Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling Removal
White asbestos, or chrysotile, was discovered in 1876 in southeastern Quebec, Canada. Canada then built the world’s first commercial asbestos mines. It is a fibrous silicate mineral. Asbestos popcorn ceilings are also known as “cottage cheese ceilings.” Although it is no longer mined in the US, it is still legally imported and used nowadays.
Common Types of Asbestos:
Crocidolite. This is blue asbestos from Australia. It is the deadliest type because of its very thin fibers. It was used to insulate steam engines and is found in spray-on coatings, pipe insulations, plastics, and cement.
Chrysotile. This is white asbestos mined in the US, Canada, China, and Russia. It is the most common type of asbestos found worldwide. It is the fibrous form of the mineral serpentine. Ninety-five percent of ACBM (Asbestos Containing Building Materials) is chrysotile and is used in cement building materials.
Amosite. This is brown asbestos from South Africa. It is used for cement sheets and high-temperature pipe insulation.
Chrysotile. This is white asbestos mined in the US, Canada, China, and Russia. It is the most common type of asbestos found worldwide. It is the fibrous form of the mineral serpentine. Ninety-five percent of ACBM (Asbestos Containing Building Materials) is chrysotile and is used in cement building materials.
Amosite. This is brown asbestos from South Africa. It is used for cement sheets and high-temperature pipe insulation.
How Common is Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings were first popular in Canada and became commonly used in US homes. These are dimpled drywall ceilings that were popular from 1945 to the 1990s. Popcorn ceilings before the 90s are most likely to contain one to 10% asbestos. This textured ceiling covering is useful for insulation and covering up imperfections. It is also a fire-resistant mineral that was popular in building materials until the 80s. It was also cheap and strong.
A popcorn ceiling usually has a pockmarked surface and is typically white, off-white, or beige.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned asbestos from ceiling coverings in 1973. However, researchers noted that popcorn ceiling materials still had asbestos even after the ban.
A popcorn ceiling usually has a pockmarked surface and is typically white, off-white, or beige.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned asbestos from ceiling coverings in 1973. However, researchers noted that popcorn ceiling materials still had asbestos even after the ban.
What to Do If Your Popcorn Ceiling Has Asbestos?
The EPA passed the Clean Air Act, banning the unauthorized use of asbestos, and commercial and residential buildings ceased using it. One way to know if your popcorn ceiling has asbestos fibers is to check its installation date. If your panels were installed in the late 80s, then they might be free of asbestos.
Homeowners who think that their popcorn ceilings have asbestos should hire professionals to test, remove, and dispose of it. Asbestos abatement and removal contractors like CVE Corp should be the only ones handling asbestos. Sanding, painting, or patching popcorn ceilings could disturb its fibers and create dangerous asbestos dust.
Asbestos removal involves carefully ridding the home of asbestos products. A licensed professional will safely and legally dispose of the asbestos. Asbestos encapsulation covers up the asbestos-containing products to prevent fibers from being released into the air.
Our professionals are trained in state and federal regulations for the proper handling of asbestos. We will conduct a thorough inspection of any material that may have asbestos. We will inspect for damage, take a sample of the ceiling and suspected materials, and send them for laboratory testing. If asbestos is positive, a mitigation and removal plan will be conducted.
A licensed asbestos abatement contractor like CVE Corp will conduct the asbestos removal. We will assess the ceiling’s friability or the crumbliness of the product. Highly friable asbestos is more dangerous since it is more likely to release fibers into the air. Low-friability materials in good condition may be recommended for encapsulation.
For asbestos popcorn ceiling removal, the contractor will shut off ventilation in the whole area. The materials will be wet down to prevent airborne fibers, and the products will then be removed.
Every state has its own regulations for asbestos disposal.
Homeowners who think that their popcorn ceilings have asbestos should hire professionals to test, remove, and dispose of it. Asbestos abatement and removal contractors like CVE Corp should be the only ones handling asbestos. Sanding, painting, or patching popcorn ceilings could disturb its fibers and create dangerous asbestos dust.
Asbestos removal involves carefully ridding the home of asbestos products. A licensed professional will safely and legally dispose of the asbestos. Asbestos encapsulation covers up the asbestos-containing products to prevent fibers from being released into the air.
Our professionals are trained in state and federal regulations for the proper handling of asbestos. We will conduct a thorough inspection of any material that may have asbestos. We will inspect for damage, take a sample of the ceiling and suspected materials, and send them for laboratory testing. If asbestos is positive, a mitigation and removal plan will be conducted.
A licensed asbestos abatement contractor like CVE Corp will conduct the asbestos removal. We will assess the ceiling’s friability or the crumbliness of the product. Highly friable asbestos is more dangerous since it is more likely to release fibers into the air. Low-friability materials in good condition may be recommended for encapsulation.
For asbestos popcorn ceiling removal, the contractor will shut off ventilation in the whole area. The materials will be wet down to prevent airborne fibers, and the products will then be removed.
Every state has its own regulations for asbestos disposal.
The Dangers of Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings
Asbestos fibers are dangerous when inhaled. Serious health conditions may develop. The fibers may embed into the linings of internal organs. In time, these fibers will cause irritation and scarring. The most serious of these irritations are mesothelioma cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and asbestos-lung cancer. These diseases may take 10 to 50 years to develop from the first exposure. Repeated exposure increases the risk of developing asbestos illnesses.
Higher-risk groups of people include:
The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) found that inhaling asbestos leads to mesothelioma, and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. It also increases the risk of stomach, pharynx, and other diseases.
Higher-risk groups of people include:
- Construction workers. Occupational exposure happens during construction, renovation, or demolition.
- Homeowners. Asbestos in popcorn ceilings exposes the entire family.
The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) found that inhaling asbestos leads to mesothelioma, and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. It also increases the risk of stomach, pharynx, and other diseases.
What Disturbs Asbestos?
- Nails and hooks. Nails and hooks in the ceiling release asbestos dust.
- Scraping the ceiling. Never kill a bug and scrape it off the ceiling.
- Bunk beds. Kids may kick the ceiling and spread asbestos inadvertently.
How Will CVE Corp Remove Popcorn Ceilings?
Protect ourselves. We will open a window and point a fan, so it blows outward. Our professionals will wear gloves, masks, goggles, and long sleeves.
Prepare the room. We will put sheets or plastic over furniture that we can’t take out of the room. We will turn off lights, HVAC systems, and any other appliances that won’t let us control the circulation in the room. We will turn off the air conditioning and run a drop cloth over the floor to protect it. All plastic will be secured with painter’s tape to ensure nothing gets under it. No residue should be left.
Spray the ceiling. A sprayer will be filled with warm water and lightly sprayed to a four-foot square area of the ceiling. If the ceiling has textured products without paint, it should absorb the water and be ready for scraping in 15 minutes.
Scrape off the popcorn. A paint scraper or a putty knife will be used to start removing the popcorn from the ceiling. It can be removed while dry or it can be wet with a spray bottle. Wetting the asbestos helps contain it, so it will be a better option.
Let the ceiling dry. A significant amount of drying time is needed. Increasing the temperature and air ventilation will speed up the drying process. Allow the room to dry for 24 hours after removing the ceiling.
Finish up and patch. After the large patches, we will use the putty knife to remove the small pieces. Asbestos will then be disposed of in a plastic bag. We will patch cut loose areas during removal. Imperfections will be taken care of before cleaning up.
Stomp or paint. If there are a lot of imperfections, painting is a better option. The area will be cleaned before painting to ensure no asbestos is left on the wet paint.
Dispose of waste. If the material contains asbestos, we cannot dispose of it with regular landfill waste. We need to obtain a permit and dispose of it separately for up to 30 days.
You can also hire an asbestos remediation professional like CVE Corp to do it for you. The lab should be accredited by NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program).
If the test is positive and the coating is unraveling, you do need to do something. Explore the cost of removal and encapsulation. But an encapsulated coating won’t absorb water easily, so if you or a later owner decides to remove it, the job will be more difficult and expensive.
Removing the popcorn ceiling by doing it yourself can result in tainting your home with asbestos and potentially inhaling and ingesting these fibers. Leave the ceiling alone and call an asbestos abatement contractor to do the work.
If your home has popcorn ceilings, don’t hesitate to reach out to an expert to get a sample and test it to know if it has the presence of asbestos. It’s important to be conscious of the materials used for constructing your home.
Prepare the room. We will put sheets or plastic over furniture that we can’t take out of the room. We will turn off lights, HVAC systems, and any other appliances that won’t let us control the circulation in the room. We will turn off the air conditioning and run a drop cloth over the floor to protect it. All plastic will be secured with painter’s tape to ensure nothing gets under it. No residue should be left.
Spray the ceiling. A sprayer will be filled with warm water and lightly sprayed to a four-foot square area of the ceiling. If the ceiling has textured products without paint, it should absorb the water and be ready for scraping in 15 minutes.
Scrape off the popcorn. A paint scraper or a putty knife will be used to start removing the popcorn from the ceiling. It can be removed while dry or it can be wet with a spray bottle. Wetting the asbestos helps contain it, so it will be a better option.
Let the ceiling dry. A significant amount of drying time is needed. Increasing the temperature and air ventilation will speed up the drying process. Allow the room to dry for 24 hours after removing the ceiling.
Finish up and patch. After the large patches, we will use the putty knife to remove the small pieces. Asbestos will then be disposed of in a plastic bag. We will patch cut loose areas during removal. Imperfections will be taken care of before cleaning up.
Stomp or paint. If there are a lot of imperfections, painting is a better option. The area will be cleaned before painting to ensure no asbestos is left on the wet paint.
Dispose of waste. If the material contains asbestos, we cannot dispose of it with regular landfill waste. We need to obtain a permit and dispose of it separately for up to 30 days.
You can also hire an asbestos remediation professional like CVE Corp to do it for you. The lab should be accredited by NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program).
If the test is positive and the coating is unraveling, you do need to do something. Explore the cost of removal and encapsulation. But an encapsulated coating won’t absorb water easily, so if you or a later owner decides to remove it, the job will be more difficult and expensive.
Removing the popcorn ceiling by doing it yourself can result in tainting your home with asbestos and potentially inhaling and ingesting these fibers. Leave the ceiling alone and call an asbestos abatement contractor to do the work.
If your home has popcorn ceilings, don’t hesitate to reach out to an expert to get a sample and test it to know if it has the presence of asbestos. It’s important to be conscious of the materials used for constructing your home.
About Our Asbestos Abatement Removal Services
With offices in Rohnert Park, Tracy, Fresno, and San Diego and over 30 years of experience in the asbestos removal industry, CVE Corp. is the natural industrial, commercial, and residential environmental solutions across California with 24-hour emergency response available.
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CVE is the leading expert in Asbestos Abatement and Removal, Demolition Services, Deconstruction Services, Mold Remediation, Lead Abatement, and offer services to San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, Bakersfield, Santa Rosa, Fresno, Sonoma County, Fresno County, East Bay, Visalia, Modesto, Marin County, San Diego County, Napa County, Solano County and beyond.