Popcorn ceilings, also known as acoustic ceilings, have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. The older forms of this type of ceiling contained asbestos and require special equipment to remove. Nowadays, however, asbestos-free products offering the same benefits have made their way to the market, and this textured ceiling treatment is slowly making a comeback.
Before deciding whether or not to opt for popcorn ceilings, let’s have a look at some of the benefits and downsides:
Pros
• It’s easy to apply – Popcorn can be blown onto a large area quickly and at a lower cost. It covers the sheetrock of the ceiling entirely and does not need to be painted initially.
• It deadens sound – the uneven surface of the treatment, and the larger surface area provided by the bumps and ridges make popcorn ceilings ideal for rooms that the homeowner wants to soundproof.
• It’s good at hiding imperfections – the dense texture of the popcorn can hide ceiling imperfections such as uneven drywall and allows builders and homeowners to save money and time on preparation of the drywall.
Cons
• It’s
harder to clean – the nature
of the cottage cheese-like texture makes popcorn ceilings hold onto
dust, cobwebs and smoke. You also need to be very gentle when
cleaning since applying too much pressure can cause chunks of the
ceiling texture to loosen and fall.
• It’s
harder to repair – if a
popcorn ceiling is damaged in any way, repairs will require that you
cut out and replace the damaged portion and then attempt to match the
texture and color perfectly once the repairs are done. There is no
way to avoid inconsistencies and therefore you would need to redo the
whole ceiling from scratch to repair it uniformly.
• It’s
difficult to paint – because
of the texture of popcorn ceilings, using a roller or paintbrush is
not feasible. The only way to properly paint a popcorn ceiling is to
use a spray gun. This presents another challenged since spray guns
use high-pressure air to apply the paint to a surface, meaning care
must be taken not to damage the texture.
• It’s
viewed as outdated – this
last point does come down to personal taste; however, it cannot be
denied that popcorn ceilings are still considered as an old-fashioned
treatment that many homeowners feel does not fit with the more
contemporary look.
Popcorn ceilings do offer many benefits
to the homeowner. However, the disadvantages can make it a less
appealing option as well. It is essential that you weigh the pros and
the cons before making a decision.
Hi there,
I’m writing you to see if you are still actively updating the resources on your page: https://www.home-services-blog.com/2019/08/popcorn-ceilings-the-pros-and-cons/.
My name is Carlos Hernandez and I’m a member of the Public Outreach Department at The Mesothelioma Center.
When tackling a do-it-yourself project, there may be dangers hiding behind your walls or floors — such as toxic asbestos. We created a free Asbestos Guide in order to help homeowners or anyone planning a home improvement project spot potentially harmful materials, test them for asbestos and manage asbestos hazards safely.
You can check it out here: https://www.asbestos.com/exposure/home/
The guide also offers asbestos safety do’s and don’ts, health advice for people who may have been exposed and in-depth information about asbestos. Would you consider adding it on your page along with your other home improvement resources?
Let me know what you think,
Carlos