Have you heard about the popcorn ceiling before?
Well, these are the textured ceilings that were quite common from the 1930s to the 1990s. This is one of the best ceiling types known for many reasons. These ceilings are known for being inexpensive ceiling options as well as for their aesthetic appeal and sound-blocking effect. So, these are some of the common purposes of popcorn ceilings.
The popcorn ceiling has ruled the ceiling industry for many decades. However, over the years, ongoing research on popcorn ceiling components raised many concerns about popcorn ceilings. Asbestos is a popcorn ceiling component that was found to be harmful to human health. Several studies suggested that asbestos is a cancer-causing component that can harm human health.
This raised concerns among the homeowners regarding the safety of popcorn ceilings. People started considering ways to get rid of the popcorn ceiling by removing or masking them. But later asbestos-free popcorn ceilings were introduced that are retaining their prominence to date.
Let’s dive deeper into the details and find out about the merits and demerits of having a popcorn ceiling.
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Benefits of Popcorn Ceilings
If you are also revamping your space and considering getting popcorn ceilings for your house, then it’s important for you to know about their pros and cons. Let’s start with the benefits first.
Soundproofing
This is one of the major reasons why people prefer popcorn ceilings. These ceilings can make a space soundproof due to their sand-dampening properties. So, the places where soundproofing is an essential requirement such as meeting rooms, offices, etc, these ceilings are a perfect choice.
As compared to smooth ceilings, these ceilings have an increased surface area due to their texture. This increased surface area is responsible for the soundproofing effect of the popcorn ceiling. For this very reason, these ceilings are also known as the acoustic ceiling.
Aesthetic Appeal
This is one of the major driving factors behind why people prefer a particular type of ceiling over others. For a better aesthetic appeal, people even consider options like cathedral ceilings, etc despite the fact that these options can be quite costly. However, there are certain ceiling options that let people get their desired aesthetics without spending a lot. Popcorn ceilings are one of these options.
People prefer these ceilings over conventional smooth feeling as they make the space look more visually appealing. So, yes aesthetic appeal is one of the prominent reasons behind the increasing popularity of popcorn ceilings.
Conceals Imperfections
Damaged ceiling surfaces are a common problem many homeowners face. When it comes to hiding these imperfections, there are multiple options people consider. The popcorn ceiling is one of those options.
Due to their textured appearance, popcorn ceilings mask the signs of damage perfectly. Whether it’s damage due to weather conditions or nail damage, popcorn ceilings can be the best option you can go with.
Easy Installation
Ease of installation is one of the important factors people consider when choosing a particular ceiling type. This is because ceilings that are difficult to install come with the risk of improper installation that could harm their functionality as well as additional ceiling costs.
Fortunately, none of these is a problem with the popcorn ceiling. Popcorn ceiling installation is as easy as painting the ceiling surface and then using a brush or tool to create the desired texture. Also, you don’t need labor to install the popcorn ceiling, instead, you can easily do it on your own.
Inexpensive
No one wants to spend a lot of money on a ceiling. This makes homeowners looking for inexpensive alternatives to the expensive ceiling options. This is another reason why popcorn ceilings are popular to this extent. These ceilings are quite inexpensive and serve a lot of functions.
These ceilings are one of the cheapest ceiling options in the market to consider. Not due to their simplicity but their budget friendliness is what makes them desirable. Moreover, you don’t need anyone’s help or you don’t need to pay for ceiling installation as it can be done on your own.
Disadvantages of Popcorn Ceilings
Drawbacks I am sure all these benefits of popcorn ceilings are convincing enough for you to decide if you want to install popcorn ceilings or not. Well, before you proceed further, here are some of the drawbacks of popcorn ceiling installation.
Difficult to Clean
Popcorn ceilings tend to collect more dust due to their textured surface. The texture on the surface of the ceiling provides ridges or areas where dust particles gather. So, popcorn ceilings can be a little harder to clean as compared to smooth ceiling surfaces. Also, this ceiling type is not suitable for places like kitchens and toilets where moisture content is high.
Repair Challenges
Another drawback of the popcorn ceilings is that its repair can be tough. This is because if a part of the popcorn ceiling comes off then it can be difficult to match the exact texture. To match the existing ceiling perfectly, you need to take off the damaged as well as the surrounding part of the ceiling and then apply the new texture. Also, if you just want to paint your popcorn ceiling again, then due to its texture, painting a popcorn ceiling can be a little difficult.
Bottom Line
Popcorn ceilings are one of the favorable ceiling options to consider. No matter if you are revamping your house or building a new one, you can always consider getting the popcorn ceiling. Though the asbestos problem affected the reputation of popcorn ceilings for some time later with the emergence of asbestos-free popcorn ceilings, these ceilings regained their popularity.
However, if you are planning to install popcorn ceilings, then make sure to be informed of their pros and cons. Though the benefits of popcorn ceilings are enough to outweigh their disadvantages, their installation is a matter of personal choice. Also, it is recommended to consult a professional before you make a decision regarding the installation of a popcorn ceiling.
