If there is a hole in the popcorn ceiling 1, it can be repaired even though it won’t be easy. However, the trend passed but has recently revived with a new type of popcorn mixture material made with pieces of polystyrene or Styrofoam. … In fact, the first step is to identify what the problem is because if the issue isn’t found and solved, a reoccurrence of the problem is likely to occur. While the answer to this question will mostly depend on your taste, there’s a handful of other factors to consider about each style. Sometimes the best way to deal with ceiling stucco is to de-emphasize it, and smart lighting … When moisture is absorbed in a popcorn ceiling, the texture of the ceiling loosens and eventually comes down. As you can see, smooth ceilings … When choosing a new ceiling for your home, it may be difficult to decide because you want it to compliment both the style and décor of the home. Cost to finish a popcorn or smooth ceiling texture varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours. Smooth ceilings don't collect as much dust as popcorn ceilings because of the flat surface. The maintenance of a popcorn ceiling can be difficult because of the rough texture. A smooth ceiling is better to have in bathrooms and kitchens, since moisture doesn't affect it, and it’s easier to clean. For specialty equipment, which includes renting the compressor, the price is between $30 and $50. If more than one coat is going to be used, it needs to dry overnight between coats. For a for a 250-square foot smooth ceiling, latex-based paint is used with primer 7 and paint in one with a cost of $70 to $190. If you’re selling you’re home a smooth finish is preferred by many buyers, as noted in home improvement articles because buyers typically want a “blank canvas.”. The goal is just to knock off the majority of the material. However, you have to approach the process differently than you would a flat one. It isn’t advisable to paint one thick coat because it could pull away from the ceiling because of the weight. The basic labor charge, which includes ceiling prep up to 4 defects per 100 square foot, two coats of paint, and cutting in at the trim molding, is between $140 and $340. As with textured ceilings, smooth ceilings come with various benefits. Next, the ceiling patch product needs to be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Choosing the Right White: A Guide to Picking the Best White Paint, Removing Lead Paint From Your Home’s Exterior: Why You Should Only Trust a Pro, Plan On Painting Your Deck? Thanks for the great idea! If your home was built before 1980 and has textured ceilings, you may need to contact a professional to test for asbestos and remove any contaminated segments. This is really the biggest downside to smooth ceilings; they just cost more. Although textured ceilings are currently used in many homes, some people might view its appearance as outdated or unappealing. Popcorn ceilings have gone in and out of fashion several times over the last half century, and if the texture was applied prior to 1980, there is a chance that it contains asbestos. Popcorn ceilings … The apartment is from my school and I would probably need to remove the ceiling … Textures that don’t match the original ceiling will be immediately noticeable and may take away from its aesthetic. A smooth ceiling can give a room an elegant appearance and blends seamlessly into the walls. If you’re someone who easily notices imperfections, you’ll likely be significantly bothered by this. In fact, it can be used in rooms where noise is an issue for the homeowner. A popcorn ceiling … In the sections below, we explain the differences between popcorn and smooth-textured ceilings so that you’re better informed to make a decision. It should be noted, though, that dust can sometimes cling to the edges of the ceiling’s textured segments, especially on popcorn textures, so make sure you give it a light dusting every now and again. As with textured ceilings, smooth ceilings come with various benefits. A smooth ceiling is better to have in bathrooms and kitchens, since moisture doesn't affect it, and it’s easier to clean. Cover Popcorn Ceilings If a popcorn ceiling (or stained and damaged drywall or plaster) is making your home look outdated, it’s time to trade that frumpy, bumpy texture for something stylish and inviting. In addition, only one coat should be applied at a time. If the ceiling is rubbed too hard, however, the texture may come loose or crack and fall off. 10% preferred another texture option for their ceiling. Here are some of the most significant: It’s a Modern Look. There are drawbacks to smooth ceilings. © 2021 Fixr, all rights reserved. In a bathroom with a smooth ceiling, paint that is designed to combat moisture can be used. If you’re looking to make your house look as contemporary as possible, this is something to keep in mind. Adding a layer of drywall to mask your popcorn ceiling is an easy way to get a smooth ceiling. Smooth Drywall Popcorn Texture. However, if you’re opposed to the texture look after spending years looking at your popcorn ceiling, then a smooth ceiling … you can never patch a popcorn ceiling … By using Fixr you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. While the ‘popcorn’ style of ceiling texture has been removed and replaced throughout the years by the “orange peel” texture, not everyone is sure if it’s the ideal style for them. Unless you’re skilled with repairing this type of material, you’ll likely need to hire a contractor to do it. Once dry, it must be sanded 3 before a base coat is used to cover the repairs. Additionally, contaminated textured ceilings were still sold after this year. With unpainted texture, the most common approach is to mist it with a spray bottle and scrape off the softened texture. The total cost of the project is between $225 and $545. Feel free to get in touch with us to see how we can help. This type of ceiling isn’t perfect, though, and it comes with its share of drawbacks. Popcorn Ceiling 6: The Morson Collection, original photo on Houzz . Popcorn ceilings are better at noise insulation than smooth ceilings because of the increased surface area. Prices start at $1 per square foot. Since the filler will shrink when it dries, it needs to extend past the area that is damaged. Sand swirl adds a feel of individuality to a room without stealing the show. Then, the last step is to apply the paint color of choice. Popcorn ceilings were popular many years ago, but are now considered out of date. You don’t want to apply too much pressure and damage the ceiling materials. Still have questions about the two? Smooth surfaces allow sound to pass through far more easily than textured surfaces. Even after the ban, some materials with asbestos 9 that remained in stock was allowed to be sold. When a smooth ceiling is applied, there is a lot of prep work beforehand. The 5 Best Deck Colors, Choosing the Right Shade of Blue Paint for Your Home’s Interior, Teens, This One’s for You! While nowhere near as efficient as soundproofing, textured ceilings can help decrease the noise you hear from other rooms (as well as reduce the noise that can be heard from the room with the textured ceiling). Get free advice and estimates from painters in your city. So, it doesn’t take as long to install as a smooth ceiling or require as much material. 6 Accent Wall Mural Ideas to Express Yourself, Tips to Find an Austin Painting Contractor You Can Trust, 7 Reasons to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior in Austin, TX, Exterior Painting 101: Not Just a Simple DIY Project, How to Prepare For a Popcorn Removal Project, How To Prepare For Your Interior Painting Project, Cleaning and Maintaining Your Garage’s Epoxy Floors: Everything You Should Know. It is possible to paint a popcorn or textured ceiling. Extra labor will be required to skim the entire ceiling with drywall mud, and then sand every square inch of ceiling. Plus, the area will need to be sanded 3, wiped with a damp cloth, have a stain blocker applied, and then the entire area needs to dry thoroughly. Popcorn Textured Ceilings vs. If you’re looking to keep your maintenance as infrequent as possible, smooth ceilings are likely the right choice for you. Another point is a smooth surface visually raises the ceiling, which makes the room look larger and airier. In fact, asbestos 9 was used as a binder in popcorn ceilings before it was banned. Here are some of the most significant: Smooth ceilings and walls are all the rage right now, and the best way to achieve a modern look. Here are some of its most outstanding positive aspects: Since a textured ceiling is so ‘busy’ design-wise, it’s harder to notice any scratches, waviness, painting imperfections, etc. When working on your home’s interior design, it can be difficult to decide how you should paint your ceilings. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. When the base coat is dry, the next step is to apply a skim coat, which is a thin coat of plaster 4. It's durable and easily to clean making it a popular texture in rental homes, commercial buildings, and … Removing a popcorn ceiling … If a home was built before 1977 and popcorn ceilings were installed, asbestos may be in the mixture. Fixr's 2020 prices for a popcorn ceiling show a maximum of $440, while prices for a smooth ceiling top out at $545. It’s all a matter of visual preference. The appearance of a popcorn ceiling 1 is irregular and may resemble the texture of popcorn or even cottage cheese. Lighting. Before 1977, asbestos was commonly used in this type of ceiling. This technique provides the best coverage of the ceiling. Plus, drywall 2 screws are used to attach it, which is easy to do. Both textured and smooth ceilings have their own benefits, but they also come with drawbacks. Cleaning one is even easier since there is less texture to trap dust and dirt. Knockdown is a texture that’s fairly similar in style to skip trowel. This means less skimming and less sanding. When moisture is absorbed in a popcorn ceiling, the texture of the ceiling loosens and eventually comes down. Then, the area will need to be scraped where it’s damaged and about an inch beyond. If your texture is thick, use a scraper and run it gently along the ceiling to scrape the texturing off. ‘popcorn’ style of ceiling texture has been removed, Ozone Disinfection & Odor Removal Services in Austin, TX, Leave It to the Pros: 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional to Remove Wallpaper, 10 Drywall Texture Types for Your Texas Home, Texas Living: The Most Popular Ceiling Texture Since 2017, Get Creative! For those who need to reduce noise from either inside or outside the room, this type of ceiling won’t do much for you. This is because the piece that is damaged can be cut out and a new piece of drywall 2 can be fitted to match the damaged area. Since it can be difficult to get a smooth ceiling completely free of imperfections, a flat paint is suggested to help disguise them. Even if popcorn ceiling 1 is a good alternative to replace drywall 2, which is distorted, many homeowners prefer other ceiling textures such as smooth or suspended ceilings. Popcorn Ceilings vs. When scraping popcorn ceilings, you'll want to use a 4-inch utility knife or a drywall knife to chip away at the texture and create a smooth surface. A Guide to Painting Your Bedroom. Then, it is applied to the ceiling to get the texture needed with a hopper gun that’s powered by a compressor. Repairing a damaged untextured ceiling is simpler than trying to match an existing texture. Painting Popcorn Ceilings. Because of the way the paint is applied, it also reflects the natural light more readily on sunny days. Smooth Ceilings: Pros. With the above information about textured ceilings vs smooth in mind, you’ll be well on your way to making the best decision for your home’s appearance. Smooth Ceilings: A Comparison Posted on January 19, 2016 in: Tampa popcorn removal | Jump To Comments The New Year arrived before we knew it, and along with … Look at that ceiling….smooth as a baby’s bottom. The basic labor for a 250-square foot textured ceiling, including the cost of the texture material but with no additional prep work, costs between $215 and $260 for about 3.5 hours. You'll probably need to skim it with a thin layer of joint compound to smooth out imperfections, then sand it smooth … We are asking a few questions so that we can get you better cost estimates. Luckily, though, it won’t take long to decide which one is best for you. Another method is to attach the brush attachment to a vacuum and gently go over the ceiling. I am planning to try this for my apartment. In addition, cobwebs, dirt, and dust can attach themselves to the bumps and crevices making it hard to clean easily. In fact, this ‘’bumpy’’ appearance is ideal for hiding the imperfections of our ceilings because it can cover cracks, leak damage, defects, and even poor drywall 2 workmanship. Sand Swirl. This also means that you’ll pay a contractor less money to complete the job or save extra time if you decide to do it on your own. Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know. The drywall completely covers up the popcorn texture, giving you a fresh start with a smooth finish for your ceiling. This style of … Popcorn ceiling—If you have a heavily textured ceiling and just don’t like the look, you have a few options. Painting a Deck vs Staining a Deck: Which Option Is Best for You? However, if you decide to install it yourself and are working alone, you may need a drywall lift. As previously mentioned, textured ceilings can help mask imperfections. the big advantage of smooth ceilings (other than the aesthetics) is that you can repair the ceiling (ie: cut open to move light fixture, fix plumbing leak, repair hockey stick hole, fix squeaky floor above) and after painting, the repair should be invisible. Next, take the 100 grit sandpaper and use it on the ceiling until the surface is smooth. The difference in the amount of labor and materials required to achieve a smooth finish over a light texture is surprising to many people, and is easily the biggest downside for most. They also reflect sound far more efficiently, making echo and reverb much more apparent. Because a popcorn ceiling has a rough surface, dust will attach itself to the bumps and ridges, which makes keeping it clean difficult. Another point about popcorn ceilings is that they shouldn’t be put up in bathrooms or kitchens. The ceiling needs 1 gallon of paint for a price of $15 to $30. Long-term exposure to asbestos has many detrimental health effects, so it’s vital to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. © Copyright 2016-2020 SurePro Painting | All Rights Reserved. It is a great alternative to a smooth finish because it is subtle but easily hides wall and ceiling imperfections. As such, it doesn’t require a high level of maintenance. For rooms that feel cramped due to small square footage or the presence of furniture, a smooth ceiling can help create more sense of space. The steps appear to be identical between the two types, but you have to take certain precautions that you wouldn’t have to when painting a flat ceiling… And this of course means a higher cost. A coat of paint can do wonders for your walls, so … However, even with a repair job of good quality, the ceiling and repair may never actually match. 5% preferred knockdown/orange peel texture ceilings. If a portion of your ceiling becomes damaged, replacement isn’t as easy as painting over it. Removing popcorn ceiling … Now let me show you how we (and by “we” I mean my husband) got them looking that way… For your shopping convenience, I have included affiliate links in this post. One solution to your popcorn ceiling situation is to cover it with drywall. Depending on the look you want to achieve, popcorn ceilings can either be seen as outdated or well-suited to the interior of your home. However, the surface will need to be cleaned and primed before starting to apply the popcorn texture, which is bought as a dry mix and then mixed with water. But, if you’re using the space as a game room or as a playroom for kids, it’s not impossible for a stray ball or object to scuff or perforate it. In fact, in the late 1970s, popcorn ceilings 1 were very popular because of their ability to hide imperfections and deaden noise. Since a ceiling texture can help hide imperfections, a smooth finish requires a lot more work. Next, a joint compound 8 is applied to smooth over any bumps, and when dry, the area is sanded 3. Heavier textures, especially popcorn … Ceiling painting supplies, which include primers 7, cleanup supplies, masking tape, and paper, cost about $15. Armstrong Ceilings makes a version of ceiling planks that resemble wood that install directly to joists or an existing ceiling, with detailed instructions to cover damaged plaster, drywall, or popcorn ceilings. A smooth ceiling is easier to repair because a damaged piece can be removed. Sometimes the area being re-textured will have to be several times larger than the repair in order to blend the new texture more evenly. Smooth ceilings and walls are all the rage right now, and the best way to achieve a modern look. Of the two ceilings, the textured ceiling is easier to install because there isn’t as much prep work as there would be for a smooth ceiling. As long as the texture isn’t sagging, flaking, or shedding, a popcorn ceiling can simply be painted to update the look. Heavier textures, especially popcorn texture, are outdated and being replaced quickly. The total cost of the project is between $350 and $440. It will require a new texture to try and match the existing texture. Knockdown texture starts by spraying the ceiling… However, they’re often not deal-breakers for those who can’t decide what type of ceiling they want. Textured Ceilings vs Smooth: What’s the Better Option? Depending on what a room with smooth ceilings is being used for, it may never experience imperfections. With a smooth surface, dents and dings don’t have anywhere to hide and are much more obvious. Not sure where to start? Everyone have smooth concrete walls and ceilings back home where I grew up, and I feel like living in a cave with the popcorn ceiling. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about textured ceilings vs smooth. May have asbestos if installed before 1977. When the area is completely dry, it can then be painted to match the rest of the ceiling. In homes built before 1977, popcorn ceiling was installed containing asbestos. In a bathroom with a smooth ceiling, paint that is designed to combat moisture … That said, one great benefit … Materials Needed to smooth Popcorn Ceilings… Since smooth ceilings are completely flat, they create the illusion that the ceiling is higher than it actually is. Whether these are enough of a deterrent is up to you, but they’re worth keeping in mind. Other Options. Keep in mind, though, that while you might save money and work at the outset by choosing a textured ceiling, … If there are any small cracks, holes, or minor damage, then they need to be filled. 0% preferred popcorn texture ceilings . FIXR provides cost guides, comparisons, and term cheatsheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation and repair projects. The fact is, both of these rooms collect a lot of moisture. If you happen to use this room for recording things like voiceover work, you’ll also need a bit more sound treatment to compensate for the increased sound reflections smooth ceilings give off. One way to clean it is to run a feather duster over it removing the dust. 85% preferred smooth ceilings. Popcorn ceilings are easily transformed by paint. For that reason, it’s often best to simply cover over popcorn ceiling … Contrary to what you might expect, a smooth ceiling costs more than a textured one, and that's because a smooth ceiling takes more work. For extra job supplies such as seam 5 tape, topping compound, outside corner beads, and fasteners 6, the price ranges from $90 to $100. on Textured Ceilings vs Smooth: What’s the Better Option? This area needs to dry completely before applying more coats as needed. If there is a chance that asbestos 9 is in your popcorn ceilings, then a licensed professional must remove it. … Holes, or minor damage, then a licensed professional must remove it it isn ’ t easy! Mentioned, textured ceilings can help often not deal-breakers for those who can t... 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