Removal Of Asbestos From An Acoustic Ceiling

Preparing a room to remove sprayed ceiling

Acoustic ceilings that could have asbestos product in them can be in the form of a spray-on 'popcorn' ceiling. Asbestos was used as a sound dampener and a binding agent in ceiling materials through the 1980's. Use of the product was banned because it can cause lung cancer. If you are not sure if your ceiling contains asbestos, you can send a sample to a lab for analysis.

Safety First

Removal of the popcorn ceiling will release the asbestos fibers. Popcorn ceilings can be painted over, but that makes it more difficult to remove them later. Hiring professionals who have the safety equipment and training is the best option. If you want to do the work yourself, use a respirator (if your doctor approves) and protective clothing, including eye protection. Wear a protective suit. Protect wiring and electrical from the water you will be using to wet the asbestos. Trim, drywall, paint, and furniture can be damaged in the removal process.

Removal

Remove all items and furniture from the room. Hang 6 mL polyethylene from the doorway to seal the room to contain the area. Tape the polyethylene to the walls and lay it on the floor. Purchase polyethylene waste disposal bags; you will need one for every 25 square feet of ceiling. Do not allow visitors to the room while you are working. Turn off the HVAC system to avoid getting asbestos fibers in the ventilation. Remove smoke detectors. Sprayed ceilings must be wet down to prevent the release of the fibers. Use a spray bottle with warm water and a teaspoon of liquid detergent. It may take up to 20 minutes for the ceiling to absorb enough water to scrape easily. If you cannot get the material to absorb moisture, stop working. You will need to contact an asbestos contractor. If you remove dry material, you will spread asbestos fibers throughout your home.

If the material absorbed the moisture, begin removing it, using a small scraper, and allow the material to drop into your hand. Place the material in a bucket that is up where you are working. Do not drop the material to the ground. Place the material from the bucket into the 6 mL polyethylene bags.

Cleanup

When you are done removing the sprayed ceiling, place all the material from the ceiling in the bags. Encapsulate the ceiling by applying a coating that will bind the asbestos fibers. This can be done with latex primer. Do not sand ceiling before painting. After painting, spray the walls with water. Then, work from the top down and the back of the room to the front. Place the polyethylene from the walls and floor in the bags. Do not shake out or sweep anything. Put clothing and any tools you want to dispose of, including the the respirator filters, in the bags. Seal the bags. Clean the rest of the tools and shower. Dispose of the materials in a licensed asbestos disposal site.

Tags: asbestos fibers, material from, polyethylene from, popcorn ceiling, sprayed ceiling, walls floor