sheetrock over popcorn ceiling

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Still not an option as you'd have adhesion problems. The popcorn will start to fall off when damp from the mud and they your have a catastrophic problem instead of inconvenience. Ed

[Randd01]

Hey why don't we all go over there this Saturday. We could have it done in a half a day for a few beers and some pizza. :-)

[Walt Conner]

That's right, I thought of that too late to include.

Walt Conner

[Actor 123]

Wow, sounds like a pretty harsh neighborhood. In my area, I'm guessing that 90% of all houses have asbestos in the ceilings. And floors. And lead paint on the walls, all of which are disclosed when selling and none of which appear to impede the sales in any way. But you mentioned asbestos was rare in your neighborhood, which may explain people's inherent aversion to buying a house with it. In my neighborhood, they've got no choice.

It is legal in my state to encapsulate it. The problem I have is that the only way I've heard to encapsulate it is to sheetrock over it, which won't achieve the look I desire (according to the contractor). I'm looking for other ways to do so (that maybe the contractor is unfamiliar with, or at least ways to make sheetrocking work.

People in this group seem to be under the impression that I haven't gotten professional advice. I have. I've met with my contractor and asbestos removal firms. In order to have it legally removed, I must use an asbestos removal firm, who must set up a negative pressure situation in my house for a week while removing the asbestos. The cost is extremely high, and the inconvenience is pretty great (move out for a week, move out all furniture, etc.). I cannot, as some have suggested, simply wet it down and legally remove it. It is not legal to do so in my state. Considering the only reason I want it removed is that I don't like the "look" of popcorn, it simply isn't worth it to me to have it professionally removed. I'd rather just leave it as is than spend $5000 or more just to get my ceiling to look a little bit nicer.

[Actor 123]

Luckily, the popcorn layer isn't all that thick. Maybe 1/4" only. I would think that yes, one could use drywall filler to make it smooth. The problem I would foresee with that is in making it level over the course of the very big room. Popcorn does have one advantage, in that it does tend to hide any imperfections in the ceiling. I'd be worried that making it flat by using filler alone would be next to impossible.

[Charlie Spitzer]

can't you screw 1x2's to the existing studs, and resheetrock as if it were a new ceiling? you'd have to make sure the existing ceiling could hold the weight, but large rooms are made frequently enough that a new ceiling could be possible. it would of course, shorten the height.

regards, charlie cave creek, az

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Right. It is not legal to exceed 65 mph either.

You pose no risk to anyone but yourself in the removal process and the risk is minimal. I'd say that homeowners around the country have been taking it down themselves and either don't know or don't care that it contains asbestos. I never had mine tested, never even thought it would have asbestos, don't know if it did as the house was built in 1978. It has been down for at least 5 years and the first I heard of asbestos was here about a year ago.

Ignorance is bliss?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

It is easy or I would not say it was. My wife did it all. Oh, maybe that's why I though it was easy. ;)

[Walt Conner]

"I've met with my contractor "

Well that was your first mistake, now you are stuck.

"It is easy or I would not say it was. My wife did it all. Oh, maybe that's why I though it was easy. ;)

Way to go.

Walt Conner

[timothybil]

The problem is that most areas that take hazardous waste will only accept it from certified contractors and/or permitted operations. OP says he can not get a permit to do the work himself, and if he did it on the sly, he probably wouldn't be able to get rid of the waste legally. One could always just dump it in the local landfill, but heaven help you if it is discovered that you have done so.

Here are the issues as I see them:

1. You will have to disclose no matter what you do. You know it is there, so you have to tell. If it hasn't been painted yet, at minimum you will probably have to paint to encapsulate before selling.

1. You can not legally DIY. (You are ethical enough that you will not do it on the sly [good for you])

2. You have a valid concern about the finished results if you just add another layer of sheetrock, especially since it doesn't have to be very thick and will thus be more flexible.

1. Since you only have 8' to play with, you are justly concerned about losing any space to strapping, etc. before hanging the sheetrock.

Have you considered a) Just getting a plaster crew in to skimcoat the existing popcorn? That would certainly encapsulate, and a good plaster crew would leave the surface as smooth as a good sheetrock job. b) Go ahead and rock over with thin sheetrock, then have the plasterers do a skim coat before painting to even up any irregularities?

[Walt Conner]

"Have you considered a) Just getting a plaster crew in to skimcoat the existing popcorn?"

This has been covered 2 - 3 times, it will most likely absorb the moisture from the skim coat and come down. There is only paint holding all of this up there. Unfortunately, like many things, the Gov., EPA in particular, has made far too much fuss about this. Illegal Aliens are much more dangerous to all of us than asbestos if any sense at all is used handling it.

Walt Conner

[Jeff Cochran]

Likely due to age and climate. Locally, a 30 year old house is an antique, and the 1950's era that may have asbestos and lead paint are often being torn down for the lots. There's almost no asbestos in residential heating systems here, and asbestos siding is the most common form, and it's also rare. It's also easier to deal with.

Sheetrock is the standard, though locally you have to ensure there is no access from above either. That may be due to the fact that we have

99% single floor homes.

Then you're probably stuck with sheetrock. Or not changing it.

Jeff

[houseslave]

I don't think you'll have a problem with putting up sheetrock. Most new owners don't pull down ceilings. Worst case scenario is that the new homeowner sues you for not disclosing the asbestos and you settle with them for the actual cost. Most homeowners are not going to hire a lawyer and deal with the hassles to collect 5k. They may take you to small claims court but most people don't have the time for it. I don't think it is a problem and I think you're making things better by covering the asbestos with sheetrock. But make your own deciscion.