01. Asbestos Use
Why Was Asbestos Used in Popcorn Ceilings?
Companies added asbestos to popcorn ceilings because it provided strength and heat resistance. It was also cheap. Many asbestos companies used the mineral in construction materials for decades. Popcorn ceilings were popular from 1945 to the early 1990s.
Popcorn ceilings without asbestos are still available for use today. Textured ceiling covering is useful for acoustic insulation and covering up imperfections. But they have fallen out of fashion and are uncommon in new homes.
- Color: Typically white, off-white or beige
- Depth: Depth of the “popcorn” effect may vary
- Texture: Visibly pockmarked surface
Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings History at a Glance
- Other Names: Acoustic ceiling, blown-on ceiling, cottage-cheese ceiling, spray-on ceiling, stipple ceiling, stucco ceiling, textured ceiling
- Years of Use: 1945 – 1990s
- Places Used: Houses, other buildings
- Asbestos Use Banned: 1973
- Noteworthy Brands: Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Kaiser Gypsum Company Inc., Kelly-Moore Paints, National Gypsum Company
How Common Is Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings installed from 1945 until the early 1990s commonly contained asbestos. It was a popular spray-on ceiling material and contained 1% – 10% asbestos.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned asbestos in spray-on ceiling materials in 1973. This ban was part of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
However, popcorn ceilings may have still contained asbestos after the ban. Existing inventories of asbestos products were exempt from the ban. So companies may have continued to use them. Some reports show asbestos may have been present in popcorn ceilings applied as late as the 1990s.
If these ceilings were not replaced, homes and other buildings may still contain asbestos. People who live in pre-1990s homes should assume popcorn ceilings contain asbestos. Materials installed after 1995 likely did not contain asbestos.
Dangers of Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings
Living in a house with asbestos popcorn ceilings can be dangerous. Damage and normal wear and tear can cause asbestos fibers in the ceiling to become airborne.
In one case study, researchers examined a woman who lived with asbestos ceilings for 30 years. Persistent water damage caused the ceiling to crumble when it dried. By the 1990s, the woman began experiencing asbestos illness symptoms. In 2010, she received a lung cancer diagnosis. Doctors later found lung scarring consistent with asbestosis.
Asbestos fibers can become embedded in the lining of specific internal organs. Over time, these fibers may irritate and scar organ tissues. This irritation can cause several dangerous health problems. The most serious of these is mesothelioma cancer.
Asbestos diseases can take 10 – 50 years to develop after initial exposure. Repeated exposure may increase the risk of developing an asbestos disease. That said, no safe level of asbestos exposure exists.
02. Exposure Risks
Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Popcorn Ceilings?
People at a higher risk for asbestos exposure from popcorn ceilings include:
- Construction workers: Occupational asbestos exposure from popcorn ceilings may happen during construction, renovation or demolition.
- Homeowners and families: Popcorn ceilings may expose household members to asbestos when they deteriorate. Removing or encapsulating popcorn ceilings can mitigate at-home asbestos exposure.
People living or working with asbestos are at the highest risk of exposure. Individuals should also be aware of secondary exposure. This occurs when someone comes into contact with a person carrying asbestos fibers.
People who develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure have options. Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can file asbestos lawsuits on their behalf.
03. Removal Safety
Safely Removing Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings
Homeowners who suspect their popcorn ceilings were applied pre-1990s should not try to remove or encapsulate it. 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. They can test for the mineral and decide on the appropriate next step, which may include:
- Encapsulation: Asbestos encapsulation covers up asbestos-containing products to avoid releasing fibers into the air.
- Removal: Asbestos removal involves carefully ridding the building of asbestos products.
If asbestos materials may have been disturbed already, homeowners can:
- Remove pets and people from the area.
- Shut off all vents and close all doors to the affected area.
- Wear personal protective equipment.
- Wet the area to keep fibers out of the air.
The safest way to deal with asbestos is to leave it to professionals. Doing so will protect friends and family from inhaling harmful asbestos fibers.
How to Test Your Ceiling for Asbestos
Homeowners can test their popcorn ceilings for asbestos by hiring a licensed contractor. Asbestos professionals trained in state and federal regulations can handle asbestos properly.
An inspector can look for any broken or damaged material that may contain asbestos. If a renovation is underway or planned, the inspector should look at these areas as well.
The inspector can also take ceiling samples and send them away for lab testing. If asbestos is discovered, they can put together a mitigation and removal plan.
How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings With Asbestos
A licensed asbestos abatement contractor can conduct asbestos removal. Homeowners, landlords, tenants or general contractors should not attempt removal on their own.
First, contractors will assess the condition of the asbestos popcorn ceilings. An important part of that assessment is determining how friable, or “crumbly,” the product is.
- Highly friable asbestos products are the most likely to release fibers into the air. These products are the most dangerous. In those cases, it’s most likely worth it to remove the popcorn ceilings.
- For less friable products in good condition, contractors may recommend encapsulation.
For a complete asbestos popcorn ceiling removal, the contractor will shut off all ventilation into and out of the affected area. Typically, the products will be wet down to prevent airborne fibers. The products will then be removed.
Each state has regulations for asbestos disposal. A licensed contractor will safely dispose of the products, ensuring they do not harm anyone else.
