Not trying to state the obvious, but fInishing should not have an affect on the basement waterproofing- if it leaks prior it will leak after. If it does not leak now, you can put dry lock paint on it to further waterproof from inside but that may be overkill. I have dry walled all of my basements but a drop ceiling is much more convenient from an access standpoint. Some of the newer panels are very high end. If you have any doubts about small leaks, elevate everything. You can even put in a false floor if you have under floor ventilation. I have my sump pump- with backup on an auto start generator but you can also hook up a waterline pump if a generator is too expensive.
Basement finishing question
Hi all, I'm about to finish an unfinished basement. My first and main question is; Has anyone used metal studs to do the job? Everything is so expensive right now! Also, is waterproofing the walls good or bad? I've read conflicting thoughts online. I'd like to do it right the first time. I'm also thinking about not finishing the ceiling. There are prefabricated joists that are open effectively giving me a ten foot high ceiling! I may or may not do it myself. Thoughts? Thank you. Joe