{"id":72632,"date":"2022-06-03T15:45:29","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T22:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=72632"},"modified":"2023-04-13T09:37:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T16:37:43","slug":"should-you-buy-a-house-with-popcorn-ceilings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/should-you-buy-a-house-with-popcorn-ceilings\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Buy a House with Popcorn Ceilings? And How to Remove Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may finally be ready to go from <\/span>renting an apartment<\/span><\/a> to becoming a <\/span>first-time homebuyer<\/span><\/a> as you\u2019ll likely encounter, there are many variables to consider when looking for a home. Factors such as location, schools, finances, the style of the home, and yes, should you buy a house with popcorn ceilings. Popcorn ceilings shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but it\u2019s one more variable to consider and <\/span>what to look for when <\/span><\/a>buying a house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deciding whether or not to buy a house with popcorn ceilings will depend largely on the conditions of your local <\/span>housing market<\/span><\/a>, and your own comfort level either living with popcorn ceilings or using one of the methods mentioned below to get rid of them. For example, if there are several similar houses for sale in the area you’re looking to buy, then <\/span>making an offer on a home<\/span><\/a> that doesn’t have popcorn ceilings could certainly save you some money and time. However, if the home you’re looking at is located in a hot market and will most likely receive multiple offers, then understanding exactly what you can do about popcorn ceilings so you can buy a home this year is a great way to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"white-bowl-with-popcorn\"<\/p>\n

Why were popcorn ceilings so popular? What\u2019s their purpose?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Remember bell-bottom jeans and moccasins? How about bouffant hairstyles for ladies and slicked-back hair for men? Just as in fashion and beauty, the housing industry goes through fads and trends too. For example, shag carpets and popcorn ceilings were extremely popular from the 1950s through the 1970s. But what are popcorn ceilings, and why were they such a popular home trend?<\/span><\/p>\n

Popcorn ceilings are bumpy, textured ceilings that came into vogue beginning in the 1950s. The sprayed-on technique used to apply these ceilings was less expensive than a hand-troweled, smooth finished plaster ceiling. The popularity of this cottage cheese-like texture was spurred on because the style provided camouflage for ceiling imperfections and a measure of noise-canceling benefits, hence, their actual name, acoustic ceilings.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, popcorn ceilings have fallen out of favor in many parts of the country as they can collect dust, dirt, and even cobwebs. Also, the rough texture of the material makes the ceiling very difficult to clean, paint, or repair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another reason popcorn ceilings have fallen out of popularity is that many of them in older homes contain <\/span>asbestos<\/span><\/a>, which we now know is a health hazard.<\/span><\/p>\n

The benefits of popcorn ceilings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Popcorn ceilings began as a cost-effective way of making a home look nice without the need for fixing, sanding, painting, and maintaining the upkeep of the home. Popcorn ceilings still to this day not only save money and time but also the popcorn ceiling texture looks intentional. Textured popcorn ceilings help hide imperfections. Although a newly smooth ceiling looks nice, finishing the job neatly is difficult because of dents, ripples, and other imperfections that come with ceilings are hard to hide. If you come across a house with an existing popcorn ceiling, just know it may have been installed to hide pre-existing damages, maybe cracks, and poor workmanship.<\/span><\/p>\n

The drawbacks of popcorn ceilings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Purchasing a home with popcorn texture ceilings can have some disadvantages. First, popcorn ceilings used to be made with asbestos, a harmful substance that can cause illnesses, cancer, and other types of health risks. If you happen to purchase an older property with these ceilings, play it safe and get your home tested for exposure before disturbing the material. Moreover, popcorn ceiling removal is a long process and can be hazardous if it does contain asbestos. Removal can be expensive, labor-intensive, and requires lots of preparation. Some homeowners like to take the do-it-yourself (DIY) route to save money, however, learning how to remove popcorn ceilings safely before starting are some of the most important steps you can take.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"popcorn<\/p>\n

How to get rid of popcorn ceilings<\/b><\/h2>\n

Test for asbestos<\/span><\/h3>\n

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. It was a very popular material used in making popcorn ceilings until it was banned in 1978 because it was discovered to be a health hazard. While it doesn’t pose a risk unless disturbed, once disturbed, it lets off microscopic fibers that can <\/span>cause lung disease and cancer<\/span><\/a> if inhaled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the continued selling of asbestos-containing ceiling materials after the ban, it’s estimated that popcorn ceilings even made as late as the mid-1980s could still be ladened with asbestos.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before attempting to make any changes to your popcorn ceiling, it’s important to determine whether there’s any asbestos in the material, which can only be confirmed through a lab analysis. The <\/span>EPA<\/span><\/a> has guidelines that address the steps to take when considering removing potential asbestos within popcorn ceilings. They involve hiring a properly trained and accredited asbestos professional (inspector) to obtain a sample of the ceiling material. The sample is then forwarded to an <\/span>EPA-qualified laboratory<\/span><\/a> for analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you receive the results from the lab, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed with the removal of the popcorn ceiling. If your results come back positive for asbestos, don’t panic. Remember, an undisturbed popcorn ceiling with asbestos will not affect your health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you do decide to remove the popcorn ceiling, it’s recommended that you hire a professional asbestos remediation company to do the removal. If there’s no asbestos in your popcorn ceiling, you can do it yourself without the added worry of possible contamination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hire an asbestos abatement contractor\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The cost to remove a popcorn ceiling will differ depending on whether asbestos needs to be removed. If your lab results come back negative and there’s no asbestos, a professional will charge approximately $1 \u2013 $3 per square foot for labor and materials depending upon the size of the job and the area you live in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That means if you own a 1,500-square-foot <\/span>home in Charleston, SC<\/span><\/a>, for example, you’ll need to budget between $1,500 \u2013 $4,500 for a professional to remove the popcorn ceiling. Remember, this doesn’t include any costs to repair the ceiling or apply paint or another covering once the popcorn ceiling has been removed. You’ll also want to be sure to check that the company you hire is licensed and insured.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If there’s asbestos in your ceilings, you can expect to pay between $3 \u2013 $7 per square foot, and again, the amount will vary depending on how many rooms you have and the total amount of square feet involved. To remove asbestos-laced popcorn ceilings in a 1,500-square-foot house, the cost would be anywhere from $4,500 \u2013 $10,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

If there’s no asbestos in your ceiling, you may opt to remove it yourself. The primary costs involved will be your time, labor, and any tools and supplies needed to do the job.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to remove popcorn ceiling yourself in three steps<\/span><\/h3>\n

1. Gathering the right tools for the job<\/span><\/h4>\n

Before you decide to tackle this project, remember the job is difficult, messy, and labor-intensive. You’ll need a ladder tall enough to reach the ceiling so that you can get close enough to scrape off the popcorn material. You will also need something to scrape with, such as a wide putty knife or a popcorn ceiling scraper that you can find at most hardware stores.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other possible supplies include an extension pole, depending on how tall your ceilings are, plastic bags fitted to the scraper to catch debris, along with safety items such as goggles for eye protection and a respirator to prevent inhaling fine dust particles. You may also want to invest in drop cloths for the floors and long plastic roles to separate rooms so you can further contain any mess.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a full checklist of essential tools you can find in any hardware store:<\/span><\/p>\n