Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Benefits of Removing Popcorn and Stipple Ceiling

Oct 28, 2021

Find out why removing stipple ceiling from your home is one of the easiest decisions you can make today.

removing stipple ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are a thing of the past. Although they used to carry a decent amount of benefit from a cost and ease perspective, now it is generally much better to have your popcorn ceiling removed. Some of the benefits of removing stipple ceiling include increased property and rent value, a more modern look, more design options, and cleanliness. We’re going to go a little deeper to explain why removing the popcorn ceiling is a good idea. 


Creates a More Modern Look


Stipple ceilings, which are also known as popcorn ceiling, stucco ceiling, and acoustic ceilings, were popular between the 1930s and the 1980s. They offered an inexpensive and easy way for homeowners to cover the drywall or plaster of the ceiling.


However, the look has dated quite a bit, and it is generally much more preferable to have a smooth ceiling design. With the proficiency of pot lights, drop ceilings, and light fixtures, smooth ceilings are a lot easier to work with from a design perspective, and work much better with pretty much anything you want to do in the interior of your home. 


Increases Your Home’s Property Value


With your house being one of the most important assets in your portfolio, increasing the value of your home is something you can do proactively. While updating the entire house, or a room can be a good way to increase value, sometimes it can be as simple as removing stipple ceiling and creating that smooth finish that everyone is interested in. 


New home buyers who are looking for a move-in ready home do not want to have to deal with a popcorn ceiling that dates a home and is more difficult to clean. By removing the stipple, you’re already making your home more attractive to prospective buyers. 


Stipple is Harder To Clean


Given its textured nature, stipple ceilings are harder to clean, and they attract dust and cobwebs a lot more than smooth ceilings. Additionally, the little kernels will sometimes fall from the ceiling creating unwanted extra dust in the house. If something hits the stipple, it is almost certain that you will end up with a small pile of popcorn ceiling on the ground or table. 


It May Be Hazardous to Health


Before we realized that it is a widespread health concern, asbestos was often used as a binding agent in stipple ceilings. Asbestos is known to be a cause of some types of cancers, and we obviously don’t want that anywhere near our families. 

By removing popcorn ceiling with asbestos in it, you are removing the hazards of you and your loved ones potentially breathing in the chemicals that are not so health focused.


Note** Stipple Ceiling Removal Ottawa currently does not work with asbestos popcorn ceiling. 


Get A Free Quote


If you want to have a free quote to have your popcorn ceiling removed in Ottawa, then give us a call and we’ll be happy to give you all of the information you need and provide a range of options. 


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Over the course of the 1900’s, materials used to build and decorate homes have changed quite a bit. A huge trend between the 1930’s and the 1980s was to install stipple ceilings throughout the home. Stipple ceiling is also known as popcorn ceiling, stucco ceiling, and even cottage cheese ceilings. Now, homeowners are electing to go with a smoothed out look in general. So, why did builders use stipple ceilings for so long? Here, we go a little deeper into that question. Why Homes Were Made With Stipple Ceilings Textured ceilings provided home owners and builders the opportunity to coat ceilings without the need to do extensive preparation and painting jobs. Because the popcorn style covering was installed using a spray-on application, there was no need to fix imperfections in the surface of the ceiling. It would save time for builders, and honestly, it was fairly mainstay in the construction community. Cutting down on the time needed to prep a ceiling would save builders their labour, and would save homeowners a little bit of money for that labour too. It was essentially a win-win in those times. Stipple ceilings are also good for sound reduction throughout the house. Because of the textured surface, sound doesn’t bounce the same way it does on a completed flat surface. The sound waves sort of dissipate after hitting the textured surface. This was especially helpful for the large style of homes that were prevalent in the mid 1900s. Why Did Builders Stop Using Stippled Ceilings? We found out, around the year 1978, that the material used to create the stipple ceilings often contain asbestos as one of the binding agents. Once it was realized that asbestos was a harmful chemical and caused certain types of cancers, it was banned first in the U.S, then in Canada. Now, if your home has asbestos in it, there is usually a fairly extensive removal process that is important for protecting you and your loved ones. Popcorn ceilings still exist with different materials, however. Once asbestos was banned, styrofoam took centre stage as the material that was best suited for textured ceilings. It was safe, relatively inexpensive, and did the job quite well. Why are Homeowners Removing Popcorn Ceilings? Popcorn ceilings, along with being potentially hazardous to people’s health if they contain asbestos, do not have the modern look that a lot of buyers and builders are looking for in the modern days. Simply by removing popcorn ceilings, you have a lot more options in terms of ceiling design, and possible buyer prospects. In another article we are covering the main benefits of removing popcorn ceilings. But in short, removing stipple from your home can add property value, and makes your home much more attractive to home buyers currently. Why Do Some Homes Still Have Popcorn Ceilings? A lot of homes that were built in the mid 1900s employ designs and layouts that speak to that time period. While removing popcorn ceiling can drastically modernize a home, keeping the textured ceiling may fit in quite well with the style of the home. Also, many homeowners are still happy with the look of the stipple ceiling and don’t see much of a reason to change it. While we are advocates for removing stipple, it can be beneficial to keep them around if you’re not planning to sell, since the texture hides imperfections, and it also acts as an acoustic sound muffler throughout the home.

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