Basement with ducts under beams/joists

[Anonymous]

If ductwork is running under beams/joists, what options are there for raising them up or rerouting them? Can this be done? At what kind of cost? We would like to finish our basement, but the ductwork makes the ceiling pretty short (typical 1940s house). Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It can be done. Another option, which many people in my neighborhood choose, is digging out the floor. The latter is more expensive but it means you can make the ceilings normal-height.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be done. Another option, which many people in my neighborhood choose, is digging out the floor. The latter is more expensive but it means you can make the ceilings normal-height.

What kind of cost is that for maybe a 15 x 15 room? Any idea?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I really don't know. Friends of ours dug out the front 2/3 of their basement and did high-end finishes and I know it was quite expensive--over 100k. But like I said, it's kind of fancy with built-ins, bathroom etc.

[Anonymous]

we jsut cut the duct work and used round soft duct work like a tube and tucked it into the sides of the beams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we jsut cut the duct work and used round soft duct work like a tube and tucked it into the sides of the beams.

Did you see a drop in efficiency?