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If you are renovating or decorating your house, surely you have heard about popcorn ceilings. This was a popular trend among the houses, and recently the trend has started to fall off.
If you are confused about applying it to your house, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will be explaining everything about popcorn ceilings, along with all the pros and cons.
What Is Popcorn Ceiling?
As the name suggests, the popcorn ceiling has a texture that resembles small pieces of popcorn. This design is often known as a stipple or acoustic ceiling. This texture can be achieved by many different methods.
Once the ceiling is constructed, it is covered with paper or fiberglass tape, and after that, it is covered with joint compound (mud). This gives an uneven bumpy texture to the ceiling with visible nail dimples.
History Of Popcorn Ceiling
Popcorn ceiling gained popularity in the early 1950s, and it was greatly used in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, texture was created by spraying paint over materials such as asbestos or vermiculture.
Later, the Clean Air Act of 1978 resulted in a ban on spray products containing asbestos. Then, modern methods started to avoid asbestos and use paper based materials instead.
As modern designs started to come in and with the awareness of potential health hazards, popcorn ceilings became less popular in recent years.
Home owners often remove or cover up popcorn ceiling to get more aesthetic finish. This also saves them from potential health risks related to asbestos.
Pros And Cons Of Popcorn Ceiling
Even though you might like the design of popcorn ceilings, there are a few disadvantages that you have to know. Here below are the pros and cons of using popcorn ceiling in your house.
Pros
- Cost-Effective: Popcorn ceilings were inexpensive, and still to this day, they are compared to other designs. This saves a lot of time and labour costs.
- Noise Reduction: The bumpy texture of the ceiling helps to reduce sound. This is why it got the name acoustic ceiling.
- Hide Imperfection: Popcorn ceilings were often used to hide imperfections in the ceiling surface, such as cracks or unevenness.
Cons
- Difficult to clean: The uneven texture of popcorn ceilings traps dust and dirt, making them difficult to clean. Vacuuming or wiping them can destroy the texture, leading to an uneven appearance.
- Outdated: Popcorn ceilings are closely related to the design trends of past decades, giving them a dated appearance. If your house has a modern look, it will not go well with the design of the popcorn ceiling.
- Health Risk: If you are renovating a house from 1970, there is a high chance that the popcorn ceiling will contain asbestos. This is a carinogen that causes health risks. Disturbing or removing these ceilings without proper precautions can release asbestos fibers into the air.
FAQs
Is it safe to remove popcorn ceilings myself?
Removing popcorn ceilings can release dust and potentially harmful particles, especially if they contain asbestos. I would recommend hiring professionals who have experience in asbestos testing and removal.
Can popcorn ceilings be painted over?
Yes, painting over popcorn ceilings is a common way to update their appearance without the need for removal.
How do I clean popcorn ceilings?
Cleaning popcorn ceilings can be challenging due to their textured surface. I would recommend vacuuming with a soft brush attachment or using a dry microfiber cloth to wipe away.
Conclusion
Nowadays, popcorn ceilings are not as popular as they were before. While they have benefits such as noise reduction and cost effectiveness, there are still drawbacks that you should consider.
However, if you like the design, I would suggest adding popcorn ceilings with precautions and the help of an expert.
