Popcorn Ceiling Elimination: A Full Information to the Value and Course of

It’s nice on the films, however popcorn shouldn’t be so welcome in your ceiling while you’re making an attempt to promote your property.

“It’s the first thing young buyers notice,” says Mary Stewart, a Sugar Land, Texas, actual property agent who works with 82% extra single-family houses than the typical Sugar Land agent.

What’s popcorn and why is it so dangerous?

Stewart lives in a neighborhood in-built 1972, so she is aware of all about popcorn and the costly, messy process of eradicating it. She’s additionally conscious that if householders know they’ve popcorn ceilings, by regulation they’re required to reveal that info to the patrons. And “one of the first things buyers do is scrape the ceilings,” she factors out.

Additionally known as cottage cheese, stucco, or textured, popcorn ceilings have been put in from the Fifties by the Eighties, however actually got here into vogue within the Seventies as a approach to muffle sound and conceal imperfections within the ceiling floor, equivalent to cracks, leaks, poor workmanship, or different injury. It was cheap and simple to use. In line with the Mesothelioma Heart, if your property was constructed between the Fifties and Eighties, there’s a superb probability that your popcorn ceiling comprises asbestos.

Like many different ‘70s traits, popcorn ceilings have gone out of favor — however there are extra sensible causes for his or her fall from grace than mere style.

Not solely do they not carry out properly in moisture, making them a poor candidate for bogs, however they produce other points as properly. Popcorn ceilings are recognized to:

• Include asbestos, if put in previous to 1978. As a result of it’s a possible security hazard, quite a few legal guidelines restrict exposures to asbestos.
• Create harsh shadows because of the bumpy texture. The precise kind of lighting can reduce these shadows, however that’s further effort on the a part of the home-owner.
• Discolor over time, making a dingy look in a room
• Entice and catch mud and filth on its jagged edges and crater-like surfaces
• Disintegrate, loosen, and drop bits and items onto furnishings and flooring alike
• Look dated as an alternative of recent and alluring

Though asbestos in popcorn ceilings shouldn’t be a hazard so long as the ceiling stays intact, in keeping with the EPA, if the ceiling has any injury, it may be a well being hazard. For that reason, many owners wish to take away their popcorn ceilings.

Whether or not a home-owner is nervous about asbestos or they’re updating a home, making ready it on the market, or repairing injury, eradicating a popcorn ceiling generally is a messy, costly job usually costing as much as $3,000 — though it might vary even increased in some areas. To information you, we researched and spoke with specialists like Mary Stewart and Nicholas Gregoire, proprietor of Grasp Plasters LLC in Laconia, New Hampshire, to supply some suggestions for pulling the plug in your popcorn ceilings.

Popcorn ceiling removing price overview

There are various variables to contemplate: whole sq. footage, geographic location, kind of ceiling, and extra. This chart supplies a place to begin for calculating prices.

Methodology:

• House Advisor/Angi: Surveyed hundreds of actual Angi clients about their challenge prices to develop the pricing knowledge.
• HomeGuide: Info derived from monitoring estimates supplied by native corporations to HomeGuide readers.

Main price components to contemplate

The most important components influencing the price of popcorn ceiling removing are challenge dimension, labor, and the supplies wanted. However there are a number of concerns that may impression the price past these fundamentals. For instance, several types of ceilings could add to the price; vaulted and cathedral can elevate the worth by 50%. Excessive ceilings can add to the price because of the want for taller ladders and extra prep.

The complexity of the job will increase the worth. Eradicating popcorn ceilings that include asbestos or lead takes further work — at further price.

The room itself could decide the price. Basement ceilings are inclined to run increased, significantly if they’re uncovered, necessitating portray round beams and ductwork. Portray the trim or crown molding will increase the price.

We’ll dig into a number of price components to raised put together you.

Labor: $15-$60 per hour

Labor prices differ throughout the nation, and never all contractors cost the identical charge. Gregoire considers his firm is on the excessive finish at a charge of $60 per hour, however he lists the detailed means of eradicating popcorn from a ceiling: “Demolition includes scraping, using a utility knife to cut the corners, removing screws, and throwing away the debris.” That requires renting a dumpster. It’s an invasive course of.

If the popcorn doesn’t scrape off properly or evenly, a contractor has to fill. With a plaster ceiling, that may get heavy and presumably lead to falling.

“The most effective way is to remove the studs and install a new ceiling,” Gregoire explains. In New England, that’s almost certainly to be a plaster ceiling (which helps with sound deadening), however in different areas, it’s in all probability going to be drywall.

As soon as the brand new ceiling is up, it would want a skim coat. “That’s the cheapest, fastest option,” Gregoire says. He likes to make use of Gardz by Benjamin Moore as a result of it’s a “problem surface sealer,” he says. This clear sealer prevents delaminating, which moist popcorn tends to do.

As soon as the floor is clean, it’s time to sand and paint.

Ceiling paint: $150-$450 ($20-$100 per gallon)

The typical worth to have the ceiling painted runs from $1 to $3 per sq. foot, supplies included. For a mean 12-foot by 12-foot room ceiling, count on to pay $150 to $450, relying on the standard of the paint.

For a second coat of paint, improve the worth by 50%. Smaller rooms could price extra per sq. foot with a view to cowl the painter’s prices and meet a minimal. A lot of the price covers labor: setup, prep, portray, and cleanup.

For those who’re doing the work your self, count on to pay $20 to $100 per gallon of paint (or as much as $70 per gallon for latex paint). One gallon ought to cowl that 12-foot by 12-foot room.

For those who’re portray over a popcorn ceiling, quite than eradicating it, costs usually run from $1 to $3 per sq. foot. This course of requires extra paint … and rarely leads to a fascinating look. Nonetheless, freshening up a ceiling with a coat of paint can postpone removing of a popcorn ceiling, however painted popcorn is tougher to take away. The additional effort and time could improve the price by 50% or extra.

Texture: $625

Including texture to the ceiling can add price to the invoice. Most individuals pay between $0.80 to $2 per sq. foot further so as to add texture to a ceiling. The extra difficult the feel or design, the extra it would price. Most owners spend someplace between $575 to $675. A knockdown ceiling — a well-liked calmly textured design — runs about $1 to $2 per sq. foot.

Gregoire typically advises his shoppers so as to add texture to their ceilings. Just like the much less fascinating popcorn that was simply eliminated, it might cover flaws.

Particles disposal: $150 to $350

For those who don’t have a number of particles and none of it comprises hazardous supplies, you would possibly be capable of match it into contractor trash luggage and set it out for normal trash assortment. Or, you possibly can pay knowledgeable to haul it away as an alternative, for $150 to $350 — extra if it comprises asbestos or lead paint.

If you find yourself changing structural components of your ceiling, you could want one thing larger. The nationwide common price to hire a 10-yard dumpster is $570, however costs can vary from $250 to $1,049, relying on location. That features supply and removing of the dumpster and its contents.

DIY vs. Professional

It’s at all times tempting to strive to save cash by doing a job your self. And, technically, eradicating a popcorn ceiling shouldn’t be normally tough, nor does it usually require a number of instruments. However simply bear in mind: there could also be a couple of hidden surprises lurking beneath that popcorn.

DIY price: 274 – $1,382

Skilled price: $927 – $3,043

In Stewart’s Texas neighborhood, it might price $5,000 to professionally take away a popcorn ceiling in a 2,500-square-foot dwelling, or you are able to do it your self for about $2,000.

Usually, it usually prices $1 to $2 per sq. foot to take away a popcorn ceiling by your self. Professionals cost between $15 to $50 an hour to do the work. Nonetheless, they supply the supplies they usually do the cleanup.

For those who determine to tackle the duty of eradicating a popcorn ceiling your self, you’ll want the right instruments:

• Scrapers
• Ladder or drywall elevate
• Protecting gear
• Tarps
• Particles disposal

The price of supplies can add $100 to $500 to the whole. The choice is to pay knowledgeable $2 to $6 per sq. foot (for labor and supplies).

Be suggested that in case your ceiling comprises asbestos, the DIY route shouldn’t be suggested. You may need to pay knowledgeable $5 to $20 per sq. foot to take away it, which may add as much as $6,000 in further charges, relying on the scale of the room.

Then you definately’ve received to determine for those who’re going to color the ceiling or rent knowledgeable to finish the work. Both manner, there can be further prices to complete your ceiling.

DIY challenges to count on

Earlier than you arrange your ladder and begin scraping, it’s smart to be ready for what you could encounter within the means of eradicating a popcorn ceiling. “It’s hard to work on ceilings,” Gregoire cautions. Past a stiff neck, you could run into different challenges, equivalent to:

A multitude. Some folks spray the ceiling with water to loosen up the fabric earlier than scraping. This makes the mess even worse. It could additionally trigger issues as a result of the moisture can be absorbed into the ceiling, making it heavy. That would result in cracks. Stewart factors out that in removing, it’s not solely the ground that needs to be lined — it’s the partitions too, to forestall asbestos fibers from clinging to them.

Asbestos. You should buy a equipment to check for asbestos or rent an abatement skilled. Stewart paid $50 to have her ceiling examined for asbestos. In case your ceiling comprises asbestos, you shouldn’t take away the popcorn as a result of the method permits particles to flee into the air. Respiratory within the carcinogens poses a well being danger. Both rent knowledgeable to take away it or go away it.

“Asbestos is a good reason to go over popcorn,” Gregoire says. You may paint over popcorn or cowl it with drywall or different supplies … with combined outcomes.

Lead paint. Houses constructed earlier than 1978 typically have lead paint. If in case you have any suspicions, you will get a take a look at equipment or rent knowledgeable to check for lead. So long as it’s not flaking or chipping off, you possibly can merely paint over current lead paint. Nonetheless, there are protocols to comply with and particular “encapsulant” paints to make use of.

Initiatives to bundle collectively

Due to the extent of the disruption scraping popcorn off the ceiling creates, Stewart says she solely advises sellers to do it if the house is unfurnished.

For those who’re going to the extent of scraping popcorn and creating a large number, you would possibly as properly take into account doing further initiatives on the similar time. In truth, when you take away the popcorn, you could uncover some points together with your ceiling that should be addressed.

“You can change plumbing, electrical, lighting…” Gregoire lists. “Now’s the time to do it, even if you just run pipes and lines for later.”

Maybe you’re undecided a couple of ceiling fan or encompass sound, however you’re contemplating including one or each. Operating the wires for future initiatives whereas your ceiling is already torn up is sweet planning. Pre-wired could be an asset for those who’re promoting your property.

Gregoire says it’s additionally an optimum time for different enhancements, equivalent to including soundboard or insulation earlier than you drywall, or correcting the framing if wanted.

Popcorn ceiling removing: Value the price?

Elimination of a popcorn ceiling could add worth to your home. Popcorn ceilings impart an outdated look. Eradicating them can replace your property and add worth.

If the market is gradual or your property is listed at a better worth level that doesn’t entice a number of patrons, eliminating any wanted updates can reassure a purchaser. “A house shows better if the ceiling has been scraped,” Stewart confirms.

Nonetheless, you’re taking a bet when eradicating them as a result of they could be hiding flaws equivalent to cracks. When you’re conscious of any issues, it’s essential to both disclose them or repair them, in keeping with the American Guild of Appraisers.

As an alternative, examine comparative gross sales and the present market to find out if eradicating popcorn is cost-effective in your market.

Cowl it up

You would possibly save money and time — and mess — by selecting to cowl your popcorn ceiling as an alternative of eradicating it. This avoids issues over asbestos and lead, which makes eradicating popcorn ceilings doubtlessly harmful. “Any underlying issue is a good reason to cover [the ceiling],” Gregoire states.

In truth, you possibly can right or cover different points, like crooked corners, he says. You may add 10-20 years of life with new ceiling, contemporary screws, and trendy finishes. An up to date look may additionally add worth and curiosity to your property.

Choices to conceal the ceiling embrace:

Wood ceiling planks. Tongue-and-groove wood ceiling planks can add a country or elegant look, relying on the model. Costing as little as $1 per sq. foot, they provide an inexpensive alternative of improve. They screw into the ceiling and could be painted or stained. Ceiling planks that resemble wooden could be put in on to joists or an current ceiling. Get the favored shiplap look.

Texture. Flatten blobs of paint with a drywall knife or create “slap brush texture” by making use of texture with a curler earlier than going over it with a coat of paint.

Ceiling tiles. The outdated drop-ceiling constituted of a grid supporting tiles is about as outdated as popcorn, however you possibly can glue or screw particular ceiling tiles onto the ceiling for a textured look.

Tin. Go for a classic look with light-weight tin, aluminum, fake tin, or copper tiles. 2’x4’ fake tin white ceiling tiles price about $2.50 per sq. foot.

Drywall is normally thought of too heavy to cowl a ceiling, however gypsum board paneling is gentle sufficient and supplies the same look to drywall.

Nonetheless you determine to cope with the “fifth wall” of your room, save the popcorn for film night time and hold it off your ceiling.

Header Picture Supply: (ungvar / Unsplash)