A popcorn ceiling, otherwise known as an acoustic ceiling, is a ceiling that’s been sprayed with a textured coating. A popular design element between the 1950s & 1980s, the texture is useful for hiding imperfections but is now considered outdated.
Why remove a popcorn texture? Popcorn ceilings are not only behind the times, but they’re also difficult to repair and clean. There’s also a chance that your popcorn ceiling may contain asbestos. The Clean Air Act banned the use of asbestos in popcorn ceiling treatments in 1978. If inhaled, asbestos can cause serious respiratory health issues.
What’s Involved? If your home was built before 1980, you should start with an asbestos test (you can get one for around $75 to $100 dollars). If asbestos is present, you’ll want to hire a qualified asbestos mitigation service to remove it. The cost is about $3 to $10 per square foot. If asbestos is not found or if your home was built after 1980, you can either tackle it yourself or hire a professional.
How much will it cost to hire a professional? Experts say you can expect to pay about $1.50 to $3 per square foot to scrape, skim & re-texture, depending on the texture you choose and the height of your ceilings.
Should you hire a pro or DIY? Updating your popcorn ceiling can be a messy, complicated, & sometimes a dangerous process. It’s probably well worth the cost to hire an appropriately licensed, insured, & bonded professional. You can always save a little money by painting the finished new ceilings yourself.
HAPPY UPDATING & LIKE MOST OF US, ENJOY LIMITING THE POPCORN TO THE SNACK TREAT!!
