NORTH PINE PAINTING
360-594-2430 (Call or Text)
 Simply the best in painting for Bellingham WA.
  • Home/About Our Company
    • Meet Our Team
  • Contact Us/Request Quote
  • FAQs
  • Residential Painting - Interior & Exterior
  • Exterior Staining
  • Commercial Painting & Wall Covering
  • Wallpaper & Mural Installation
    • Wallpaper on Boats
  • Cabinet & Door Painting
  • Faux Wall Finishes
  • Project Galleries
    • Commercial & Institutional Painting
    • Commercial Wall Covering Projects
    • Deck Refinishing Projects
    • Exterior Staining Projects
    • Mural Projects
    • Residential Exterior Painting
    • Residential Interior Painting
    • Cabinet Projects
    • Residential Wallpaper
    • Tile & Other Projects
  • Other Remodeling Services
    • Deck Refinishing
    • Power Washing
    • Drywall Texturing & Repair
  • Customer Feedback
  • Employment Opportunities
    • Apply for Employment
  • Painting Company Blog

How to tell if your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos...and is it dangerous

3/6/2018

8 Comments

 
Many homes have that old crusty popcorn sprayed ceiling texture.  It was quite popular in the 50s-70s.  We got asked today about how to tell if it has asbestos, so we thought it would be good to address this.
Picture
You can't tell by looking at a popcorn ceiling if it contains asbestos.

Asbestos fibers are very small and cannot be detected by the naked eye.  And unlike lead which can be tested for with a small hand-held kit, there is no easy test for asbestos. A sample must be taken and sent off to a certified asbestos testing lab. If someone tells you (unless they are a testing company) they can come out and look at it and tell you, they aren't being honest.  There are DIY kits on the market, but most likely you'll want your test performed by a licensed asbestos inspector or testing lab.

Asbestos ceiling spray was banned by the US in 1977.

If your ceiling texture was applied prior to 1977, it most likely does contain asbestos, but not all ceiling texture manufacturers used it, so it may not.  The age of the ceiling is not a fool-proof indicator.

If left undisturbed, asbestos is not a health threat.

Unlike lead, mold, and some other toxins, the presence of asbestos is not necessarily a threat to your health.  Asbestos causes lung problems ONLY when the microscopic fibers are inhaled.  Scientifically it's called 'friable.' Those ceiling texture particles must get into the air first and then get breathed in.  Ceiling texture left in place (especially if it's been spray painted over a few times) won't hurt you.  But scraping that ceiling - even to take a sample - can. 

If your ceiling is in good shape and you're fine with the look of the texture, you are probably better off leaving it in place.

Spray your ceiling area down with water before you take a test sample.

Wetting the ceiling down will prevent those fibers from getting into the air and drifting about.  And it's the method we use when we remove popcorn ceiling texture, even if we know it's asbestos free. It keeps the dust to a minimum and it makes it much easier to remove. 

This article contains some very good information on both the presence of asbestos in popcorn ceilings as well as how to handle obtaining a sample for testing.




8 Comments
Silas Knight link
3/28/2019 12:04:44 pm

It's great to know more about asbestos testing. We've got popcorn ceilings, so this is great. I'll be sure to call someone and spray the area with water first, like you said.

Reply
Angela Waterford link
5/29/2019 02:58:23 am

Thank you for pointing out that I can't tell if my popcorn ceiling has asbestos by simply looking at it. I think I will call a residential asbestos testing company to take a look at my house's ceiling because it was built before 1977. Even though asbestos is not a health threat if it's left undisturbed, I'll still have it removed if there are any detected in my home.

Reply
Best Access Doors link
12/22/2021 03:09:45 am

It's not always possible to detect if a popcorn ceiling contains asbestos just by looking at it. Thank you for sharing this helpful and engaging content with us!

Reply
John Carston link
1/13/2022 07:04:45 pm

I'm glad you talked about the dangers of asbestos and the fact that it cannot identify using the eyes. My aunt mentioned to me last night that they are planning to have asbestos testing to make sure that they are safe from its harmful effects and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thank you for the information about the dangers of it and I'll be sure to tell her that consulting a trusted asbestos inspection service can help them with all her inquiries.

Reply
John Schweiss link
1/14/2022 01:43:56 pm

John - we absolutely refer people to licensed testing services. Unlike lead - where you can buy a test kit at a big box store - there are no consumer test kits for asbestos. Some labs will take scraped samples mailed in to them, but we DO NOT recommend this method. Even the act of scraping a small portion can send dust into the air, and it only takes a few fibers to cause problems. One caveat though: some testing companies suggest you soak the area with water and then remove the slurry; this avoids dust in the air. But we still prefer having a professional come out and do it.

Reply
Braden Bills link
5/26/2022 05:49:14 am

I have an old popcorn ceiling, and I want to make sure that it's safe. I didn't know that it could be a threat for asbestos. It would be a good idea for me to get a professional to help me out with this.

Reply
Alison Georgia
9/10/2022 03:29:37 am

Thanks for sharing

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
10/26/2022 02:02:21 pm

Thanks so much for talking about the risk that asbestos poses in your home. My sister and her husband are looking to move into a new house and they want to make sure the house they choose is as safe as possible. They've been looking into hiring an asbestos surveying company to help them determine if the house they want to buy is safe or needs extra work.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2022
    November 2020
    August 2019
    December 2018
    March 2018
    April 2017
    June 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Customer Service
    Deck Care & Finishing
    Home Care And Maintenance
    Painting
    Wall Coverings

    RSS Feed

Pinterest
Be sure to follow us on Pinterest! 
Painting contractor, wallpaper installation, cabinet refinishing, painting and decorating for Bellingham, Whatcom County WA