Popcorn Ceiling Removal
Popcorn ceilings are outdated and might even be dangerous. But making way for nice, smooth ceilings will take some time and extra care. There’s a procedure to be followed especially when working with potential hazards, so there’s no other way than to entrust this popcorn ceiling removal to the experts.
Some of the prettiest houses are those built decades ago. They have that charming architecture, sturdy brick walls, and inspiring stories. But they may also have popcorn ceilings.
Popcorn ceilings are acoustic ceilings with textures ranging from their namesake down to a fine, sandy appearance. They had their heyday from the 1950s up to the 1980s when almost every home in America had them.
During this era, one of the reasons why it became that famous was its ease of application and effective coverage. It took only a few days to finish a medium-sized home with popcorn ceilings compared to a week for a smooth, painted ceiling.
Because of the shorter time of installation and the relatively cheap materials, the cost of installing popcorn ceilings was lower. There was no sanding or extensive painting involved. Only a primer was applied and then the popcorn ceiling coating was layered on.
The acoustic effect was also a plus. Echoes and noises were muffled between floors as the thick layer absorbed sound. Now though, there are other ways to achieve sound dimming even after popcorn ceiling removal.
Aside from those reasons, the materials used were once heralded for being heat and electrical-resistant. They were also great at insulating.
Why the Need for Popcorn Ceiling Removal?
Other than old wiring or piping, popcorn ceiling removal is probably one of the most requested services for an older house. The design is passé and has earned the nickname “cottage cheese”. But this is no tasteful concoction any designer nor contractor will recommend keeping.
Why? Well first, they are not very aesthetically appealing. The bumpy look is harsh and irregular, casting shadows every which way.
Second, popcorn ceilings tend to discolor and make the whole room look dark. And you know what a dark color does to any space: it makes it look smaller. In contrast, smooth, white ceilings tend to open up the eyes and make the room look bigger and the ceiling higher.
Also, popcorn ceilings are hard to clean! The holes and valleys are perfect spaces for spiders to crawl on and make their webs. They’re also heavy, and much more so when they collect all that dust. One has to be careful when dusting the ceiling as too hard of a force will knock out bumps and create an uneven design.
That’s not all. While popcorn ceilings thicken your ceiling, they may also be hiding imperfections such as cracks, leaks, or construction mistakes. Back then, you didn’t even need to patch and sand down the drywall as the textured design will just cover those up.
This also means that it’s hard to find leaks until the area has obviously discolored. But popcorn ceilings don’t do well with wetness and moisture as the texture will crack or peel off. This is why this design is never used in bathrooms or kitchens where it is prone to damage.
Popcorn ceilings may be easy to install, but they’re hard to repair. By now, you would have noticed too many bumps missing, stains, darkening, or holes. Repairing the design would just result in very noticeable mismatching.
Yes, modernizing your home is a good reason for popcorn ceiling removal. But more than that, you’re getting rid of potential health risks for your family because of possible asbestos content.
Get Your Free Popcorn Ceiling Removal Quote Now!
Asbestos was originally used because it was convenient and heat-resistant. The chemicals were mixed and evenly sprayed onto the ceiling’s surface and let dry for only a day. Little did many know that the silicate fibers stayed permanently in a human body once inhaled. And the more it’s inhaled, the more it accumulated.
This could lead to serious conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma— medical terms for serious lung problems ranging from scarring to malignant tumors.
Sadly, history has proven that recovery rates are low for these diseases. Asbestos can also be linked to ovarian and laryngeal cancer. An average of 15,000 people die every year in the United States due to asbestos-related problems according to asbestosnation.org.
When asbestos was banned for use as a home building material by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1977, regulations and standards were enforced to safeguard people’s health. The toxic content of popcorn ceilings was soon changed into a combination of drywall mud and styrofoam. But by then, the texture’s popularity had dwindled because of its tarnished reputation and designers’ preferences.
Today, having popcorn ceilings won’t win you any buyers if you’re selling the house.
Popcorn ceiling removal is the way to go. And the only way to ensure a safe removal and flawless outcome is to hire professionals.
That’s exactly what Rochester Hills Painting is here for. We’re not just known for our impressive knowledge and skill in interior painting, we are also called upon by many clients for our superb popcorn ceiling removal services. We’ve been doing this for years, providing countless homes and commercial buildings with safe and efficient service.
Of course, you could try doing the task yourself. But be aware that popcorn ceiling removal is a painstakingly long process that will entail a lot of care, not to mention quite some days. You can’t even scrape the surface right away with the usual popcorn ceiling removal tool if there’s even the remote possibility that you have asbestos.
So trust the experts. When you hire Rochester Hills Painting for professional popcorn ceiling removal, you can expect:
- Proper identification of the presence of asbestos
Even if your home was built or renovated after 1977, construction suppliers were still allowed to sell their existing stock. So there’s no guarantee that you don’t have asbestos on those ceilings.
No matter what the previous owners told you, we always check to make sure. Before we start the process of popcorn ceiling removal, we take a sample and have it checked for asbestos. Results are certified by an independent environmental testing facility. Confirming will give you peace of mind and will dictate how we go about the next steps.
- Careful preparation of the area
Among the many things you can count on us for and our brand of popcorn ceiling removal is care, especially if there’s asbestos involved.
We remove all furniture or cover the ones we can’t with plastic. Your ventilation systems will be shut down to avoid spreading dust to other rooms, and windows and doors will be sealed with plastic flaps.
- Completely equipped workers
Despite a lot of workers quitting jobs nowadays, Rochester Hills Painting is never short of skilled, knowledgeable professionals.
We have a great relationship with our employees. That’s because we treat them fairly, provide lots of training, and equip them with complete safety gear. When we deal with asbestos, special protection is used such as respirators and coveralls. We never compromise their safety, and neither will we yours.
All precautions are taken to adapt to the new normal. The first time you meet our consultant, he will arrive masked and antigen-tested for COVID at the least. This is true no matter how big or small the popcorn ceiling removal job is.
- Proper handling of waste
Asbestos or none, all discarded materials are placed in sealed and labeled plastic bags to be disposed of properly. Asbestos goes to a special facility that we will contact prior to commencing work.
Back on your site, expect our crew to work systematically. We will always clean up after ourselves.
- A courteous crew
No matter the weather, expect a sunny disposition from our workers. Every person in our team is professional and polite. They have been with us for a long time and have been vetted and background checked.
- Better-looking ceilings
After popcorn ceiling removal, you can have your choice of ceiling design. We will fix or replace the drywall and paint it. You can choose a high-gloss finish that makes any room look bigger and elegant, or settle for the conventional look that’s clean and smooth.
You may also want ceiling panels installed such as wood or coffers. Just tell us your preferences and let’s talk about them. Rochester Hills Painting is an expert when it comes to drywall and the designs you can apply to it.
Whatever you choose will certainly be better after popcorn ceiling removal. Any popcorn you enjoy from that point on will be the kind you have with a cool drink and a good movie.
If you need consultation on the popcorn ceiling removal process, we’re available. We’ll go over the details with you after an on-site evaluation.
Rochester Hills Painting is your friendly neighborhood interior painting contractor. You can bet on us to provide you with the best service and the best prices this side of the township. Trust us for your popcorn ceiling removal jobs, big or small.
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Rochester Hills Painting
(248) 609-1456
