How to Remove Popcorn Ceiling?

Benefit of Removing popcorn ceiling texture (cottage cheese ceiling texture) (acoustic ceiling texture):

Removing asbestos and dirt collecting popcorn ceiling texture

Q: How to Remove Popcorn Ceiling?

A:
Caution: If the popcorn texture was applied before 1979, you may need to get it tested for asbestos.

In order to remove sample(s) from your popcorn ceiling for lab test, you need to spray water on a small area or wet it with sponge, and then scrape off the popcorn texture. Then place the scraped sample in a small plastic bag, and send it to the lab to be tested. You can also have a professional come out and remove the sample. To get the estimated cost of asbestos testing, contact testing facilities. Testing cost is around $20-$30 per sample. You can receive the result in 24 hours or less.

How to Collect Popcorn Ceiling Sample for Asbestos Test:

1. Use respiratory protection
2. Use a plastic drop cloth to protect the surrounding area
3. Put on plastic gloves to avoid contact between your skin and the sample
4. Wet a small area of the ceiling with soap and water solution, using spray bottle or wet sponge (1 teaspoon of liquid in one quarter of water)
5. Keep the sample area wet at all times to prevent the release of airborne fibers
6. Use a putty knife, razor knife, or similar tool to collect the entire layer
7. Place the sample in a plastic bag and seal it
8. Fill out requested information and submit along with the sample to the lab

You can hire state licensed asbestos company to come and collect samples of your popcorn ceiling, or old vinyl floor covering, and they would take the samples to the lab. Or you can collect the samples safely and mail the samples to lab.

The cost of asbestos testing is very minor. For example at this date, December 2007, Western Analytical Laboratory (Los Angeles) over the phone estimate was $30 for one sample test, and $20 thereafter for any additional sample. If you have found out that you have asbestos in your building, you need to contact an asbestos abatement, or an asbestos removal company or an asbestos contractor. They would remove the materials containing asbestos, and you need to assign additional fund to replace them. The cost is not minor, and significant heath and safety issues are involved, which must be handled by professionals.

NOTE: Before removing asbestos we recomend you read the article in the following web site address:
www.sacredplaces.org/PSP-InfoClearingHouse/articles/Asbestos%20Abatement.htm