The Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Popcorn Ceilings

Submitted By: E. Johnston
Popcorn ceilings were very popular in the 1950's all the way through the early part of the 1980's. It was a trendy fashion with interior design during this time and many people opted to have popcorn ceiling installed throughout their homes. Besides the fact that they were popular at the time, they also absorbed noise well and could hide ceiling imperfections. However, keeping the ceiling clean was a major drawback because it did not have a smooth surface.

Popcorn Ceilings and Asbestos
Many popcorn ceilings were installed using asbestos fibers. Asbestos was actually considered a very good building material because of its flame resistant properties.

The greatest danger of asbestos exposure occurs when the asbestos-containing material is disturbed. For this reason, those homes and apartment buildings that had the asbestos popcorn ceilings installed may need to face a removal process; however the tenants cannot live in the home during this removal process.

Unsuspecting Homeowners
It was unknown for many years that the presence of asbestos can cause individuals many health problems after exposure, including mesothelioma cancer and breathing conditions. As the popcorn ceiling trend ended, many homeowners opted to remove the popcorn ceilings. Because they were unaware of the harmful effects of asbestos, most homeowners who removed the popcorn ceiling wore no protective covering during the process. As a result the asbestos dust released during removal circulated within the home and was present for everyone in the household to inhale.

Many people who had no idea that their popcorn ceilings were made with asbestos or knew about the dangers associated with this material, filed lawsuits because they had been exposed to a potentially hazardous substance while replacing their ceilings.

Does Your Popcorn Ceiling Contain Asbestos?
If your popcorn ceiling was installed between the 1950's and the 1980's, it may contain asbestos. The only way to know is to have a certified specialist come into your home and test the ceiling for the presence of asbestos.

If your popcorn ceiling does contain asbestos, you can choose to have it removed, but should not attempt this process yourself because, as it is removed, the asbestos is disturbed and becomes toxic. Normally, professionals will completely seal off one room and remove all the asbestos-contaminated ceilings before moving on to the next room in order to control the disturbed asbestos. It is a lengthy process to have asbestos removed, but well worth the investment to have it done properly by a professional.

Final Thoughts
If you have replaced your own popcorn ceiling and have no way of knowing whether it contained asbestos, you should be checked regularly for the various conditions associated with exposure to asbestos. The effects of asbestos exposure may not become a health concern for you until years after initially inhaling the asbestos.

If you removed a popcorn ceiling that was installed between the 1950's and 1980's, you may want to contact a law firm to learn more about your options because you may have exposed yourself and your family to deadly toxins.