than shushh. It's common and works.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
I second the 'leave it as it is'. tweaking the room with sound treatment will require a lot of patience. Also, consider leaving the ceiling open, not installing anything for now. Open rafters can be a great ceiling sound treatment. So, wait. Start listening and get a good sound measuring computer program to help the process. Many programs are free and can go a long way to help you understand what you are hearing.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,480 posts
 
Czarivey, I've lived in New York and Connecticut and the two towns I lived in they did have the right to come in and inspect for assessment. Sad but true!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
In high tax areas neighbors will often rat you out.
People vary of course, but I'm with Timrhu , ugly room and speakers drag my enjoyment way down.
Also, spikes in concrete has never sounded right to me.
czarivey
5,692 posts
 
...and you have a right not to let unwelcomed to your dwelling anywhere you live in US. I used to live in NY,NJ as well and dealt with those who have right to come in by simply not letting them in. Entering the dwelling without permission of owner is called trespassing weather one has or doesn't have a right to walk in. Technically I have a right to use weapon to protect my dwelling (2nd ammendment) and if it's not firearm, than 2" adjustable wrench or cro-bar may also work.
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