ᐅ Leave precast concrete ceiling panels in the basement unfinished?

Hi,

for our project, interior work is just starting, and we were considering leaving the precast concrete ceilings in the basement (which consists of two large living rooms, one guest room, one fitness room, as well as a wine cellar, hallway, and utility room) exposed as delivered, only filling the joints between the individual elements.

We expect this to give the basement a certain loft-style look (we had already planned black track lighting systems with black spotlights, as well as black switches and sockets for the basement).

On the downside, the ceiling height in the basement is the lowest (275 cm (108 inches) minus 20 cm (8 inches) for the floor build-up, so 255 cm (100 inches) room height), and it is said that white ceilings provide the greatest sense of space. According to the construction manager, the joints would still be visible but not as noticeable as they are now (they would be filled flush with the ceiling in a similar color tone).

We would definitely plaster and paint the walls (in white or possibly also in color).

Question to the group: Should we go ahead or not? Will we achieve the desired loft effect this way, or would it look rather awkward combined with smooth walls? And is a room height of 255 cm (100 inches) still suitable for this, or is it already too low?

Thank you very much for your opinions / feedback / ideas.

I would find that okay, but I would leave the joints open as well. Otherwise, it looks strange. You just need to sand it thoroughly because the concrete seeps through a bit everywhere. Then you can also cover the walls with brick slips...

Tolentino schrieb:

I would be fine with that, but I’d leave the joints open as well. Otherwise, it looks odd. You’ll just have to sand it nicely because the concrete tends to seep through a bit everywhere.
And then you can also cover the walls with brick slips...

Thanks, also for the idea with the brick slips. I hadn’t thought of that at all. Would you do that on just individual (large?) walls, or on all of them?

clausen77 schrieb:

Question for the group: Should we go for it or not? Will we achieve the desired loft look this way, or will it look odd combined with smooth walls? And is a ceiling height of 255cm (8 ft 4 in) still acceptable for this style, or is it too low?

Honestly, you won’t get even close to a loft appearance with just plastered/painted ceilings or completely untreated ones if your walls are finished in a standard way and painted white. So no matter what you do, in my opinion 2.55m (8 ft 4 in) ceiling height is not enough for that kind of look.

Take a look online at loft photos; you won’t find white walls and low ceilings there. More typical are large windows, iron/steel elements (dark with patina/black), old brick, and so on.
You can use “old” brick for accentuation—which I would recommend—and that can also be achieved with stylish brick slips.

Yes, I would also use it only as an accent. Possibly even on one wall, applied only halfway with a gradient (widening towards the bottom).

Benutzer200 schrieb:

To be honest, you won’t get even close to a loft look with plastered/painted ceilings or completely untreated ones if you plaster your walls in a standard way and paint them white. So, no matter what you do (in my opinion, 2.55m (8 ft 4 in) ceiling height is not enough for this kind of look).

Take a look online at pictures of lofts—you won’t find white walls and low ceilings there. Instead, you’ll see large windows, iron/steel elements (dark with patina or black), old brick walls, and so on.
You can get “old” brick for accentuation—and I would recommend doing that—even as stylish thin brick veneers.

Thank you very much. Yes, I was aware that we can’t really achieve a true loft appearance. Actual lofts, as you mentioned, usually have very high ceilings in addition to exposed brick and steel window frames.

We have large windows (also in the basement due to the sloped terrain), but they are modern aluminum frames, not the steel-and-glass style typical for lofts.

The real question should be: how does the combination of smooth walls and untreated concrete ceilings look?

Based on your initial feedback, it’s probably better to avoid that…