Why Is a Popcorn Ceiling Not Eco-Friendly?

Definition

• Popcorn ceilings look similar to cottage cheese and have multiple peaks protruding from the surface. The peaks are not hard plaster, but filler material such as foam and plastic. These items are not renewable or eco-friendly. If the home was built before 1978, there is a chance the textured ceilings contain asbestos. You are not exposed to the cancer-causing material unless the texture is scraped or sanded, and then inhaled.

Side Effects

• Asbestos has been linked with cancer and respiratory illness in people with long-term exposure. However, the exposure is often linked to workers employed at mines and shipyards, and not associated with living in a home with textured ceilings. Still, asbestos fibers in the ceiling may detach or crumble from the texture and be inhaled. The fibers then lodge inside the lungs and often stay in place for years. The fibers may increase the risk of respiratory infection and lung cancer.

Testing

• If you are concerned your ceiling may have asbestos, an US Environmental Protection Agency-certified laboratory may test for asbestos in your ceiling. Often, you must scrape a small amount of the ceiling texture into a small container. Asbestos is not a risk if the ceiling is firmly in place and not peeling. However, if you are considering removing the popcorn ceiling, you must first determine if the texture is linked with asbestos.

Removal

• Only remove a popcorn ceiling if it is asbestos-free; contact an asbestos-removal professional it it does contain the material. Saturate and soak the ceiling texture with water. Allow the water to sift into the texture and sit for about 15 minutes or until moist. Scrape the texture away from the ceiling surface. Be aware the project is extremely messy. All areas in the room need to be completely covered with plastic. Understand, once the plaster is removed, you may discover a very uneven surface the popcorn ceiling was hiding.