Ah, yes. The beloved "Popcorn ceiling" (found in an old home near you). I was disappointed at a young age to discover that the many popcorned ceilings around my neighborhood were NOT, I repeat, NOT, in-fact, made from Popcorn at all!! But, rather, boring old plaster. What a travesty to society!
Since then I have always had a great deal of animosity toward "Popcorn ceilings" of every kind, and now, even more so that I have a home of my own containing the DREADED.... Popcorn Ceiling!!! Dun dun DUN!!!!
Yes, I know, it's only plaster, and a little plaster never hurt anyone, right? WRONG! Not only does my lovely variety of SPARKLY Popcorn Ceiling make me sick just to look at, BUT it also contains 20% asbestos, which will make removal VERY dangerous! Who invented this horrible stuff anyway?
The Husband and I decided to do the Popcorn removal ourselves, although the "specialist" at the County Health Department recommended we have the professionals take care of the dirty work... but we've never been ones to take good advice.
After a little research on the internet, we bought ourselves some masks and went to work. It was an incredibly laborious job, and I will NEVER do it again.
In the end we both looked like Abominable Snow People, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get lung cancer because of all of the asbestos dust which I believe made it's way past my mask and into my lovely pink healthy lungs. Fantastic.
At least, if I DO get mesothelioma, the Husband will probably get it too, so we can die together from our cancer ridden lungs. Romantic, isn't it?
I mean, if you're considering removing your not-quite-edible ceiling , the do it yourself approach is very cost effective, and, personally, I can't think of anything sexier than wearing a HAZMAT suit covered in dried plaster. Honest. BUT, here are 3 rules I would stick by to make the removal process more enjoyable and safe:
1. Invite lots of friends to help and take on the role of "Supervisor"
2. Wear an oxygen mask with tank
and
3. If you must do the back breaking work yourself because you have no friends, and you cannot afford an oxygen mask and tank.... Don't do the removal if you have a sore throat! Your mask will end up smelling like a sore throat, thus making the removal of the popcorn even LESS enjoyable if that is even possible.
Trust me, I'm a professional.
1 comment:
Ooohh, I grew up with these. We always called it the Cottage Cheese Ceiling though,....and MY PARENTS made their children scrape it off! Yeah, they knew what was what,t hey knew were were young with strong lungs and could handle it....
If April and I die together, it won't be half as romantic as lovers....sigh.
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