Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos
Is it dangerous if my popcorn ceiling contains asbestos.
Popcorn ceiling asbestos. Homeowners might install popcorn ceilings because they don t want to finish the ceiling or they couldn t otherwise conceal its imperfections. Some people may dislike them because of the potential asbestos problems while some find them visually unappealing. Friable asbestos materials release toxic dust at the slightest disturbance. Asbestos is dangerous and can cause cancer in which homeowners breathe in without knowing until years later are diagnosed with major health risks that could have been prevented.
Popcorn ceiling is a friable material meaning it is very easy to damage. Many of these ceilings were made partially out of asbestos a silicate material which was banned in many countries starting in the 1970s. Removing asbestos popcorn ceiling requires many precautions. A popcorn ceiling slang also known as a stipple ceiling a stucco ceiling or formally an acoustic ceiling is a ceiling with a certain spray on or paint on treatment.
Asbestos is only really dangerous when the tiny fibres are loose circulate and become part of the air you re breathing. It was the standard for bedroom and residential hallway ceilings for its bright white appearance ability to hide imperfections and acoustical characteristics. The finish was popular during the time that asbestos was highly valued by homebuilders and as a result many popcorn ceilings contain the toxic material. About 1 and 10 percent of popcorn ceilings stucco ceiling cottage cheese ceiling and another populars name for this textured ceiling generally had asbestos.
Asbestos can cause many health problems including lung cancer so it s very important to test your ceilings if they were built prior to the. Popcorn ceilings were a popular feature of 1960s and 1970s homes. Popcorn ceilings cottage cheese ceilings or stucco ceilings whatever you call them they re not only an eyesore they also may contain a carcinogen known as asbestos. If the surface of your popcorn ceiling isn t chipping or deteriorated the risk from the asbestos within might not be significant.
Asbestos was used prior to the canada wide banning of the material in 2018 because it was dirt cheap fire resistant and highly durable even used in stippled or popcorn ceilings. It s a job best left to qualified professionals. However based on our years of experience in asbestos testing using this material is anything but a great value.