This spray-on textured treatment has been the standards in most homes for a lot of years. But today, smooth ceilings are the trend, so more and more homeowners choose to remove this outdated popcorn ceiling, especially if they are considering to redecorate and remodel. If you still find yourself wondering and asking, “Should I remove popcorn ceiling?” then, here are some good reasons for you.
Reasons To That Should-I-Remove-Popcorn-Ceiling Question
There are a number of reasons why it is better to update and remove the acoustic texture from your ceilings. Some of these reasons gear towards health, while others are more practical reasons.
Design Concept #1: Wabi-Sabi
First, Popcorn ceilings are hard to paint. If you have a textured ceiling, it becomes more difficult to redecorate or update your home’s overall look. Because this type of ceiling has an odd texture, it makes it difficult to apply paint to. Traditionally, you use paint rollers to apply paint, with Popcorn ceilings, however, a paint roller is ineffective because of the bumpy surface. If in case, the ceiling does get painted or gets wet, you would have to deal with some liquified cottage-cheese like chunks. Then, you have nothing else to do than to repaint your ceiling.
Second, Popcorn ceilings will entail much maintenance. After some time, this type of ceiling becomes dull and flaky. They leave messes on your floor and furniture. Aside from that, if there is any damage to the textured ceiling, like something as simple as a hole, simply patching things onto it will not fix it. Most of the time, any damage leads to an entire ceiling replacement. This wastes time, effort, and resources.
Third, Popcorn ceilings catch dust and are more than difficult to clean. The bumps and crannies make it gather much more dust compared to smooth ceilings. If you brush up against the popcorn ceiling to do some cleanup, it is easy to leave marks. If you try to take off the dust or cobwebs, the dirt does not really come down and the duster you are using gets caught. In the end, you will realize that you knocked down even more popcorn.
Fourth, Popcorn ceilings make your home outdated. Since popcorn ceilings were a thing in the ‘70s, anyone who enters your home will instantly feel like they were taken back to the past. Now, this is not really a bad thing, but if you would like to have a home that is more contemporary, then the rough ceilings definitely have to go.
Fifth, Popcorn ceilings make it harder to find future buyers for your home. It hurts your home’s resale value. Since it is difficult to deal with popcorn ceilings, a significant amount of value is subtracted from your home. The asking price of your home is devalued.
Sixth, Popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos that is a major health risk. Asbestos is fibrous and if this mineral is inhaled or ingested, it can be harmful to the body. Illnesses that are linked to asbestos exposure are club fingers, asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Knowing this is enough reason to remove the popcorn ceiling.
Testing for Asbestos and The Risk of Asbestos Exposure
To know whether the popcorn ceiling has asbestos, you would need to test it. You can either purchase a test kit or hire an asbestos abatement professional. If you choose to get a test kit, all you need to do is collect a sample of the ceiling and mail it to the lab. Hiring a professional, on the other hand, is a lot safer but of course, it will be more expensive. After the test results arrive and you find out that your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, what should you do next?
According to Asbestos.com, any percentage of asbestos makes popcorn ceiling dangerous. Popcorn ceiling is friable, which means it is very easy to damage. So if your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos materials, any damage will release toxic dust. Inhaling this dust is what leads to serious health illnesses. Because of the prevalence of health concerns related to asbestos, the Clean Air Act of 1978 was passed to ban spray-on asbestos products. This is why if you find out that your popcorn ceiling has asbestos, decide whether you would encapsulate the popcorn ceiling or remove it instead.
Encapsulating asbestos means covering the asbestos material so it does not release asbestos dust. You can cover the ceiling with new ceiling panels or with vinyl paint. Encapsulating asbestos is a safe solution, but if a demolition or renovation project will come in the future, the asbestos will become a danger. With that said, it is highly recommended to remove the popcorn ceiling early on.