What's the problem with popcorn ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings are considered bad for these quick reasons:
- They're an old construction cost-saving shortcut
- There's a risk of asbestos and lead
- They dim the room
- They leave a mess when they peel off
Why does some popcorn pop better the other?
Why some popcorn kernels are better poppers than others depends on how orderly these crystalline sheets are, the researchers found. The best poppers have cellulose that’s especially good at turning into crystals. Better coatings. This popcorn research could prove useful to popcorn growers.
How to a cover popcorn ceiling without removing it?
To effectively hide your textured ceiling with wood planks, follow the procedure detailed below:
- Locate the rafters – using a stud finder, situate the ceiling joists and mark them out using tape or a marker pen. ...
- Cut out light fixture holes – using a jigsaw, create holes for the lighting fixtures and vents on the wood planks.
- Install the wood planks- install the wood planks by nailing them down to the popcorn ceiling. ...
Why Oh why do we have popcorn ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings were made to bolster the room’s acoustics via the reduction of ambient sounds and echoes. However, acoustic ceilings have become somewhat obsolete in new homes and modern homeowners and buyers do not find them aesthetically appealing as they also give the home an outdated and old appearance.
Why are popcorn ceilings no longer popular?
Popcorn ceilings, in pre-1970s and early formulations, often contained white asbestos fibers. When asbestos was banned in ceiling treatments by the Clean Air Act in the United States, popcorn ceilings fell out of favor in much of the country.
When was popcorn ceiling popular?
Popcorn ceilings are common in many homes in the United States. They are a style of dimpled drywall ceiling popular from 1945 to the early 1990s. Popcorn ceilings applied before the 1990s are most likely to contain asbestos. The fire-resistant mineral was popular in building materials until the 1980s.
When did popcorn ceiling go out of style?
They were especially popular from the 1930s all the way through the 1990s.
Do popcorn ceilings reduce home 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.
Is it safe to live in a house with popcorn ceilings?
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.
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.
Will popcorn ceilings 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.
How can I cover my popcorn ceiling without removing it?
The cheapest ways to cover up a popcorn ceiling without removing it is by installing readily prepared ceiling planks right over it. You can also use ceiling-grade drywall panels or large pieces of fabric to conceal the texture. Panting the ceiling with eccentric shades is also a great option.
What happens if you remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
Leave the ceiling alone or hire an asbestos abatement contractor to do the work. 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.
Is popcorn ceiling for poor people?
Popcorn ceilings are considered poor because the material used to create them was a cheap way to hide flaws in the ceiling throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s and they are simply outdated.
Is it cheaper to remove popcorn ceiling or cover it?
On average, it is $876 to $1,730 cheaper to cover popcorn ceilings versus having to remove them. For those with homes built before 1990 and dealing with asbestos knockdown ceilings, you can save thousands by covering them up.
How do you modernize a popcorn ceiling?
If it's time to redo a popcorn ceiling, there are three popular ways to take on the challenge: scrape, cover with a new layer of drywall, or skim coat with plaster to create a new textured ceiling.
Do new houses have popcorn ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings were made to bolster the room's acoustics via the reduction of ambient sounds and echoes. However, acoustic ceilings have become somewhat obsolete in new homes and modern homeowners and buyers do not find them aesthetically appealing as they also give the home an outdated and old appearance.
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.
How do you test popcorn ceiling for 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 much does it cost to remove popcorn from the ceiling?
According to painting experts, popcorn ceiling removal costs range from $1,923 to $3,876 with an average price of $2,899 to hire a professional. The average sqft cost to remove popcorn ceilings ranges from $5 to $9 per square foot.
4 Reasons Why Popcorn Ceilings Are Bad
Of course, popcorn ceilings aren’t all upside. Here are some of the most common problems associated with popcorn ceilings.
Popcorn Ceilings Bottom Line
At the end of the day having a popcorn ceiling isn’t a big deal until it starts to break down. If you have popcorn ceilings right now and like them, that’s great!
When did popcorn ceilings become popular?
Popcorn ceilings were popular in the 1960s and 1970s as an inexpensive way of finishing ceilings, and providing some degree of acoustic sound absorption. Rather than the laborious multi coat process of and taping and sanding dry wall to a traditional smooth finish, a drywall finisher merely places a single coat of dry wall compound on nail holes and seams, and then sprays the entire surface with the texture product, which is basically a mixture of drywall compound and vermiculite or, in some cases asbestos products.
Why is popcorn so popular?
Popcorn, or flocked surfaces became popular because certain contractors bought flocking machines and promoted the finish to increase profit. Since it is shot from a gun, it is an easier finish to apply than paint and requires less prep.
What was Artex in the 70s?
Artex was a flexible compound that would cover those cracks and give a textured ceiling , it even got put on walls in places . This trend moved into the new housing market as well and I artexed the ceilings of the house I built .
Why do we need texture ceilings?
Textured ceilings help to relieve monotony on the eyes and ears. A subtle pattern overhead is less distracting to the eye than a wide, flat, monotone surface. The roughness helps to reduce echoes from the ceiling.
What is plaster ceiling?
This is a 3/4 inch thick cement/lime material on wire lath that is suspended from the ceiling joists and applied in four coats. It is almost waterproof, won’t ding easily, and when painted with semigloss or gloss paint, is hard on the eyes. The house was built in 1955 as part of a development called “Cassablanca” in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and there were many homes built with exactly the same ceilings, since that is what the builder did. Other popular ceilings were bead board, acoustic tile, and various textured plaster materials.
Why is there so much effort to push textures on the masses?
The main reason there is such a huge effort to push textures on the masses is cost. There are 6 levels of drywall finishes. Level 0 being unfinished to level 5, which is the smoothest possible finish. Ceilings, for a variety of reasons, are difficult and time consuming to get to a 5. So why even try! We can do a level 2 finish (even though heavy texture calls for a level 3 and lig
Why did dry wall finisher come about?
It came about in the 60’s because it made it easy for people to learn to do dry wall finishing and it it was cheaper and easier to do than a smooth ceiling . It would cover up bad flaws in the joint taping . I used to see joke signs in the building supply stores by the texturing supplies that said “ Yesterday I couldn’t even spell finisher , today I is one” .
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. Characterized by their textured look and feel by being stippled with a sponge, or sprayed on with a hopper gun using a special mix, these ceilings were commonly found in entrance hallways, bedrooms, and basements of homes.
Why are popcorn ceilings called acoustic ceilings?
The reason why popcorn ceilings are also called acoustic ceilings is because they are better at absorbing sound. This is in part because of the increased surface area due to all the raised bumps, which is said to help muffle noise.
Why is my ceiling textured?
Water damage will also cause the textured appearance to come loose and peel off over time. Leaks will only harm your ceiling, as the stipple will become heavy, and eventually start to fall. Kitchens, bathrooms, and spaces where moisture is prevalent should have smooth ceilings to avoid these problems.
What to do if your ceiling is too hard?
A duster or the brush head of your vacuum cleaner can help get rid of debris, but if you press too hard, raised particles of your ceiling may break and fall off , causing more aesthetic harm than good. Should too many bumps fall off while cleaning, or if any holes form in your ceiling, it is time-consuming to repair them.
Can popcorn ceilings be stained?
Cobwebs, spiders, dust, and bits of dirt can easily get caught in the bumps, and smoke can eventually stain your ceiling , which can be difficult to remove.
Can you sell a house with popcorn ceilings?
However, a smooth ceiling will be a better investment down the road when you are ready to sell your house, as this type of ceiling can give off an old-fashioned impression to potential buyers. You can actually increase your home’s value by getting rid of your popcorn ceilings. You can still enjoy popcorn in your home if you choose to restyle your ceilings, but serve it as a snack, instead.
Is popcorn ceiling good?
It’s all a matter of visual preference. That said, one great benefit (then, and now) is that they hide imperfections, cracks, and scuff marks a lot better than regular, smooth ceilings. Since the three-dimensional texture is coarse and casts shadows, it can disguise or even completely cover those older, shoddy repair jobs, and no one would be the wiser.
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.
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.
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.
17 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House
Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal.
Living in A Flood Zone
A flood zone is an area that’s more likely than others to become inundated in case of a flood. There are different levels of flood zones, but whether yours is low or high, you still need to prepare your home for the worst. The first step for that is knowing whether you live in a flood zone, and we’ll help you with that today! 1.
How to Prevent Moisture-Related Pest Problems
Many types of pests are attracted to moisture, not to mention it can also cause mold growth and lead to severe structural damage. Some of the most common pests attracted by moisture are ants, cockroaches, camel crickets, springtails and booklice, just to mention a few.
Spring Exterior Home Inspections
Fall and Winter often come with extreme weather conditions such as ice, wind, storms, freezing rain, snow and intense cold. These conditions can leave our homes with various and sometimes unseen damage.
Repurposing Old Doors
The majority of old doors have high-quality, vintage materials that ensure that they can last for a long time. However, for many reasons, you may need to remove or replace them with modern, energy-saving options. But this doesn’t mean you should throw away your old doors as you can easily repurpose them.
Putting Out A Grease Fire
Grease fires happen when cooking oil or grease gets too hot. These fires are incredibly dangerous because their fuel source is a liquid that can pop and spill onto you and surrounding surfaces extremely quickly and become out of control in as little as 30 seconds. The most important thing you could do to prevent a fire in the kitchen is patience.
Paying for Emergency Home Repairs
Every homeowner knows that maintaining a home requires a lot of planned and unplanned expenses. Some of the major unplanned expenses you may need to deal with are emergency home repairs. Unfortunately, they sometimes come at the time when you are not financially buoyant.
Why is popcorn ceiling bad?
Oftentimes popcorn ceilings get a bad reputation because of the shadows they tend to create in a room. If this darker contour is what you are concerned about, simply switch up the lighting. Adding in a downward ceiling fixture (like a chandelier or pendant) will instantly cast a gorgeous glow.
Is popcorn ceiling a focal point?
4. Ceilings aren't typically a focal point, anyway.
Can you paint popcorn ceilings?
1. Popcorn ceilings are easily transformed by paint. A coat of paint can do wonders for your walls, so why not apply this same truth to your popcorn ceilings? If their appearance is bothersome to you and removing them isn't a current option, find a gorgeous white hue and go to work.
