Don’t Let Your Dream Home Become a Nightmare: Test Popcorn Ceilings for Asbestos

Let’s set the scene: you’ve just signed the purchase papers for your dream home. To celebrate such a momentous occasion, you and your family take one last walk through your new location before you begin bringing in boxes and furniture. Everything is as you hoped it’d be, from the spacious den with a huge window overlooking the backyard to the screened-in pool where you’ll spend your summer. The only thing you would change are the popcorn ceilings, but you set that aside as a project for a later date.

Fast forward a few months to your consultation with a team of popcorn removal specialists in Orlando, during which you’re shocked and dismayed to hear they cannot get rid of the popcorn in your home due to asbestos. Instead of being able to quickly and affordably achieve that smooth ceiling finish you desire, you’re told you’ll have to enlist the service of a hazmat team, which could run you upwards of $5 per square foot.

Unfortunately, this scenario isn’t an uncommon one. All too often, home buyers overlook popcorn ceilings as nothing more than an outdated design trend, neglecting to realize that the finish could contain some potentially hazardous materials. Even though popcorn ceiling finishes were restricted across the country in 1978 due to the presence of carcinogenic asbestos, many homes were still given the popcorn treatment well through the 80s as manufacturers worked to deplete their stores.

There is a solution to this serious issue, however. If your intended home has popcorn ceilings, you can ask for an asbestos test before you make the final purchase decision. Now, it’s easier than ever to get the results you need when you’re searching for a home, with sites like AsbestosTesting.com providing fast, accurate results for any interested parties. Most experts recommend taking two or three samples through 1,000 square feet; discuss your needs and the results with your realtor.

Popcorn ceilings don’t have to turn your dream home into your worst nightmare. With a little forethought and some helpful tools, you can determine whether the ceilings are going to be an issue in the future, or whether you can take care of changing your ceiling finish when you’re good and ready. To learn more about popcorn removal in Orlando or to schedule your free consultation, contact New Ceilings at (407) 378-6040 today.