Don't Remove Your Popcorn Ceilings Without Testing for Asbestos First

Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustic ceilings or textured ceilings are great for households that care about sound control. They help absorb the sound and prevent it from bouncing around the room. However, as helpful as these ceilings are, they’re difficult to replace in pieces. It’s worth understanding the possible health hazards before removing your popcorn ceiling.

Test it First!

One of the best tips for your popcorn ceiling removal is to test it first. Contact Air Safe to test your textured ceiling and the base coat for asbestos content. Asbestos is a dangerous mineral that was widely used before 1980. Older homes that have not been updated are at risk of asbestos contamination, making testing for asbestos a crucial first step. Luckily, hiring an asbestos abatement company to test your ceilings is easy. If you confirm the existence of asbestos, the same company can remove it for you and set you up for a healthier living area.

Cover your furniture

If you have had it tested and found that you have no asbestos, go ahead and do it yourself if you like. You will want to cover your flooring, furniture, and any valuable items with a cover makes it much easier to clean when you are finished with the project. When you finish the work, the film will act as a bag for you to pack everything into. Wrapping it all up minimizes the mess.

Scrape it Off

Popcorn ceilings lose their effectiveness when they are either painted over or damaged. For this reason, you cannot replace parts of a popcorn ceiling and must remove it entirely.  Once your room is covered up, the most typical method of removing popcorn ceilings is scraping it off. Work slowly in large, smooth strokes.

Keeping your home safe from any harmful materials is a high priority. Updating older homes is a normal part of that process. Whether changing your popcorn ceiling or disturbing any building material always be sure to test it for asbestos content first.