Popcorn ceilings are common in many homes in the United States. They are a style of dimpled drywall ceiling popular from 1945 to the early 1990s. Popcorn ceilings applied before the 1990s are most likely to contain asbestos. The fire-resistant mineral was popular in building materials until the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos in popcorn ceilings can cause mesothelioma cancer.
Do Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos?
Popcorn ceilings were popular from 1945 to the early 1990s. This textured ceiling covering was useful for acoustic insulation and covering up imperfections. However, popcorn ceiling material often included the mineral asbestos.
During this time, asbestos was commonplace in building materials, including popcorn ceilings. The mineral was often included in construction materials because it is fire-resistant, cheap and strong.
Popcorn ceiling coverings contained anywhere from one to ten percent asbestos.
What Does a Popcorn Ceiling Look Like?
- Visibly pockmarked surface
- Typically white, off-white or beige
- Depth of the “popcorn” effect may vary
How Common Is Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings and other products used throughout the 20th-century commonly contained asbestos. Reports show popcorn ceiling products installed from 1945 until the early 1990s likely contained asbestos.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned hazardous pollutants from ceiling coverings in 1973 with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
However, researchers note popcorn ceiling materials may have still contained asbestos after the ban. Existing inventories of asbestos products were exempt from the ban and workers may have continued to use them. Some reports indicate asbestos may have been present in popcorn ceiling material stockpiles as late as the 1990s.
When Did Companies Stop Using Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?
Asbestos popcorn ceilings were popular between 1945 and the 1990s. Asbestos was officially banned from ceiling coverings in 1973. However, previously manufactured asbestos-containing products may have been installed in homes into the 1990s.
Individuals who own homes built before the 1990s should assume asbestos is present in all popcorn ceilings. Materials installed after 1995 likely did not contain asbestos.
Other names for popcorn ceiling products include:
- Acoustic ceiling
- Blown-on ceiling
- Cottage-cheese ceiling
- Spray-on ceiling
- Stipple ceiling
- Stucco ceiling
- Textured ceiling
If these ceilings were not replaced, homes and other buildings may still contain asbestos.