The Hidden Downsides Of Covering Up A Popcorn Ceiling Instead Of Removing It

During the second half of the 20^th century, popcorn ceilings were considered mainstays in homes. Not only did these types of textured ceilings offer visual interest, but they were also considered a budget-friendly way for builders to finish ceilings without having to spend more money on plastering. Nowadays though, popcorn ceilings are definitely trending down, and they can seriously date your home. If you're wanting to address the popcorn ceiling problem in your home, there are generally two approaches homeowners take: covering up or removing them. Covering up a popcorn ceiling can be an appealing option, but there are also both short-term and long-term problems to consider.

Popcorn ceilings can be addressed via removal, which can be a time-consuming, messy, and expensive project. Plus, there are a lot of mistakes to consider if you're thinking about removing that popcorn ceiling. Painting is another option that's much more affordable. While a coat of paint won't cover the texture of the popcorn ceiling entirely, it may help to subdue its visual effects. It can also help reduce dust accumulation and discoloration that can often make popcorn ceilings appear dirty. 

However, some homeowners choose to cover up their outdated popcorn ceilings instead. The possibilities for an affordable new ceiling are endless and can include drywall, planks, tiles, and even ceiling wallpaper. Before choosing a ceiling covering, it's important to weigh the downsides of covering your old popcorn ceiling.

Covering up an ugly popcorn ceiling can usually be done over a weekend without much hassle, and there are a number of budget-friendly options to go about doing this as well. However, if the underlying ceiling is already damaged or uneven, these imperfections may show up in whichever form you choose to cover up the popcorn texturing, creating an unattractive finish. This can lead to cracks and subsequent necessary repairs later down the line. In some cases, you could end up spending more money than if you were to remove the popcorn ceiling from the get-go.

Another issue involves aesthetics and dimensions. Popcorn ceilings are notorious for making spaces look smaller due to their texture. However, you could make the room itself could look smaller than before by covering it up — using drywall or a similar materials over the existing material lowers the ceiling slightly to accommodate the material, potentially making the room feel more closed in if it's already a low ceiling.  

Also, if your home was built before 1978, there's the possibility of asbestos to consider. Many popcorn ceilings designed at this time contained this harmful material, which has been linked to asbestosis, pleural disease, and lung cancer. Any possible asbestos in your home should be detected and removed by a professional for the sake of your long-term health. While removing asbestos in your home, like older popcorn ceilings, can be hazardous during the process, covering it can, in theory, help to keep the asbestos fibers in place so it's not released into the air. However, any work you do on the ceiling to cover it could disturb and release the asbestos fibers, so it's best to work with a professional for safe coverage.