Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Many homes and offices built between the 1930s and the 1990s included acoustic or textured ceilings.

Commonly referred to as "Popcorn" ceilings, they look a bit like cottage cheese. Especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s, this applied texture was a cheap and easy way to add aesthetic to otherwise flat drywall or plaster while hiding any imperfections in construction or materials. Unfortunately, the rough texture of a popcorn ceiling also traps dust and cobwebs, which accumulate quickly and are hard to remove, leaving the ceiling with a gray, dirty look, and contributing to allergies. Popcorn removal, for a variety of reasons, is a task best entrusted to trained and experienced industry professionals. This isn't the kind of work you want to expose yourself, your family, or your pets too. 

There is a health hazard 

Before the Clean Air Act of 1978, most popcorn ceiling materials used asbestos as a binding agent. Asbestos is extremely dangerous when inhaled. If there is even the slightest chance that your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, you should have it removed as soon as possible.  Aside from the health risks, popcorn ceilings are also exceedingly difficult to maintain, requiring constant cleaning to remove the grime that gets trapped in all of those nooks and crannies, and crevices and recesses of the ceiling. Painting a popcorn ceiling can be equally frustrating for the same reasons. 

Your home would thank you 

  

Popcorn ceilings, especially those over bathrooms and kitchens, can lead to structural damage, as they tend to trap steam and water vapor. Over the years, this moisture can lead to mold and wood-rot, making the air unsafe to breathe, inviting vermin and pests, and even causing your ceiling to collapse. Also, if a popcorn ceiling develops holes or cracks, it's difficult to patch without creating a noticeable and unsightly blemish in your ceiling's pattern. 

Another common reason that popcorn ceilings are removed, especially when attempting to sell a property, is that they make rooms look old to prospective buyers. That all-important first impression can be ruined when a house feels outdated, and cost you that modern, inviting feel. A ceiling that screams the 1960s can make a home feel old, despite modern appliances and features. 

Real estate professionals estimate that removing popcorn ceilings in favor of a more modern look can add anywhere from $2,500 to $35,000 in value to a house, depending on its size. A fresh look can decrease the time that your home stays on the market, as well. 

Removing a popcorn ceiling is a slow, labor-intensive, and incredibly messy job. Even if there's no asbestos, the superfine white dust spread throughout the whole house will cause breathing problems and make clean-up a homeowner nightmare. 

It also requires a number of materials, including: Tarps/Plastic Sheeting to cover floors, carpets, and furniture. A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) mask (especially if there's a risk of asbestos!) Safety goggles, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and clothing to cover your head, hands, and feet, as the particulates created in the removal process will cover your head to toe. And, of course, lots and lots of cleaning materials. For these reasons and others, most property owners choose to avoid the hassles and risks by hiring professionals like the trained experts at paintEZ. 

At paintEZ, we do a lot more than high-quality interior painting, and we're qualified and ready to make your popcorn ceiling removal as quick and painless as a simple phone call! Give us a call today, and let's give your home or business the facelift it deserves!