QA

How To Remove Popcorn Ceilings With Asbestos

You need to contain asbestos debris by constructing a plastic containment area around the ceiling areas you wish to remove. This is accomplished by covering the walls and floors within the project room(s) to ensure all debris is captured and remains on plastic sheeting during the removal process.

What happens if you remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?

If you remove this ceiling dry, you will contaminate your home with asbestos and expose yourself and your family to potentially high concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers. These fibers may remain in your home indefinitely. It is recommended that three workers perform the job.

How can I tell if my popcorn ceiling has asbestos?

You can test a popcorn ceiling for the presence of asbestos by carefully scraping a small sample into a plastic bag and having it tested at an EPA-accredited lab. While homeowners are allowed to remove a popcorn ceiling that contains the material, a professional asbestos remediation company should do the job.

How long does it take to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?

If your ceilings contain asbestos the process will take four days instead of two. Rest assured that we will do the best, quality job with your new ceiling transformation based on the pre-existing ceiling condition.

Do all popcorn ceilings have asbestos?

Do All Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos? So, in 1977, the U.S. government banned the use of asbestos in ceilings and most ceilings installed after this date, would not contain any asbestos. So, yes, most popcorn ceilings have asbestos, especially if they were installed before 1977 or the ban.

What percentage of asbestos is in popcorn ceiling?

Popcorn ceilings generally contain between 1 and 10 percent asbestos. While 1 percent may seem insignificant, it’s important to note that any percentage of asbestos in a popcorn ceiling is cause for concern and should be addressed.

How can I cover my popcorn ceiling without removing it?

Popcorn ceilings should be covered with lighter materials such as paint, paneling, or planks. One option to consider is gypsum board paneling, a material that is very similar to drywall, but much lighter and easier for the ceiling to support.

Can you remove popcorn ceiling yourself?

Removing a popcorn ceiling is a fairly easy and affordable DIY project that just requires some time and muscle. Should your ceiling need more TLC than just scraping and painting, there are also options for covering up popcorn ceilings, such as wood paneling, pressed tin tiles, or new drywall.

Was asbestos used in popcorn ceilings in 1986?

A: Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustical ceilings, were a fad in the early 1960s. The application of sprayed-on coatings containing asbestos was banned in 1978, but a lot of popcorn ceilings installed as late as 1986 contained asbestos in the mixture.

How long after exposure to asbestos do symptoms appear?

In most asbestosis patients, symptoms develop within 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos. If someone is exposed to asbestos for a long time, a decade or more, the latency period of symptom development is closer to 20 years. Learn more about asbestos diseases in our comprehensive mesothelioma guide.

Is it worth it to remove popcorn ceiling?

If you discover that your popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, don’t panic—and don’t try to remove it yourself. Removing it will cause the particles to escape into the air, making it easy for you and your family to breathe in the carcinogens.

Was asbestos used in popcorn ceilings in 1979?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It was present in many products used in home construction, including acoustic (popcorn) ceilings. The use of asbestos in ceilings was banned in 1975 and was out of the material by 1979. If your home was built prior to 1979 you must have your popcorn ceiling tested.

What to do after you scrape popcorn ceiling?

After you have scraped all the popcorn off, allow the ceiling to fully dry. If you scored an A+ in following my what not to do’s, you may not need to do this step. Those spots where I tore the paper on the drywall needed to be fixed. Lightly sand them to make them as even as possible, then spackle as needed.

How much does it cost to remove popcorn from the ceiling?

If you’re wondering how to get rid of popcorn ceiling, you should know that removing a popcorn ceiling is a labor-intensive job, and the cost reflects it. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to remove a popcorn ceiling is between $1 and $2 per square foot. The average homeowner will pay around $1,780.

Was asbestos used in popcorn ceilings in 1973?

Asbestos popcorn ceilings were popular between 1945 and the 1990s. Asbestos was officially banned from ceiling coverings in 1973. However, previously manufactured asbestos-containing products may have been installed in homes into the 1990s.

Can I just paint over popcorn ceiling?

Interior acrylic-latex paint is the best type of paint to use for popcorn ceilings. If you need to protect your ceiling from moisture, though, use eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss paint sheens. Popcorn texture ceilings require more paint than flat ceilings.

Is it safe to live with popcorn ceiling?

The ceiling will not endanger your health as long as it remains completely undisturbed or properly encapsulated. In the long run, having it professionally removed is the safest choice. A higher percentage of asbestos is worse, but popcorn ceiling is dangerous even if it is just a few percent asbestos.

How much exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma?

Out of all people with heavy, prolonged exposure to asbestos, 2% to 10% develop pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not show until 20-50 years after asbestos exposure, which is when tumors have grown and spread.