Many homeowners in Billings look at bumpy ceilings while sitting on the couch and want to know how to get rid of popcorn texture. Billings Drywall Company receives calls all the time from homeowners around the Heights and the West End asking what it takes to remove popcorn texture. This FAQ answers the questions people ask every week about Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Billings, MT.
Does popcorn ceiling texture always mean asbestos?
Popcorn Ceiling Texture does not always mean asbestos, but if your home in Billings was built before the late 1970s or early 1980s, there is a very real chance it contains asbestos. Manufacturers used asbestos fibers in textured coatings for fire retardant properties and durability until the EPA banned it. You cannot tell just by looking at Popcorn Ceiling Texture. If your house was built during that era, Billings Drywall Company recommends getting a simple lab test done before anyone starts scraping. The test costs around fifty bucks, and it keeps everyone safe.
How much of a mess does removal actually make?
Popcorn Ceiling Removal is messy, plain and simple. Scraping dry or wet texture creates a massive amount of dust and debris that gets everywhere if the room is not sealed off properly. When Billings Drywall Company tackles Popcorn Ceiling Removal jobs, our team tapes heavy plastic sheeting from the ceiling to the floor, seals off the HVAC vents, and covers every inch of your flooring. If a contractor tells you Popcorn Ceiling Removal is a clean, dust-free process, they are either lying or cutting corners on cleanup.
Can I just scrape it myself over a weekend?
Homeowners definitely can scrape a ceiling themselves, but you will probably regret it halfway through Saturday afternoon. Homeowners often underestimate how exhausting it is to hold a scraper above your head for hours on end. Plus, if the original drywall was not painted before the texture was sprayed on, the moisture will soak right into the paper face of the sheetrock, gouging the board and requiring a ton of skim coating and sanding to fix. What starts as a DIY weekend project often turns into a miserable mess that ends up costing more to fix than if you had just called Billings Drywall Company for Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Billings.
What goes on the ceiling after the popcorn is gone?
Once the old Popcorn Ceiling Texture is down and any gouges are patched, you are left with bare drywall that usually needs a new finish. Most folks around Billings choose a smooth finish because it instantly modernizes a 1970s ranch style home. Others prefer a very light knockdown texture or a subtle orange peel to help hide minor imperfections in older framing. It all depends on the look you want and how flat the underlying drywall sits.
How long does the whole process take?
For an average-sized living room or main floor, Billings Drywall Company can usually scrape, patch, skim coat, and prime a ceiling in about two to three days. The biggest time consumer is not actually the scraping; it is the drying time for joint compound and primer. If our team has to do multiple rounds of skim coating to get that surface perfectly flat, we have to let each layer dry completely before sanding.
Will I need to move out while you work?
No, you do not need to move out, but you do need to plan on staying out of the specific rooms we are working in. Billings Drywall Company usually tackles houses section by section so you still have access to your kitchen and bedroom at night. Furniture in the active rooms needs to be moved out entirely, or at least pushed to the center and covered securely. For homes and businesses in Billings, Billings Drywall Company provides Popcorn Ceiling Removal services.