In the 1970s, popcorn ceilings were very prominent, because they were quick, easy and inexpensive. In the 21st century, many homeowners are reverting to flat ceilings. In order to do this, the popcorn ceiling must be removed, which can pose a serious health hazard--asbestos exposure. You can hire a state-certified asbestos removal contractor or you can tackle the project on your own, but you must be aware of the dangers and proper removal techniques.
Dangers
The biggest danger of removing your popcorn ceiling is discovering asbestos. Not all popcorn ceilings contain asbestos; you can submit a ceiling sample to a local laboratory for a small fee to see if it contains asbestos by looking in your phone book under "Asbestos--Consulting and Testing." Asbestos is a known carcinogen that can be found in different building materials such as insulation. Asbestos is only dangerous when it is released into the air. Asbestos can cause a variety of serious health problems, including cancer and lung disease. Therefore, you must be very cautious when removing a popcorn ceiling. You must wear protective clothing and be meticulous when it comes to cleanup.
Supplies
To remove asbestos and perform proper cleanup, you are going to need a variety of supplies. Your protective gear should consist of goggles, rubber boots, rubber gloves, duct tape to tape your gloves to the sleeves of your coveralls, disposable coveralls and a respirator with HEPA filters. You also will need a ladder and polyethylene plastic sheeting to cover the floor and walls. You will need liquid detergent and water to mix and spray on the ceiling, and a putty knife to remove the popcorn texture. Duct tape, clean rags, trash bags and a bucket will be needed for proper asbestos cleanup and disposal. A latex primer paint or an approved latex asbestos encapsulant should be rolled on or sprayed on the ceiling to seal in any remaining asbestos after scraping.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal
If you are not sure your ceiling contains asbestos, you should treat it as an asbestos removal. You must fill out a Notice of Single Family Residency Asbestos Removal notification that can be found online through the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. A copy of this notice has to be posted at the removal site.
Put on your protective gear and set up your area with the polyethylene plastic sheeting and the ladder. Thoroughly wet your ceiling with a and water mixture that consists of one cup of liquid detergent for every five gallons of water. If your ceiling is painted, you will need to do a wet test to ensure that the mixture will thoroughly soak through the paint. Wetting the popcorn thoroughly is critical to preventing asbestos fibers from being released into the air. Scrape your ceiling, dispose of all materials properly and then take a shower.
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