Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling?

Question

Hiya~

We may be buying a house with an asbestos popcorn ceiling (we have to have it tested, so we don't know if it is asbestos yet. It's very low and glittery; isn't that attractive?). Of course, if it is asbestos, it may be a deal-breaker.

My question is, if the celing does have asbestos I know it is hazardous to scrape it off, but what if you cut it down instead? Ideally I would like to "vault" the ceiling a bit.

House was built 1960, rancher in Los Angeles

Thanks!

Answer 1

If the ceiling isn't vaulted already, it will be extremely difficult to do.  That's because most houses are built with trusses.  The flat part that is the ceiling keeps the roof from pushing the walls out.  If you remove that component of the truss, your roof will fall in and your walls will pop out.  Better to just leave them low and flat.

Asbestos removal is nasty no matter how you do it... whether you just scrape it off or remove the wall board completely.  Dust will be created either way, and that is the health issue.

I grew up in a house built in 1975.  It had glittery popcorn as well.  In the 80's my parents had the ceilings painted, and that made the glitter disappear.

After about a month you'll get used to the low ceilings and wont even notice them anymore.

Asbestos was used in nearly all construction materials at some point throughout the years.  It was banned from construction materials in 1978.  Popcorn ceilings often have asbestos, but not always.   Asbestos can hide in all kinds of places.  When doing asbestos testing, samples are taken of everthing that isn't glass or metal.  Floor tile, mastic for roof, carpet and tile, ceiling panels, wall panels, insulation, air ducts,... the list is literally thousands of items.

Answer 2

You will have to hire a licensed contractor to do the work, and it is expensive because of the hazardous handling. Do not attempt to do this job on your own.

Answer 3

ok asbestos is only harm full when it in the air , and dry , if you wet down the ceiling  before  you scrape it you will be fine , but wear a mask , any time you deal with plaster

   im sure ,    its  not  what you think it is   the glitter was added to   ceiling  back i nthe 1970s  , sounds just like normal good old plaster

as for the vault , this is not that hard, hire a pro to help you  out .    all you need to do is remove the old celing , support  it , and re just  the roof space ,     not cheap , but cool

Answer 4

Popcorn=asbestos  not.....   Why would the drywallers want to make it more complicated than it is.   It is just white drywall mud "spitted up there" with the sparkles.   Asbestos was mainly used as insulation.  And around coal fired furnaces.     So, what is the insulation composed of.  Either pink fibreglass or ground up newspapers or styrofoam.