Dallas Popcorn Ceiling Services: Tips and Information About Installation & Removal

Most people in Dallas are familiar with the sight of a popcorn ceiling, which is also known as an acoustic, stipple, or sometimes cottage cheese ceiling because of its resemblance to cottage cheese curds. But not everyone is aware of the benefits and potential drawbacks of having a Dallas popcorn ceiling.

Whether you would like Dallas popcorn ceiling installation for your home or commercial property, or you are ready to say goodbye to your Dallas popcorn ceiling and get it removed, you need the help of a skilled handyman. Both installation and removal can be messy, and application requires a special tool. Removal is time-consuming and requires drywall expertise to finish properly — and there is a potential health risk with older homes that you should know about.

If you are thinking about changing textures, you probably have some questions about Dallas popcorn ceiling installation or removal. This guide is what you need for Dallas handyman advice. Mr. Handyman of Dallas has the information you need to make an informed decision about what you want and need for your home.

Dallas Popcorn Ceiling Installation

When it comes to ceiling treatments, popcorn textures have been a cost-effective, and time-efficient, solution since the 1930s. Hugely popular until around the 1990s, they are still widely used and installed, especially in multi-family buildings and multi-level homes.

To apply popcorn texture, all your furniture needs to be removed from your room or covered in plastic sheeting. Your walls must be covered in plastic sheeting as well — and taped off along the edge of the work surface. That is because the drywall texture sprayer tool commonly used for Dallas popcorn ceiling installation is not perfectly precise, so anything that is not being “popcorned” must be well-covered. Your handyman will then spray on the textured drywall mixture, which is composed of drywall mud and paint with tiny bits of paper product or polystyrene to create a bumpy surface.

What Are the Benefits of a Popcorn Ceiling?

There are two big advantages to popcorn texture:

1. It helps reduce ambient noise in the room

2. It hides drywall imperfections on the surface

This type of texture is often used in residential buildings such as apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, and other types of multi-family dwellings, especially in bedrooms, living rooms, and basements, because of its sound deadening benefits. The stipples, or bumps, on the surface increase the overall surface area, which creates a noise muffling effect. That can be a huge advantage when you share a building with other people who like to walk around at odd hours or crank up the tunes. It is not as common in kitchens and bathrooms because those rooms don’t need to be as quiet, and a smooth surface is easier to clean if it gets splashed by food, soap, or other substances.

The other benefit is appearance-based. Because of the way light plays and bounces across ceilings, imperfections in a smooth surface are very noticeable and stick out like a sore thumb. Popcorn texture eliminates that problem by giving the entire surface a stippled texture and appearance. This is particularly helpful for covering surfaces that have been patched, uneven plaster, or drywall surfaces that do not have a skim coat.

Dallas Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Do you want your popcorn texture removed so you can enjoy the look and style of a smooth surface? No problem. Your handyman can either scrape off the texture and refinish the substrate underneath or install ceiling-grade drywall overtop.

Either way, this is going to be a messy process with a lot of plaster or drywall dust flying around. Just like preparing for application, everything in the room needs to be removed if possible, or covered with plastic sheeting if it can’t easily be moved. We will put down drop cloths or plastic to help make the clean-up process easier — and speaking of that clean-up process, we will make sure to take care of it before we leave, so your home looks just as good or even better than we found it.

Should Dallas Popcorn Ceiling be Scraped or Covered?

That depends on a couple of key factors, such as the age of the application and the condition of the substrate or material underneath. If the material underneath is quite old, or it has suffered problems from water damage or damage caused by light fixtures and ceiling fans, covering it with drywall is a good solution, because the material would need to be replaced anyway. This involves installing drywall panels on top of (or technically under) the textured surface, then finishing them with joint taping, mudding, and sanding. Because imperfections are more visible on ceilings, the drywall is often finished with a skim coat to give it a smoother finish than a typical drywall installation on the wall. It could also be covered with a paneled drop ceiling.

If the material is in relatively good condition, scraping it and then refinishing with a skim coat of drywall compound is an option as well. This choice makes more sense if you are working with low ceilings that can’t afford to be brought down even an inch or two, though it is a time-consuming and very messy project.

Want to know more about drywall finishing and repair? Have you seen the signs that you might need drywall repairs to be completed at the same time as your Dallas popcorn ceiling removal? Check out the top reasons why you need sheetrock repair in Dallas.

Do All Dallas Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos?

No, they don’t, though it is important to be informed about the risk of asbestos exposure if you are working with older ceilings, or any type of older Dallas home that could potentially have hidden asbestos.

Asbestos, which is also known as chrysotile, is a type of highly carcinogenic, naturally occurring mineral that poses a major health hazard if particles are inhaled or ingested. It was used widely in construction throughout much of the 20th century, including in popcorn texture.

While it was partially banned in the late 1970s, manufacturers were still allowed to sell off their existing inventories of asbestos products, which means it was used in residential construction until around the mid-1980s. So, if your texture was installed in the 1980s or earlier, it is possible that it contains asbestos. If it was installed after that time, it probably does not contain asbestos.

How Do I Know If a Textured Surface Has Asbestos?

Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing whether you have asbestos popcorn ceilings just by looking at them. If you are unsure of when the texture was applied and you are concerned that it could pose a risk, it is very important to have a professional carry out asbestos testing before your Dallas popcorn ceiling removal begins. The greatest danger is when the asbestos breaks or crumbles apart and particles become airborne, so do not cut, break, or otherwise disturb a surface that you think may contain asbestos.

Need Help with Your Dallas Popcorn Ceiling Removal or Installation?

Our team has the skill and tools required for proper Dallas popcorn ceiling removal and installation. Whether you are in Dallas or a nearby part of the Metroplex area such as Balch Springs or Las Colinas, you can depend on Mr. Handyman of Dallas for home improvements and repairs that are completed with top-quality workmanship and dedicated customer service.

Pick up the phone today and give us a call to request a service appointment, or to chat with our friendly team and find out more about what we can do to enhance your home and make your life easier!