Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Stillwater MN

Popcorn ceilings, also known as cottage-cheeses ceilings, are those ceilings that are finished with a certain spray or paint treatment and have a bumpy texture. They were the popular choice for bedrooms and hallways of residential buildings before asbestos use was banned by the Clean Air Act in the 1970s. Since then, the demand for such ceilings has been dying in much of the country. Like everything else, they have certain advantages and some disadvantages, and this article talks about them both. Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Stillwater MN

Pros

If you have ever built a home, you probably know that getting a perfectly smooth and beautiful ceiling is not easy. There can be holes, cracks, scrape marks, and so on. Popcorn ceilings caught the public’s eye by being a solution to this problem. Even if your ceiling is unfinished, you can ignore the faults and spray the “popcorn-coating”. Thus, they emerged as a cheap alternative that further covered any or all imperfections. Because of this quality, people could save time and money while getting bright white surfaces in their homes. Moreover, these ceilings provided an added layer of protection against fires, and also dampened sound to an extent, which was great for multi-storied buildings.

Cons

The most prominent reason which led to a strong decline in the popularity of popcorn ceilings was that asbestos was used as a binder in these ceilings. Asbestos is a silicate fibre that is highly carcinogenic and no traces, not even the slightest amounts, are safe for humans. Although this chemical was banned in 1978, old stock continued to sell till the 1990s. Your home is one place where you ought to feel safe and popcorn ceilings could not provide on this front. In addition, the bumps and crevices serve as areas where cobwebs, dirt, and dust can accumulate making it difficult to clean them. Lastly, if you live in a humid area or if your ceiling is in a moist environment (the bathroom or the kitchen for example), you would have to deal with a lot of flaking as these surfaces absorb moisture and easily come off.

Should You Remove Them?

Popcorn surfaces, which although cover up the underlaying ceiling’s cracks, are not immune to cracks themselves. Stains and cracks on a popcorn ceiling can be patched, but obtaining an exact match of the original texture and ceiling color can prove to be difficult. Since popcorn ceilings do not react well to water, thinned drywall compound, commonly used to texture new ceilings today, is not recommended for patching popcorn textures since it contains water. As long as the texture isn’t sagging, flaking, or shedding, a popcorn ceiling can simply be painted to update the look. However, while painting them, you should not roll back and forth because once the popcorn gets wet it starts to peel. Because of these reasons, home builders recommend not going with these ceilings. For more help, feel free to contact your local popcorn ceiling removal company in Stillwater MN today!

To learn more about our exterior painting services, interior painting services, drywall installation and drywall repair services, feel free to contact your local painting and drywall contractor in Lake Elmo MN at Home Drywall & Painting.