Popcorn ceilings were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s in American residences. They are spray-on or paint-on acoustic treatments for ceilings. Although popcorn ceilings are not as popular these days as they were a few decades ago, some houses still have them. Here is some more information about popcorn ceilings.
Significance
Popcorn ceilings are white and have sort of a "cottage cheese" style rippled texture. Oftentimes, there are tiny bits of gold glitter included. This style was utilized because it was good at covering up inadequate workmanship in connecting and taping of drywall. Also, it lessened echoes and reflected sounds, and was easy and quick to apply in new construction.
History
The popularity of popcorn ceilings has waned considerably since the 1960s and 1970s, mostly because of the banning of asbestos, which is a toxic mineral. Asbestos was usually an ingredient of popcorn ceilings. That is why it is possible to find popcorn ceilings that were constructed in that time period today, but they are rarely (if ever) included in new housing constructions.
Considerations
Another reason why popcorn ceiling became unpopular is the fact that it is rather hard to maintain. When popcorn ceilings age and get dirty, they become highly attractive. That is why people choose to opt for ceilings with easier, handmade finishes. Popcorn ceilings are extremely complicated to paint and patch.
Warning
If you purchase an older home that has popcorn ceilings, it can be extremely costly to get rid of the rather dated ceiling style. Many builders will charge up to $8000 for a removal job. Luckily, there are some easier ways to hide popcorn ceilings if their "older" appearance bothers you. It is possible to cover up popcorn ceilings with styrofoam ceiling tiles, which can be stuck on by using ceramic tile glue.
Expert Insight
If you live in a residence that has popcorn tiles and are worried about the asbestos factor, it's a good idea to make sure that your popcorn ceilings contain it, because not all of them do. You can submit "popcorn" samples to a laboratory for an expert analysis at a minimal cost. You can scrape off one square inch of "popcorn" by using a putty knife, and then send it off to the lab. If you find that your results are positives for asbestos, you should consider removal options.
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