Many homeowners who have popcorn ceilings would rather they didn’t. Current tastes deem them somewhat ugly. They can even lower the value of a home. But before remodeling, renovators should consider the potential danger of older popcorn ceilings. They may contain asbestos, a dangerous mineral that can cause cancers like mesothelioma.
Keep reading to learn which textured ceilings might have asbestos and what you may want to do about it.
1: Pre-Renovation Inspections May Be Needed Before Remodeling
The first step in a textured ceiling remodeling project is to figure out if it contains asbestos. The best way to do this is to hire a professional inspector to take a sample and test it.
Renovators should assume popcorn ceilings installed before the mid-1990s contain asbestos. In the past, companies added it into spray-on textures to boost heat resistance.
Homeowners and other renovators should not disturb untested textured ceilings. Asbestos professionals have the protective gear and training to safely sample and test materials.
If you choose to collect samples on your own, you’ll be at risk of serious illnesses. Even a one-time exposure to asbestos may cause mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. Leaving sampling and testing to professionals is a much safer option.
2: Removal Process and Cost Depends on Inspection Outcome
Removing a popcorn ceiling comes with different costs depending on if the inspector finds asbestos. If the sample tests positive for the mineral, renovators should hire professional abatement specialists to remove the ceiling.
Interior asbestos removal tends to cost around $5 – $20 per square foot. To give you an idea, the average living room in U.S. homes is about 216 square feet. Removing an asbestos popcorn ceiling in a room this size would cost about $1,000 – $4,000. The cost covers things like:
- Labor
- Materials
- Planning
- Safety gear
If an inspector doesn’t find asbestos, hiring non-abatement contractors may be cheaper. For example, they may not need to seal off the area or take other precautions. Homeowners can also remove asbestos-free popcorn ceilings as a DIY project.
3: Not Removing Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling May Be an Option
If your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, you may have the option to do nothing. Asbestos popcorn ceilings in good condition are generally considered safe. As long as the texture is intact and shows no signs of flaking or crumbling, you may choose to leave it as is. You may also choose to encapsulate the ceiling, which involves hiring a professional to treat it with a sealant.
Granted, some people may want to remove the texture for reasons other than potential asbestos exposure. Popcorn ceilings have fallen out of fashion in the past few decades. People may want to remove this texture to get a different look or make the house more appealing when they put it up for sale.
4: Covering Asbestos-Free Popcorn Ceilings Can Be an Option
Another option for getting rid of a popcorn ceiling is to cover it up. For example, planked ceilings can be relatively easy to install over textured spray-on materials. Covering the ceiling may be cheaper than removing it.
Renovators have the option of planking over asbestos-free popcorn ceilings themselves. They can also hire contractors to perform this job.
5: Popcorn Ceiling Installation Is Still an Option
Asbestos-free popcorn ceilings are not dangerous – they’re just unfashionable. Some companies still sell this type of texture, just without the asbestos. Popcorn ceilings even have certain benefits that some people may like, including:
- Affordability: Textured sprays are relatively cheap and easy for DIYers to use.
- Flexibility: Popcorn ceilings can accommodate a certain amount of movement without cracks forming.
- Improved acoustics: Textured ceilings can help reduce ambient noise and echoes in a room. They can also help dampen sounds from, for example, upstairs neighbors.
- Simplicity: Popcorn ceilings are an easy way to cover up imperfections without doing a lot of drywall finishing.
So if your current renovation plans involve adding popcorn ceilings, go right ahead!
