Why Were Popcorn Ceilings Popular? One of the main reasons popcorn ceilings were popular is because they disguise imperfections. Contractors and DIYers didn't have to spend hours fixing every crack, hole, or bump. Instead, they could just add the popcorn texture, paint, and call it a day.
This texture was created by spraying a mixture of materials like Styrofoam, paint, and in many older homes, asbestos. Popular from the 1950s through the 1980s, popcorn ceilings were a hallmark of the post-war housing boom. They were quick to apply, hid imperfections, and even helped with noise control.
Popcorn ceilings were a thing because they were a cheap and easy way to cover up imperfections in a ceiling. They were also thought to be acoustically superior to other types of ceilings.
Use of asbestos in textured ceiling materials was at its peak from around 1945 through 1980. Popcorn ceilings contained asbestos for its resistance to heat and corrosion. Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk.
Popcorn ceiling's rough, bumpy texture easily accumulates dust, cobwebs, and other particles which makes it harder to clean, particularly rooms with high ceilings. Popcorn ceiling removal will improve the home's air quality because it will be easier to clean the ceiling and fewer particles will accumulate.
Most homeowners spend between $927 and $3,043 to have popcorn ceilings removed, but your total cost could reach $5,706 or more if you have a larger home with higher ceilings. Below, we explore the different cost factors that will impact the total price you pay to remove this outdated feature.
Removing popcorn ceilings will almost always increase a home's value. Not only is the design trend no longer desirable, but it also poses safety concerns for home buyers. Have a listing with an awful popcorn ceiling that needs to go? Tell us about it!
The only way to be sure if a popcorn ceiling has asbestos is to have it tested by a certified professional, who can recommend next steps to keep you and your family safe.
Sanding, painting or patching a popcorn ceiling can disturb asbestos fibers. This creates dangerous asbestos dust that can lead to mesothelioma and other diseases. Instead, the first step should be to hire a licensed abatement contractor. Such professionals should be the only people inspecting and handling asbestos.
Apply enough water to loosen the material without causing damage to the drywall underneath. Make several passes if necessary. Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the material to absorb the water, then begin scraping. If the material is still difficult to remove, repeat the moistening process.
Most old asbestos ceiling tiles look light colored, slightly textured and powdery white. They often have small dotted indentations. If your tiles remain intact there is little to no health risk. However, deteriorating ceilings can put all of your building's users at risk.
Textured ceilings are made from joint compound or plaster and applied by hand or with specialized tools to create various patterns. Unlike popcorn ceilings, they're less likely to contain asbestos.
Homes built before the 1980s likely have asbestos in them. For instance, if these homes have popcorn ceilings or vinyl flooring, they may contain asbestos. A simple rule is the newer a home is, the less likely it has asbestos materials. Homes built before the 1980s are likely to contain the mineral somewhere.
They Dampen Noise – The textured, thick, and porous surface of a popcorn ceiling helps it muffle and absorb sounds.
First, popcorn ceilings used to be made with asbestos, a harmful substance that can cause illnesses, cancer, and other types of health risks. If you happen to purchase an older property with these ceilings, play it safe and get your home tested for exposure before disturbing the material.
It really depends on the market. While the immediate return on removing a popcorn ceiling may not be significant, the perceived value increases depending on buyer expectations for the home's size and price range.
May Contain Asbestos
If builders installed your popcorn ceilings before 1977, then it contains asbestos. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Even some homes built during the 1980's may still contain some asbestos in floor tiles, ceilings, pipe cement, and other products and materials. This is because the EPA didn't extend the asbestos ban to include all newly manufactured products until 1989.
If your popcorn ceiling needs a refresh, one of the easiest things you can do is give it a fresh coat of paint. Learning how to paint a popcorn ceiling is simple, especially compared to covering your ceiling or removing the texture completely.
According to painting experts, popcorn ceiling removal costs range from $1,923 to $3,876 with an average price of $2,899 to hire a professional. The average sqft cost to remove popcorn ceilings ranges from $5 to $9 per square foot. This includes all labor, preparation work, and materials to do the job right.
What does asbestos cement roofing look like? The roof panels are normally a cloudy grey colour and look like a blend of different materials. They are most commonly corrugated (wavy) sheeting like the attached picture.
Popcorn Ceilings Can Be Vulnerable To Mold
Unfortunately, the textured surface of a popcorn ceiling and its microscopic pores also makes it easy to attract mold spores. Mold is technically classified as a type of fungus with living spores floating in the air around us.
They save time and costs: Popcorn ceilings can be inexpensive and quick to spray on a ceiling, substantially saving time and labor costs. They hide flaws: “Finishing drywall using joint compound is a tedious process, and popcorn texture hides any blemishes that would otherwise be visible,” Fulmer says.
How long does popcorn ceiling removal take? On average, expect the process to take approximately 2-3 days for preparation, removal, repairs, and cleanup for a 12x12 room.
They were also more cost-effective and time-saving for painting crews because they made covering up flaws in the ceiling easier. It was quicker and more affordable which allowed for buildings to be completed more quickly, mainly when the economy started growing around World War II.