Pros And Cons Of Removing A Popcorn Ceiling

Removing a popcorn ceiling can be labor intensive.

Acoustic, or popcorn, ceilings became popular in the 1970s. At the time, contractors installed the ceilings because they were cheap and easy, plus they hid imperfections and lowered ambient noise in the room. Since then, however, these ceilings have gone out of fashion, causing many owners of older homes to choose removal.

Pro: Increased Home Value

Since popcorn ceilings are no longer popular, they can reduce a home's value. Many buyers immediately drop their offer price upon seeing a house's popcorn ceilings. Removing the ceilings and upgrading to flat-surface ceilings can increase buyer interest and, ultimately, the home's value.

Con: Possible Asbestos

Many popcorn ceilings contain asbestos. The presence of asbestos can make the removal process more difficult and can be hazardous to the people living in the house during the renovation. Be sure to send a small sample of the ceiling to an EPA-certified testing lab to determine whether asbestos is present before beginning the renovation.

Pro: Modern Look

Removing a popcorn ceiling will instantly modernize the look of a house. Whether the homeowners want to improve the look for possible buyers or just for their own pleasure, a smooth-surface ceiling is considered much more aesthetically appealing.

Con: Labor Intensive

Popcorn ceilings can be difficult to remove. It will take the homeowners several hours---and likely days---to complete the project, depending on the size of the ceiling. A ceiling that has been painted or contains asbestos will take even more time and labor.

Pro: Inexpensive Renovation

Though the process requires a substantial time commitment, it is a fairly inexpensive renovation project. Only some basic sanding, scraping and painting tools are required. The actual cost will depend on the size of the ceiling.

Con: Paint Difficulty

Popcorn ceiling removal is a much more difficult process if the ceiling has been painted. The removal process begins by wetting the popcorn material to aid in removal. Because you can't properly wet painted popcorn material, it requires a more extensive removal process.

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