Getting Rid of That Ugly Ceiling

Many homes built across the nation and in Oklahoma from the 1950’s to 1980’s were finished out with what many people refer to as “popcorn” or “cottage cheese” ceilings. You know what we mean - that extremely ugly texture on your ceiling that gives your home an extremely out-of-date appearance. This is a trend that, while still used some in the 1990’s, has fortunately gone out of style. However, many homeowners are now stuck with ugly ceilings. However, there is hope. You don’t have to move or burn the house down, because popcorn ceilings are removable - for a price.

The process is tedious and messy, but a popcorn ceiling can be removed by wetting the ceiling surface and then simply scraping the texture off with a trowel or putty knife. This process may sound simple, but it will require moving all of the furniture out of the room and putting down tarps to prevent the mess from getting to your carpet. Though it is far from pleasant, it can be done by the average Joe, without hiring a residential construction company.

If your home was built before 1979, it is important to note that it likely contains asbestos fibers. Asbestos usage in popcorn ceilings was banned in the United States under the Clean Air Act of 1978, so it wasn’t used after that point. But for older homes, this can make the removal of that ugly ceiling quite complicated. You may want to at least consult a licensed professional or hire a bonded construction company to ensure that the removal is done correctly, without contaminating your home.

Though it requires a lot of work, getting rid of your ugly popcorn ceiling can greatly improve the resale value of your home. If you hire a contractor or construction company to do the work for you, the process will be pain-free on your part; you just have to put up with the mess in your home for a short time while the job is being done. Getting rid of an ugly textured ceiling is always worth the cost involved, especially if you are looking to sell your home for top dollar. Prospective buyers who enter your home will immediately begin factoring in removal costs if they see that you still have an ugly popcorn ceiling. People simply do not like these ceilings and prefer their ceilings to be the same texture as the walls of the room.