The solution is simple - remove the entire asbestos ceiling. An acoustic asbestos ceiling removal should do the trick.
However, before you jump at the first opportunity to remove that hideous-looking ceiling, note that some older ceilings of houses dating back to circa 1950 and every year before 1970 may contain asbestos, a kind of mineral that has been identified as a contaminant causing cancer and various other lung disorders.
It is literally impossible to try to determine if your ceiling has asbestos just by looking at it. In order to find out if your ceiling indeed contains asbestos, it is important to first perform an asbestos check before deciding on an acoustic asbestos ceiling removal. And even if the asbestos test comes out negative, it never hurts to add extra precaution in acoustic asbestos ceiling removal:
* Wear a respirator. Asbestos is very easily airborne and inhaling the fibers of this mineral could cause it to enter the lungs, causing damage and eventually cancer. * Wear eye protection. Although asbestos diseases are usually caused by inhaling, it is doubtless that the mere exposure (of skin, of eyes) to asbestos fibers can cause some unpleasant effects. Asbestos warts are one example of asbestos-related disease caused by exposure of the skin to the mineral. * Inform everyone in the house that you'll be doing an acoustic asbestos ceiling removal. This is so that they can keep their distance and minimize the risk of exposure to members of your family.
After taking the appropriate safety procedures in acoustic asbestos ceiling removal, it is now time for you to consider the steps of the actual removal process.
How to Remove
An acoustic asbestos ceiling removal is a delicate process. That is why it is usually left to the devices of licensed contractors to properly and safely remove asbestos containing materials from the ceiling. Still, for a successful acoustic asbestos ceiling removal, this involves wetting the ceiling's surface.
You might ask why you have to wet the ceiling first. The reason for this is so that any asbestos fibers contained in the ceiling material do not become airborne and cause a hazard. You cannot see asbestos fibers; they are 1,200 times smaller than human hair, so you won't really know if the fibers are airborne or not. But as a health precaution, wet the ceiling surface before attempting any acoustic asbestos ceiling removal.
Of course, since you will be wetting the surface, your first step therefore is to protect your floors and furniture. Clear the room of furniture and cover the floors and everything else with plastic.
Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling Removal
Acoustic ceiling removal is known by another term which is popcorn ceiling removal. It is necessary for your home to undergo acoustic ceiling removal at times, because you may want to update the style of your home and increase equity if you are able to get rid of the old popcorn ceilings and retexture your ceilings. It also becomes necessary for your home to undergo acoustic ceiling removal because the surface of your popcorn ceiling can attract dust particles. These dust particles will then accumulate so that the health of people breathing your indoor air will be imperiled (particularly if the room occupants are asthmatic or allergic to dust.)
So out with the old , in with the new. But do it right – when trying to remodel your home, start with the roof, and proceed to the ceiling before trying to upgrade other parts that are lower down or nearer eye-level. The process of acoustic ceiling removal is called ceiling scraping.
Before the contractor proceeds to tell you “how we scrape your ceilings”, it is necessary to have him explain first “how we protect your personal belongings and furniture”. This is because there is a right process and a wrong process in trying to undertake ceiling scraping. And the right process means all the personal belongings and furniture of the homeowner has to be removed from the affected room first before ceiling scraping can proceed.
There are also two products that the contractor has to have to conduct ceiling scraping properly – a ceiling texture scraper, and a popcorn ceiling texture removal solution. In addition, you should inform the contractor if your acoustic ceiling was installed before 1979 because popcorn ceilings dating back to those years may have asbestos in them.
When that concern has been gotten out of the way, the ceiling scraping team can proceed to seal off the affected room with plastic sheeting stretching from the crown molding and extending to the floors. It is necessary to provide ventilation to the team with a window fan at the window.
A drop cloth featuring waterproof backing must be laid out over the floor. The team will then start spraying the acoustic ceiling surface with a standard garden sprayer to allow the surface texture to soften and allow ceiling scraping to proceed at a much easier pace. Be careful that the ceiling does not get sprayed with too much water though. The top layer of water allows dust to be contained as well so that it doesn't get in the eyes, nostrils and other body parts of the ceiling scraping team.
The ceiling texture scraper will then be used to remove the wet surface of the acoustic ceiling. You may employ a putty knife instead for the ceiling corners, as well as the crown molding areas. As you can see, it is a relatively easy process though special care must be taken not to damage the underlying wallboards as the team proceeds in this home makeover project.
Both Bobbie Mckee & Jerry Mckinish are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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