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Acoustical Removal and Texture

Bell Acoustical was in the news! Here's the article from the San Diego Union Tribune:

Got cottage cheese?

If you do, it may be time to replace that ceiling

The San Diego Union - Tribune; San Diego, Calif.; Jun 25, 2000; John Morell;

When you walk into your house, do get the feeling you're still living in the 1970s?

If so, look up.

You may have replaced those mirror-tile walls and swag lamps long ago, but what's still tying you to the disco era is that acoustic ceiling.

Also known as "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" ceilings, these sprayed-on textures were a staple of California home building from the 1950s through the mid-1980s. They were called "acoustic" because, theoretically, their rough surface prevents echoes.

While acoustic ceilings may help even out sound created in your house, there was another motive for their installation.

"By spraying an acoustic ceiling rather than applying a smooth ceiling, the builder saved at least $300 to $400 in labor, plus the cost of painting the surface," says Ray McDonald, who runs McDonald Drywall Co. in Del Mar. "When you multiply that by the number of tract homes there are, that's quite a savings for the builder."

Over time, the rough ceiling texture made of plaster, gypsum and crushed Styrofoam began losing some of its "luster" as consumer preference switched to smooth ceilings.

"Most people never thought much of their ceilings," says Gail Bell of Bell Acoustic Removal and Texture in El Cajon. "We even had acoustic ceilings done to our house when it was built. It was just the thing to do."

Today, however, acoustic ceilings are about as popular as Chia Pets, and some contractors are working overtime removing them.

"Spring and summer are when we get the most calls, probably because people are ready to make some changes when the weather gets nicer," says Bell. "We have work crews out there every day on removal jobs."

Robert and Lola Pollack, who recently bought a home in La Mesa, had their acoustic ceiling smoothed out to improve the look of their home.

"We're doing a lot of remodeling and the ceilings are a part of the project," says Lola Pollack. "We wondered if removing the material would affect the sound in the house, but we haven't noticed a difference, even in the rooms with 20-foot ceilings.

How does one actually remove that old cottage cheese texture?

Probably the best way is to look through the phone book and find someone who will do it for you.

"It can be an ugly, messy experience if you don't know what you're doing," says contractor Jim Covey of San Diego. "And it's not the kind of job you want to do if you have a bad neck."

In general, a ceiling removal project starts by laying tarps and plastic sheeting over the room's furniture, carpeting and walls. Then, the acoustic material is loosened with water.

"I'll moisten the ceiling with water from an airless paint sprayer, then scrape it off," says McDonald. "As anyone who's had a roof leak can confirm, once that acoustic surface is wet it comes off fairly easily."

The scraping process generates dust and requires scaffolding for tall ceilings. For this reason, it's often done when the home is unoccupied.

"We're often called in at the close of escrow. The new owners want the ceilings scraped before new carpeting is installed," says McDonald. "It's a lot easier doing the job that way, but it's also possible to do a good job after the home is occupied, you just have to be more careful."

To make it less of a mess, some have come up with their own solutions.

"We use a tool we invented to make the job easier called 'The Scalper,' " says Bell. "It's a long-handled scraper that has a bag attached to it. As the scraper pulls off the ceiling, the material falls right down into the bag, which really helps us save time with the cleanup."

Once that awful popcorn texture is off the job is done, right?

Not exactly.

"The ceiling underneath is usually not finished," says McDonald. "That's why it was covered up with acoustical texture. You'll find blisters, popped nails and other imperfections."

A coat of drywall mud is usually applied to the newly exposed ceiling, then a texture is put on.

"We use a hand-applied skip-trowel texture on the ceilings, which makes it match most drywall walls," says Bell. "It goes on fairly quickly and dries fast."

After the new texture has dried out for a few days, the new ceiling can be painted.

"Although you can paint an acoustic ceiling, it looks funny if you paint it anything other than white," says Bell. "With a smooth ceiling you have more freedom to use whatever colors you'd like."

Expect to pay between $1 and $2 per square foot for removal, retexturing and painting of your ceiling.

"In most cases, the removal and texturing can be done in one day, then the painting is generally followed up a few days later," says Bell.

While it may seem relatively painless to have an acoustic ceiling removed, there is an element of danger involved.

Before 1979, asbestos was commonly added to acoustic ceiling "mud" before it was sprayed on. The material acted as a fire retardant and insulator, but it was banned for use in homes because of the health risks of inhaled asbestos fibers.

"The first thing we ask when someone calls is what year was the home built," says McDonald. "If it was 1979 or earlier, you'll need to have the ceiling tested."

In the testing process, a small piece of the ceiling texture is removed and sent to a lab to check for asbestos. If asbestos is present, the removal process changes dramatically.

"Because asbestos is most dangerous when it's loose, the workers who remove it have to use special equipment and follow OSHA regulations to do the job," says McDonald. "Expect to pay upwards of $6 per square foot to remove an asbestos-contaminated ceiling."

Many homeowners who find that their ceilings are 'contaminated' with asbestos decide to live with it, since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that asbestos fibers aren't harmful unless they've been released into the air.

"One of the approved methods is to apply a 'shell-right' surface that seals the ceiling up," says McDonald. "Or, you can cover the ceiling with thin sheets of drywall to create a new, smooth surface.

Finding a good acoustic ceiling remover isn't unlike finding any other type of contractor.

"Look, of course, for someone who's licensed and insured," says Bell. "References are always helpful. Find out which of your neighbors had their ceilings done and how they liked the job."

Also, if your home was built before 1979, be leery of the contractor who wants to pull the acoustic ceiling down without asbestos testing.

"It's not a good thing to have asbestos floating around your house," says McDonald. "You don't want somebody messing with it in your house if they don't know what they're doing."

The bottom line: Is the mess worth it?

"Once you've had the acoustic material removed," says Pollack, "You know you can't live with it again."

Credit: John Morell is a free-lance writer.
Personal Names:
McDonald, Ray
Bell, Gail
Pollack, Lola

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