Are popcorn ceilings a health hazard?

If your home was built in the 1980’s or earlier, or was at least renovated during that time, it may have popcorn ceilings lurking around, This type of ceiling finish was quite popular back in the day for a number of reasons: they’re easy to install, they have good acoustic properties, and they are also affordable. But there’s one major drawback to popcorn ceiling that you may not be aware of. Aside from the fact that popcorn ceilings are no longer considered attractive and can actually pull the value of your home down, the sprayed-on material may also have asbestos within it. So, you may ask the question: “Are popcorn ceilings a health hazard?” Maybe or maybe not. In fact, they may be fine, as long as the material is untouched and undisturbed. If the material becomes loosened and is allowed to become airborne, any asbestos within it can also become airborne. That means anyone in the house can breathe it on. And over time, asbestos exposure can cause serious health issues, including upper respiratory complications and even lung cancer. You’ve got to be very careful when you handle popcorn ceilings with asbestos. Even cleaning and dusting the surface can cause the material to become dislodged and make its way into the surrounding air. And if you decide to remove the popcorn ceiling, it’s imperative that the appropriate measures are taken before the process takes place. Failure to do so can potentially fill your home with a hazardous substance. Of course, there may not be asbestos in your popcorn ceilings. But you’ll never know unless you have it tested. And if there is, any popcorn ceiling removal job should absolutely be done by the professionals who have experience handling this type of material. Experts in the field of popcorn ceiling removal will first conduct a patch test on a section of the ceiling to see if asbestos is indeed present. If it is, extra steps and will be taken and caution will be exercised when the material is being removed in order to ensure that particles of asbestos are prevented from being released into the air that you and your family members breathe in everyday. So, the answer to the above question is, popcorn ceilings can be a health hazard if there is asbestos that is disturbed and allowed to become airborne. But if you are careful with your ceilings and leave any popcorn ceiling removal to the experts like The Ceiling Specialists,you should be fine. If popcorn ceiling removal is on your agenda, be sure to call The Ceiling Specialists!