Test for asbestos if updating ceiling
A popcorn ceiling, otherwise known as an acoustic ceiling, is a ceiling that’s been sprayed with a textured coating. A popular design element between the 1950s and the 1980s, the texture is useful for hiding imperfections but is now considered outdated.
Popcorn ceilings are not only behind the times, they’re difficult to repair and clean. What’s more, they may deter potential buyers when the time comes to sell your home.
There’s also a chance that your popcorn ceiling may contain asbestos. It’s most commonly found in the ceilings of homes built in the 1950s and 1960s. If inhaled, asbestos can cause serious respiratory issues.
If your home was built before 1980, you should start with an asbestos test. If asbestos is present, you’ll want to hire a qualified asbestos mitigation service to remove it. This will involve sealing the affected area and removing the hazardous materials and particles. If asbestos is not found, or if your home was built after 1980, you can either tackle your popcorn ceiling yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. A drywall professional will typically be able to offer the best results in this area.
To start, the popcorn texture must be scraped off the ceiling. This is a tedious and messy process, and it will probably uncover stains and other previously hidden flaws. To address these issues, the ceiling will typically need to be covered with multiple coats of drywall mud and retextured or sanded to a flat finish. Finally, paint and primer should be applied to complete the ceiling update.
You’d expect updating your popcorn ceiling to be a relatively simple DIY project. But it can be a messy and complicated process. And the debris and potential hazards involved make it one you might not want to mess with. If there’s a chance that you may encounter asbestos — or if you lack the time and experience it will take to successfully complete this project — it’s probably well worth the cost to hire an appropriately licensed, insured and bonded professional. You can always save a little money by painting the finished new ceiling yourself.