Popcorn Ceilings – Should They Stay or Should They Go?

March 26, 2019

By Painters in CT


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Many homes that were built during the 20th century have ceilings textured with popcorn ceilings. These are easy to spot as you can see that the ceiling is textured with a bumpy appearance that is reminiscent of popcorn. This type of ceiling was very popular between the 1930’s and 1970’s, commonly found in entrances, hallways, bedrooms and basements of homes. It became a popular technique because it was deemed to be a cheaper alternative to properly painting your ceiling. The popcorn effect was achieved by spraying on a mixture that looked like cottage cheese, so that homeowners didn’t have to worry about any imperfections that were on the ceiling like holes or small cracks because the texture would just cover it up.

This trend of popcorn ceilings quickly fell out of style and was eventually banned under the Clean Air Act in the late 1970’s due to causing mesothelioma if inhaled. An important thing to consider before doing any work to your existing popcorn ceilings is to determine if its material is cold pose a health risk. Asbestos was the material of choice for popcorn ceilings until it was banned as a health hazard. After this was discovered, popcorn ceilings were made with material like Styrofoam to create a similar stippled pattern but became a lot less popular.

north haven interior
ARE POPCORN CEILINGS IN STYLE OR OUTDATED?

Popcorn ceilings can either be viewed as outdated or well-suited to the interior of your home, depending on the style and look you are wanting to achieve. Most newer homes will not have popcorn ceilings as they tend to date a room’s style. The benefit popcorn ceilings still have today is that they will always be able to hide scuffs, cracks or imperfections in your ceiling unlike smooth ceilings. Smooth ceilings may look more polished and modern, but natural or indoor lighting can reflect evenly on flat surfaces making imperfections harder to seal and easier to see.

The best thing about popcorn ceilings is that they are not permanent. Therefore, if you are looking to sell your home, but think it might sell better if you remove the popcorn ceiling, the process can be done pretty quickly, especially if you hire a professional team. Or if you are looking to buy a house that has popcorn ceilings, don’t let that deter you as they can be removed.

north haven ct ceiling painting
CLEANING AND REPAIRING POPCORN CEILINGSOne of the biggest drawbacks to popcorn ceilings is the extensive work that can be required to keep it clean or fix any holes or cracks that appear. Cobwebs and dust can easily get caught in the bumps or smoke can stain the ceiling. When trying to clean popcorn ceilings, you have to be cautious not to press too hard as the raised particles of it can easily flake off causing aesthetic harm to your ceiling. It is hard to repair one small area of a popcorn ceiling due to its texture.
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north haven ct ceiling painting
In the end, it is up to you as a homeowner what kind of ceiling you want in your home. If you want to save money, a popcorn ceiling might be a cost-effective choice for you. Although, a smooth ceiling is probably a better investment in the long run if you are not looking to stay in your home forever and will eventually want to sell it.STILL HAVE POPCORN CEILINGS? GIVE YOUR #1 CT PAINTING COMPANY US A CALL

There are many steps involved in removing a popcorn ceiling, and it can become quite messy, therefore we suggest contacting a professional to get the job done for you. At Painters in CT, LLC we are experienced in the removal of popcorn ceilings. Give us a call today and we will come out to take a look at your popcorn ceilings and give you a free quote! Let us take care of it for you!

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