The popcorn ceiling was the preferred ceiling end from the Nineteen Fifties to Nineteen Eighties for brand spanking new development and renovations alike. As a toddler rising up within the Nineteen Eighties I believe that each one of many suburban properties my household lived in had a popcorn ceiling till my household utterly switched gears and purchased a 1700s home in downstate New York.
They had been in every single place and for good purpose. They had been low-cost, quick, and hid a wealth of flaws. Dashing up residence constructing in a time when the nation desperately wanted new housing inventory was a fantastic factor, however it additionally got here with some risks that finally, together with altering types, resulted within the downfall of the popcorn ceiling.
What’s a Popcorn Ceiling?
Accordingly to Wikipedia popcorn ceilings, generally known as acoustic ceilings, are “created by tiny particles of vermiculite or polystyrene, which provides the ceiling sound-deadening properties.” The particles are then blended with a binder and sprayed onto the ceiling.
The mix of elements and utility strategies was very efficient at two issues. It introduced the costs of development down as a result of drywallers solely needed to apply one coat of mud to the seams of the drywall earlier than spraying the popcorn ceiling versus 3-4 coats of gradual feathering out and sanding to make a easy ceiling.
One other profit was the sound dampening offered by a popcorn ceiling. Popcorn ceilings “can cut back echoes in a room identical to carpet or acoustic wall panels,” says Jordan Fulmer, founding father of Momentum Property Options a renovation agency in Alabama.
The Fall of the Popcorn Ceiling
For one thing so common because the popcorn ceiling chances are you’ll be questioning why they’ve gone the way in which of the Dodo chook. There are a pair causes for its fall from grace.
Within the Nineteen Fifties vermiculite and white asbestos had been the most typical elements to create the feel, regularly vermiculite was changed by polystyrene, and in 1989, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) banned all new makes use of of asbestos; makes use of established previous to 1989 had been nonetheless allowed.
The concern of asbestos mixed with altering aesthetics within the post-modern designs bobbing up within the Nineties and 2000s drew customers towards clear traces and easy surfaces fairly than the shag rugs or carpeted world of the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties.
Right now, you’re extra more likely to spot a unicorn than a house owner who needs a popcorn ceiling. They’re extensively thought to be passé and outdated. Within the many years since their recognition, they’ve additionally garnered a repute of being indicative of low high quality development although there are a number of lovers remaining.
Do Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos?
You’ll be able to’t inform by taking a look at it if a popcorn ceiling comprises asbestos. Age can be not a figuring out issue of whether or not there’s asbestos lurking inside. Based on Asbestos.com, testing is the one method to know for sure if a popcorn ceiling comprises asbestos.
Whereas the age of the home can’t verify the presence of asbestos, if your own home was constructed after 1989 you’ll be able to make sure that it doesn’t include asbestos.
Testing for Asbestos
In case you’ve received a popcorn ceiling and also you’re serious about elimination you’re going to need to take a look at for asbestos earlier than you escape the scrapers. The best firm I’ve discovered for testing is Western Analytics. Scrape a 1″ x 1″ sized pattern from the ceiling and place it in a Ziplock bag.
Ship it out to them and for about $30 you’ll be able to have a pattern examined and get the ends in 24 hrs. They’ll inform you if it comprises asbestos, what form, and the way a lot. That approach you’ll be able to proceed with a transparent conscience realizing you’re secure to scrape.
In case your ceiling exams constructive for asbestos then you definately’re not sunk but, you’ll simply want to rent an abatement contractor who can safely take away your popcorn ceiling and maintain you secure.
Popcorn Ceiling Elimination
Presumably one of many messiest DIY tasks you are able to do is eradicating a popcorn ceiling the standard approach with a scraper and a pump sprayer. I outlined the method in a video and tutorial a number of years in the past. In case you are contemplating doing it your self take a look at this earlier put up for the steps.
The method entails overlaying all of the flooring and furnishings with plastic and spraying the ceiling with water to melt the popcorn ceiling after which scraping it with a popcorn scraper that removes the feel and catches it in a bag (kind of). Even in case you are extraordinarily cautious it’s simple to both gouge the ceiling or drop loads of texture on the ground.
Some newer instruments have come in the marketplace within the current years just like the Festool Planex sander that means that you can sand the feel proper off and safely gather it in a HEPA Mud Extractor. The instruments are costly, operating round $2,000 for the sander and dirt collector combo, however it definitely is less complicated and cleaner than scraping by hand. Right here’s a video of the sander in motion.
As soon as the feel has been eliminated plan on an honest quantity of sanding until you used the Planex sander. You may additionally have some spackling to cowl gouges or unevenness within the ceiling to make up for the truth that authentic builders didn’t apply the pre-requisite 3 coats of mud on the seams to assist them mix in easily.
Many people who take away the feel apply a brand new texture like knockdown or orange peel which can be extra en-vogue at the moment which additionally hides imperfections, however to not the extent the popcorn ceiling did.
No matter you determine to do along with your popcorn ceiling be secure and get it examined earlier than digging in. Is it essential to take away the ceiling for security? Normally no. Popcorn ceiling elimination is sort of all the time a beauty selection and an comprehensible one at that.
Hopefully, this put up has given you a greater understanding of what’s floating above your head and now you can also make a greater resolution about what is true for your own home.
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I really like outdated homes, working with my fingers, and educating others the excitment of doing it your self! All the things is teachable for those who solely give it the possibility.