Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos | Are they Safe?

Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos has been used for decades in the past throughout our nation. Between the 1950s and 1980s, workers favored the use of spray-on textured ceilings within buildings – an easy way to hide imperfections. During this period, however, asbestos as a building material was in high demand. A mesothelioma lawyer at our firm can help you understand mesothelioma claim time limit.

These spray-on textures, also known as “cottage cheese ceiling”, “stucco ceiling”, and/or “popcorn ceiling” were 1 to 10 percent asbestos.

There are two options that can be done to determine if an old popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. The first is locating an asbestos abatement professional. Although it is more expensive, hiring a professional is considered safer. The second option is to purchase a test kit. A sample of the ceiling must be collected and sent to a laboratory if a test kit is bought.

While testing samples for asbestos, inspectors also recommend that owners check paint for lead.

If asbestos is found within a popcorn ceiling, what should be done?

The decision to encapsulate or remove the ceiling must be made; in the meantime, it is essential to ensure that the ceiling is not disturbed as it is dangerous if any percentage of asbestos is found within popcorn ceilings.

Popcorn ceiling is a friable material, which means it can be damaged very easily. At the slightest disturbance, toxic dust can be released by the frangible asbestos materials. Serious, life-threatening illnesses can be developed as a result of inhaling these asbestos dust – including asbestosis, lung cancer, and/or mesothelioma.

Many precautionary measures are needed to remove the asbestos popcorn ceiling, which should be left to qualified professionals.

It is the Crumbliness; Not the Percentage

Although ceilings containing high percentages of asbestos are worse, low percentage ceilings are nonetheless dangerous. Regardless of whether your popcorn ceiling contains 1 percent asbestos or 10 percent asbestos the advice will remain the same.

As long as it remains undisturbed and/or properly encapsulated, the ceiling will not jeopardize the health of anyone. Professional removal is the safest decision for clients.

Spray-on asbestos products posed as a significant health risk for the employees until their banning due to the Clean Air Act of 1978.

Despite the banning, popcorn ceiling asbestos was still being applied going into the ’80s since companies were allowed to use their existing inventory of products.

Compared to other common asbestos materials left in old houses, the brittleness and breakability of the popcorn ceiling place it in a different class.

For instance, vinyl asbestos floor tiles can be walked on carefully – as long as they are not sanded, scraped, or smashed. But with popcorn ceilings, even a slight brush of the hand against the surface can result in a release of toxic dust. This makes it equally dangerous as old asbestos pipe insulation.

Tips for Living with Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling

• Be careful not to scrape the ceiling when moving furniture or long objects
• Be sure children do not throw toys or pillows at the ceiling
• Do not disturb the ceiling with nails, screws or tape
• Do not place shelving so high that items might accidentally scrape the ceiling
• Do not put a bunk bed in a room with popcorn ceiling asbestos if said bed gives access to touch the ceiling
• Encapsulation or removal must be done if the ceiling starts to peel down as a result of age or dampness

Encapsulation of Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling

The covering of asbestos material so asbestos dust cannot be released is known as encapsulation. Vinyl paint or new ceiling panels are two common ways of covering the popcorn ceiling containing asbestos.

Special vinyl paint can be utilized to spray the ceiling. It is important to note that ordinary house paint will not work as a substitution. In reality, coating normal paint on the ceiling will cause the exposure that is trying to be prevented. Though spray-on vinyl paint is permitted, the old texture of the popcorn ceiling asbestos will still be visible. A West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer at our firm can help you file a mesothelioma claim.

Gypsum board ceiling panels, a material that is similar to drywall but lighter, can be used to cover popcorn ceilings by being screwed into the framing. It is in the best interest of a client to hire a professional that has the knowledge and skill to mud and tape the new ceiling accurately.

Encapsulating asbestos is a safe solution, but if renovations or demolitions are conducted then the asbestos will become a dangerous obstacle once again. In the case of selling a home or building, it will be required for the owner to inform potential buyers of the records of asbestos. If you or a loved one is searching for an Indiana mesothelioma lawyer, Ohio mesothelioma lawyer, or a new york mesothelioma lawyer, speak with someone at our firm for help.

How to Remove Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling

Asbestos abatement is always better when performed correctly from the start. After all, it is much more expensive to clean up contamination after the fact.

Hiring a professional is mandatory for many homeowners, while for others it is strongly recommended.

By law in various locations, the removal of asbestos from multifamily homes and/or commercial buildings often requires the recruitment of qualified professionals.

Owners of single-family homes are normally allowed to remove their own asbestos. Although every state and city have their own regulations, it is still strongly urged that clients hire a professional to complete the job for the safety and health of an individual and/or their families.

Precautions for Safely Removing Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos 

• Contact a landfill or trash-pickup service that can accept asbestos in advanced.
• Keep all pets and people (without protective gear) away from the area.
• Keep popcorn ceiling material wet to help prevent dust from getting into the air.
• Removal of furniture and applying a protective plastic covering to whatever is left in the room.
• Place asbestos-containing waste in closed, labeled plastic bags.
• Seal both doors and windows with plastic flaps.
• Turn off the air conditioning, heating, and ventilation units to avoid dispersal of contamination throughout the home.
• Wear a respirator with a high-efficiency particulate air filter and set up an air purifier.
• Wear disposable coveralls to protect skin and hair to keep off ceiling debris.

It can be costly to ignore these guidelines; asbestos contamination due to careless renovations are not usually covered by insurance policies. As a result, homeowners may be left with a large bill for asbestos abatement- and – face major health risks in the future. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma or stage 3 mesothelioma, speak with us for help.

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