When did popcorn ceiling start?
What is a Popcorn Ceiling & Why is it a thing? Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustic ceilings, are a textured ceiling finish resembling popcorn or cottage cheese. The style first appeared in the 1930s and was a common choice up until the end of the 90s.
Why were popcorn ceilings used?
Popcorn ceilings were trendy from 1945 to the early 1990s. Their popularity was because builders used them in house constructions as they were cost-efficient and time-saving. Another reason for their popularity was their ability to hide imperfections easily, and they were especially an excellent choice for reducing ambient echoes and noise.
Why was popcorn ceiling popular?
Why Were Popcorn Ceilings Popular? One of the main reasons popcorn ceilings were popular is because they disguise imperfections. Contractors and DIYers didn’t have to spend hours fixing every crack, hole, or bump. Instead, they could just add the popcorn texture, paint, and call it a day. Another reason popcorn ceilings were popular (and ...
Why do people hate popcorn ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings can hide things like cracks, badly taped / spackled joints, nail pops, and other signs of poor construction. They are ugly as hell, are sometimes dangerous (if they're made of asbestos) and they are seen as severely outdated so people will remove it to have a better chance at selling.
Where did popcorn ceilings originate?
What Is Popcorn Ceiling? Popcorn ceilings, otherwise known as stucco ceilings, acoustic ceilings, or cottage cheese ceilings, were hugely popular in residential houses built between the 1930s and 1990s in Canada.
Why did people invent popcorn ceilings?
The original purpose of popcorn ceilings was to make life a little easier. Popcorn ceilings began as a cost-effective means of making a home look nice without all the extra effort of fixing, painting, sanding, repainting, and general maintenance and upkeep.
When was popcorn ceilings invented?
This ceiling trend began in the 1950s and continued until the '80s. “They could be found in many new low- to mid-cost housing developments and multi-story residential buildings,” elaborates Decorist designer Maria DeLucia.
What is the history of popcorn ceilings?
Many homes built in the late 1930s through the 1990s have popcorn ceilings or some type of texture applied overhead. It was used to cover up a lot of flaws in the ceiling. It was time-effective and cost-efficient. Often called an acoustic ceiling, it also served the purpose to absorb sound and reduce noise.
Does removing popcorn ceiling add value?
Removing popcorn ceilings will almost always increase a home's value. Not only is the design trend no longer desirable, but it also poses safety concerns for home buyers.
Do popcorn ceilings from the 80's have asbestos?
Popcorn ceilings applied before the 1990s are most likely to contain asbestos. The fire-resistant mineral was popular in building materials until the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos in popcorn ceilings can cause mesothelioma cancer.
Is all popcorn ceiling asbestos?
Some popcorn ceilings contain up to 10% asbestos contamination. Not all popcorn ceilings have asbestos, yet those built during and before the 1980s may have a high risk for contamination. How dangerous an asbestos-containing textured paint is, depends on its overall condition.
When did they stop making popcorn ceilings?
As a result, the popcorn finish was popular widely used in homes from the 1930s through to the 1990s.
Will popcorn ceilings ever come back?
The best thing about popcorn ceilings is that they are not permanent. Therefore, if you are looking to sell your home, but think it might sell better if you remove the popcorn ceiling, the process can be done pretty quickly, especially if you hire a professional team.
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.
Are popcorn ceilings a health hazard?
Before the dangers of asbestos were widely known, most popcorn ceilings were made from this deadly material. If you have popcorn ceilings in your home, they're likely safe if left undisturbed. That said, it's still a good idea to find out if they contain asbestos before you start your next home renovation project.
Should I remove popcorn ceiling myself?
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. Leaving the ceiling intact poses no dangers.
Is all popcorn ceiling asbestos?
Some popcorn ceilings contain up to 10% asbestos contamination. Not all popcorn ceilings have asbestos, yet those built during and before the 1980s may have a high risk for contamination. How dangerous an asbestos-containing textured paint is, depends on its overall condition.
Is popcorn ceiling still used today?
Textured ceilings remain common in residential construction in the United States. Since the mid-2000s, the popularity of textured popcorn ceilings has diminished significantly across North America.
Why do people texture ceilings?
Common Reasons Ceilings Are Textured Textured Ceilings Can Cover Flaws – As devious as it might sound, some contractors choose to install textured ceilings to hide construction flaws. Landlords might also opt for textured ceilings to hide signs of damage, such as cracks, water stains, or signs of termite infestations.
Is popcorn ceiling making a comeback?
Yes, it's still a texture, but according to Poellinger, it's making a comeback—and it's fairly easy for homeowners to do themselves.
What is a popcorn ceiling?
A popcorn ceiling, also known as a stipple ceiling or acoustic ceiling, is a ceiling with one of a variety of spray-on or paint-on treatments. The bumpy surface is created by tiny particles of vermiculite or polystyrene, which gives the ceiling sound-deadening properties.
What was used to make popcorn ceilings?
After the ban, popcorn ceiling materials were created using a paper-based or Styrofoam product to create the texture, rather than asbestos. Textured ceilings remain common in residential construction in the United States.
Is popcorn ceiling smooth or textured?
Since the mid-2000s, the popularity of textured popcorn ceilings has diminished significantly across North America. A trend toward more modern, clean-lined design features has influenced home improvement professionals to provide popcorn ceiling removal services. Smooth ceilings have many benefits over textured ceilings, such as their association with a high-end aesthetic, reflective bouncing of natural light (especially in combination with high gloss floors), ability to not harbor dust and allergens (only to be re-introduced into the air), and ease of patching and touching up after a drywall repair.
Is Popcorn Ceiling Bad For Your Health?
The leading cause for concern with popcorn ceilings is the asbestos issue. If it remains completely undisturbed or properly sealed, then you won’t have any problems.
What is the Purpose of Popcorn Ceilings?
The purpose of popcorn ceilings has been talked about a lot over the years. There are well-grounded points on why they became so popular, how they’re useful and why the style eventually fizzled out.
What Are Popcorn Ceilings Made Of?
You can use several different materials to create the popcorn texture. In the past, the mixture would widely depend on the year your popcorn ceiling was installed. These materials include:
What is skip trowel texture?
Unlike popcorn ceiling, skip trowel texture is applied by hand using coarse and joint compounds. It’s also good at hiding any imperfections, and you can apply it in a light, medium or heavy consistency. Knockdown Ceilings. It’s considered the successor to popcorn ceilings and is still relatively popular today.
What is the least popular ceiling style?
Out of all the styles of textured ceilings, popcorn ceilings are the least popular. They’ve become almost obsolete in new home builds as they give your home an outdated look and lowers your property value.
What is knockdown ceiling?
Knockdown Ceilings. It’s considered the successor to popcorn ceilings and is still relatively popular today. Its appearance is similar to skip trowel, but the texture looks less spread out. Creating it starts the same way as popcorn ceilings, by spraying on the texture compound.
What color is popcorn texture?
The thickness of the texture will vary from ceiling to ceiling. When the popcorn texture is first applied, it’s generally an off-white colour . Over time the colour will be yellow, especially if there has been a lot of smoking in the home.
How many quarts of popcorn do Americans eat a year?
Whether stovetop popped, fresh from the microwave (see above) or ready to eat, Americans love popcorn. In fact, Americans today consume 15 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year. That averages to about 47 quarts per person.
What is popcorn with kernels on it?
Exploring Paraguay during the 18th century, Felix de Azara told of a kind of popcorn with kernels on the tassel which, when "it is boiled in fat or oil, the grains burst without becoming detached, and there results a superb bouquet fit to adorn a lady's hair at night without anyone knowing what it was. I have often eaten these burst grains and found them very good."
What were the most popular confections in Victorian times?
Victorian families often decorated fireplace mantels, doorways and Christmas trees with ornate ornaments made from popcorn balls. And by the turn of the century, most cookbooks featured at least one recipe. Popcorn balls were one of the most popular confections and often given as gifts.
Why did popcorn sales increase during the Depression?
A major reason for this increase was the introduction of popcorn into movie theaters and its low cost for both patron and owner. One theater owner actually lowered the price of his theater tickets and added a popcorn machine.
Why is popcorn so popular?
Popcorn fascinated and particularly delighted the young, thus popcorn became increasingly popular around holiday time—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter and especially Christmas. Because of its low cost, popcorn was ideal for Christmas decorations, food, and gift giving.
How did Americans pop popcorn?
During the early nineteenth century Americans tried several methods of popping popcorn. Some threw kernels in hot ashes, stirred, and sifted out the popped corn. Others tried cooking popcorn in kettles filled with fat, lard or butter. A more popular method was cooking popcorn over an open fire in a wire box with a long wooden handle.
How much did popcorn cost during the Depression?
During the Depression, popcorn at 5 or 10 cents a bag was one of the few luxuries down-and-out families could afford. While other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived. An Oklahoma banker who went broke when his bank failed bought a popcorn machine and started a business in a small store near a theater. After a couple years, his popcorn business made enough money to buy back three of the farms he'd lost.
How to test for asbestos in popcorn ceiling?
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. Contact your local waste authority before having asbestos removed to determine the best (and legal) way to dispose of it.
What is popcorn ceiling?
Half a century ago, popcorn ceilings were all the rage, cropping up above brightly colored walls, psychedelic patterns, and shiny furniture. Less expensive than traditional hand-troweled plaster, the sprayed-on technique—which actually resembles cottage cheese more than popcorn—camouflaged ceiling imperfections, offered a measure of fire-resistance, and provided noise-dampening benefits. These days, the speckled ceiling design tends to date a room’s style. Fortunately, whether you want to get rid of a popcorn ceiling altogether or bring new life to the retro look, you’ve got options.
Can you remove popcorn ceilings?
Unpainted popcorn ceilings are not necessarily difficult to remove, but the process is messy and time-consuming. After spraying the ceiling with water to saturate the texture, which causes it to release, it’s simply a matter of scraping it away with a large putty knife or taping trowel.
Can you patch popcorn ceiling texture?
Thinned drywall compound, which is commonly used to texture new ceilings today, is not recommended for patching popcorn ceiling texture since it contains water, which can cause the existing popcorn texture to come off. Advertisement. Photo: istockphoto.com.
Can popcorn ceilings contain asbestos?
That means that popcorn ceilings installed as late as the mid-’80s could contain asbestos, and, when disturbed, disperse microscopic fibrils known to cause lung-scarring illnesses and even lung cancer if inhaled. You can test a popcorn ceiling for the presence of asbestos by carefully scraping a small sample into a plastic bag ...
Can you paint popcorn texture over white?
Popcorn texture comes in standard ceiling-white and, for a uniform look, it’s a good idea to prime the ceiling before spraying it on. The texture is also paintable, so if you want a color other than ceiling-white, plan on painting over the texture after it dries.