When It's Time To Upgrade, Do It The Right Way
Popcorn ceilings were all the rage back in the late 1950s up until the 1970s, but they have since fallen out of fashion. What was stylish decades ago is now considered an eyesore and a major flaw by most homeowners. Having a popcorn ceiling makes a home look outdated, dirty, and smaller than it really is. It’s no wonder most homeowners would like to remove it for good.
However, getting rid of a popcorn ceiling is not something for the average DIY’er. If you’re planning to do it, hire a reputable popcorn ceiling removal service in Alpharetta. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a literally messy situation and instantly regret your decision.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Why You Shouldn’t DIY
Why should you not even consider removing your ugly popcorn ceilings yourself? Here are some compelling reasons why going the DIY route is not a wise move.
It is hard work. Seriously.
With the endless number of DIY tutorials online, you might be tricked into thinking that scraping a popcorn ceiling (also called acoustic ceiling or textured ceiling) is an easy job. It isn’t. It is labor-intensive, time-consuming work that can test your patience to its limits. In fact, this project can quickly become a nightmare if you’re not 100% committed to seeing it through.
To give you a better idea of just how difficult this project is, here is a rundown of the things you need to do if you choose to do it yourself:
- Check for asbestos using a home testing kit.
- Make a detailed plan and prepare all the needed tools and materials.
- Move out the furniture or cover them up with a plastic-lined drop cloth.
- Protect the walls and floor by applying floor shield.
- Spray your ceiling with hot water mixed with a small amount of fabric conditioner to soften it. Tackle small areas at a time.
- Start scraping the wet popcorn.
- Sand off any visible imperfections.
- Repair gouges and sand or touch up whenever necessary.
- Apply two coats of paint.
- Clean dust and debris and put everything back in place.
Considering all the time and work involved with dust flying everywhere, it is easy to see why this is not something for the weak at heart.
It increases your risk of asbestos exposure.
If your popcorn ceiling was applied before the late 1970’s, it may test positive for asbestos. Exposure to asbestos significantly increases a person’s risk of asbestosis (a chronic lung disease characterized by chest tightness or pain, shortness of breath, and persistent dry cough), lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
The health risks involved in a project like this far outweigh the money you might save. Your best option is to leave it to a professional popcorn ceiling removal service in Alpharetta. They can produce better results without putting your health at risk.
Aside from the possible health risks, there are also state and federal laws governing the removal, disposal, and transport of asbestos waste materials. This means that if you suspect that your ceiling contains asbestos, removing it without the help of professionals could be illegal.
There may be surprises hiding underneath.
In an ideal world, you will find a perfectly intact plaster underneath that hideous popcorn ceiling. However, many times what you’ll see is bad drywall and mudding. After all, that’s one of the main functions of popcorn ceilings – to skip finishing and hide imperfections. Are you prepared to correct whatever issues you may find?
If you’re not sure whether you can handle the additional task of prepping and refinishing the ceiling, consider hiring a reliable popcorn ceiling removal services contractor. Professionals will skillfully remove the popcorn texture and leave you with a clean, finished ceiling.
Worried about the cost of hiring a professional popcorn ceiling removal services contractor in Alpharetta? There is no reason why you should be. While it may be a bit more expensive than handling it yourself, the cost is still extremely reasonable.
Getting the pros to do the work is money well spent. It can save you from hours of back-breaking work, eliminate the possibility of contaminating your home with deadly asbestos, and ensure that you get that perfect ceiling you’ve always wanted.
It is also a sound investment since it can improve your home’s aesthetics and increase its resale value. Home buyers today avoid old popcorn ceilings, which you may want to consider before putting your house on the market.
It can be more expensive if you don’t do it right.
Using a simple online video tutorial as a guide may not be enough to prepare you for what you are going to do. Removing a popcorn ceiling may seem simple enough if someone else is doing it but personally taking on such a job is a completely different story.
Moreover, if this is your first attempt taking on a home renovation project of this magnitude, there is a possibility that you’ll make some serious mistakes along the way. Errors can cause even more damage, and fixing it can significantly increase the cost of the project.
Let Four Seasons Remove Your Popcorn Ceilings for You
Removing dated popcorn ceilings is not an easy job, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our dedicated team of popcorn ceiling removal service experts in Alpharetta is committed to providing exceptional work to exceed your expectations and ensure your satisfaction.
At Four Seasons Painting and Home Improvement, we treat each job as our own so you can be sure that your project is completed with the highest standards of quality. We take pride in our work and offer a five-year warranty on all our interior and exterior painting jobs.
Let us help you with your upcoming project. Contact Four Seasons Painting today or call us at (678) 235-9179 to start the process.
