Why You Should Remove Your Popcorn Ceilings

Erika Tames • August 12, 2022

While it’s good to embrace the original style of your home, you should still look into each of your home’s elements and decide if they’re worth keeping. For instance, popcorn ceilings were huge in the 1970s, as they enhanced a home by hiding imperfections. Concealing issues on the top is a safety hazard, though, and one reason you should remove your popcorn ceilings.


There’s No More Accumulated Dust on the Ceiling

Yes, the popcorn ceiling’s nice in some ways. However, it isn’t so much when there’s evident dust accumulating underneath the crevices of the insulation. The minuscule particles float up and get trapped on the ceiling when you shake something out.


Removing popcorn ceilings is best because it’s irritating having to climb up with a broom to sweep the dust away. If dust bothers you, then get rid of your ceiling. Having one less layer that accumulates dust is one more way of enhancing your indoor air quality.


You Can Better Assess Ceiling Damage

The one reason why you should remove your popcorn ceiling is to inspect for damage. If you have no way of telling if there’s a hole, crack, or dent in the top of your home, you won’t know if there’s any problem. By eliminating popcorn ceilings from your home, you have better access to assessing ceiling damage.


Once you remove the popcorn ceiling and examine damaged locations, you can react quickly to make repairs. Even if you don’t know if there’s damage beneath the popcorn ceiling, it’s best to remove it entirely and replace it with something new.


There’s Better Lighting in the Room

Lighting’s a good thing to have in the home, especially during the day. Before popcorn ceilings went out of style, many homeowners enjoyed the perk of light bouncing off the surface. However, the reflected light casts uneven shadows, resulting in less relaxed rooms.


If you don’t want to change the ceiling right now, you could opt for better lighting, such as floor lamps that have shades to direct the lighting up toward the top. This lighting effect can improve the room’s ambiance. While tactical lighting will do the trick, it would be easier in the long run to have your popcorn ceiling removed.



Test for Asbestos

Back before 1970, asbestos had widespread use in popcorn ceilings. However, no one thought of the downsides, such as the long-term health problems it causes. Asbestos is an element you don’t want in the home, even when it’s in the ceiling.


If the popcorn ceilings contain asbestos and crack, they can release asbestos particles that travel through the air and enter bodies, infecting the lungs. The effects aren’t instant but appear close to 20 years later, causing illnesses like mesothelioma.


Contact us to test your popcorn ceilings for asbestos content prior to asbestos removal in Boston. Air Safe, Inc. follows all state and federal regulations to ensure that popcorn ceiling removal is done safely, and we’ll send you a free quote.

A sign reads 'DANGER: ASBESTOS REMOVAL IN PROGRESS' against a background of asbestos sheets.
December 9, 2025
Asbestos mitigation professionals ensure a safe commercial removal process by following key protocols, including site containment and decontamination.
A large empty attic with exposed wooden beams, a concrete floor, and white brick walls.
November 24, 2025
Vermiculite’s structure traps hazardous asbestos fibers. Professional removal is the only option to protect your family’s health and ensure safety.
A person wearing full PPE stands in front of a house that is sealed for asbestos removal.
November 12, 2025
Licensed professionals employ these modern asbestos removal techniques to safely abate hazardous materials and protect your home from risks.
A piece of yellow caution tape stretches across the frame diagonally. It reads,
November 10, 2025
DIY asbestos removal poses significant health risks and legal issues. Find out why you should trust licensed professionals to keep your home and family safe.
Two workers wearing hazmat suits are inside a house while placing sections of a carpet into a bag.
September 29, 2025
Understand asbestos abatement costs with insights on size, type, and complexity. Learn key factors impacting pricing, and plan for safe removal today.
A close-up of a sheet of orange insulation attached to a silver lining. It is rolled up.
September 23, 2025
Protect your home from Zonolite insulation risks. Learn about asbestos contamination dangers and why professional removal is crucial for safety.
A team of workers in white hazmat suits are removing sheets of housing material with white asbestos
August 27, 2025
Professional asbestos removal is safe and effective. Find out how containment, air filtration, and proper disposal protect human and environmental health.
A close-up of white, grey, and black chunks of stringy asbestos fibers.
August 21, 2025
Understand the uses and hazards of white asbestos. Learn about its properties, historical applications, and why professional handling is essential today.
A large, beige house is sitting on a large, green lawn, alongside a road with stormy clouds.
August 11, 2025
Spring storms may disturb asbestos in old homes. Protect your health with professional assessments and safe asbestos handling after storm damage.
A close-up of thick sections of crusty housing materials overlapping, covered with dusty asbestos.
July 29, 2025
Learn about common causes of vermiculite insulation damage and why professional assessment and intervention are essential for safety and energy efficiency.