Is Painting Your Popcorn Ceiling a Good Idea?

Painting popcorn ceilings isn’t the easiest thing in the world compared with flat paints. While the textured style of cottage cheese ceiling may seem attractive and impressive to some, painting it is a different challenge altogether. The edges often are so brittle that even a soft pressure can make them break. Also, popcorn ceilings mostly contain asbestos, which can prove to be unhealthy for the inhabitants. This article will tell you if it is safe to paint popcorn ceilings along with other important factors that you should keep in mind. 

Is Painting Your Popcorn Ceiling a Good Idea?

Painting popcorn ceilings isn’t the easiest task compared to flat ceilings. While the textured style of a “cottage cheese” ceiling may seem attractive to some, painting it presents unique challenges. The edges are often brittle, and even soft pressure can cause them to break. Additionally, older popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos, posing health risks like lung cancer if disturbed. This article will guide you through the considerations and best practices for painting popcorn ceilings, including important factors to keep in mind.

Is it worth painting your popcorn ceiling?

This depends of several factors that include: condition, age of ceiling, costs, labor and effort, risks, etc. Painting a popcorn ceiling can be worth it if you’re looking for an affordable and relatively simple way to freshen up a room’s appearance. It’s particularly suitable when the ceiling is in good condition and there are no major structural issues. However, if you’re aiming for a completely smooth finish or if there are underlying problems, you might need to consider more extensive options. Evaluate your specific situation, budget, and aesthetic goals to make the best decision.

Popcorn ceilings vs flat paints

Well, flat ceilings are ideal for those seeking a smooth, matte finish that hides imperfections well but may require more maintenance due to their susceptibility to marks and stains.

In contrast, popcorn ceilings effectively cover ceiling texture flaws and improve sound absorption though they come with challenges in cleaning, maintenance, and potential health risks due to asbestos in older applications.

What happens when you paint a popcorn ceiling?

Painting a popcorn ceiling can significantly improve its appearance and seal in harmful materials like asbestos. However, it comes with challenges such as potential texture damage, higher paint usage, and difficulty in cleaning and maintenance. To ensure a successful outcome, follow proper preparation steps, use the right tools, and address underlying issues first. Protect the room with plastic sheeting and use painter’s tape where the ceiling meets the wall. A paint sprayer is often the best tool for even coverage.

How much percent of asbestos is harmful?

A popcorn ceiling can contain anywhere between 1 to 10 percent asbestos. However, the important thing to note is that any percentage of asbestos is harmful to you and your family. Disturbing the texture releases dust particles containing asbestos, which can be extremely toxic and increase the risk of lung cancer. You may want to test your ceiling for asbestos before deciding to paint it.

Here’s how to test for popcorn ceiling asbestos.

Tips for living under popcorn ceiling that may have asbestos

If you decide to live under a popcorn ceiling, try following the below-mentioned tips:

• Keep the ceiling undisturbed
• Avoid high shelves that may touch the ceiling
• Never scrape the ceiling while moving long objects
• Keep children from throwing things upward
• Avoid bunked beds
• Peeling and aging ceiling needs to be removed

Check out precautions to take for popcorn ceilings for more tips.

How to paint a popcorn ceiling?

You may want to use a spray painter for this job. Using brushes and rollers on a popcorn ceiling may make the edges crumble. However, before you can paint, you will need to clean and primer the surface. Remove or cover all furniture with plastic sheeting. Once it is ready, try priming it with an oil-based primer. Use acrylic latex paint to spray paint the primed surface. When painting a popcorn ceiling with a sprayer, use a coat of paint. A good tip size is either 517 or 617 works well covering 400 to 500 square feet quickly. The former produces a 10-inch fan, while the latter produces a 12-inch fan. Both tips throw out enough paint to cover your ceiling in almost no time. To finish touchers, use painter’s tape around light fixtures and where the ceiling meets the wall for clean edges.

Your interior painting cost calculator is important. Get the best estimate with us.

Photo by Freepik CC0

Can you remove a popcorn ceiling?

Well, yes you can remove a popcorn ceiling. However, the safest way to do this is by hiring a professional. Please remember that an asbestos popcorn ceiling can be extremely dangerous and toxic if not handled properly. Some of the things that you will need to remember while removing a popcorn ceiling are being listed below.

• Remove all furniture from the room or cover them with a plastic sheeting
• Switch the heater or air conditioners off
• Seal all doors and windows with plastic flaps
• Keep children and pets away from the room
• Use an air purifier during the entire process
• Use disposable coverall to protect your skin
• Keep the ceiling wet to stop the dust from floating in the air
• Keep the waste in a sealed bag
• Book in advance a trash pickup service that accepts asbestos

If you want to remove your popcorn ceiling, check out our handy step-by-step guide for removing popcorn ceilings.

So, what do you think? Is the textured ceiling a worth option? It may be cheaper to paint your popcorn ceiling instead of removing it. Just be sure to keep the possible health hazards in mind. If you are looking to get rid of a textured ceiling, you may want to check the estimated popcorn ceiling removal cost to weigh the costs and make the right decision. 

Thinking about interior paint? Find the best cost with our estimator tool.

Bottom line

Painting your popcorn ceiling can be a cost-effective way to refresh your living space, especially if it’s in good condition. Proper preparation and using the right tools, such as a paint sprayer, can help hide imperfections and ensure a smooth coat of paint. However, be cautious of potential asbestos hazards, which can lead to serious health issues like lung cancer. Evaluate your ceiling’s condition and consider both safety and aesthetic factors to make the best decision. If you’re unsure, consulting a professional can help you weigh the costs and options effectively.

Read more: Important Reasons to Hire Painting Contractors

Written by Billy Guteng. March 31, 2020

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.