How to test for asbestos in your popcorn ceiling

[@thebrandman1]

But what do you do if results are positive?

[@how2q]

Depends...a certified contractor will charge you thousands to remove. If this was positive we would leave it...just not worth the money. There are un-certified people that will do it but will not take any of the epa precautions and probably won’t dispose of it properly. Most people in the flipping business go this rout.

[@how2q]

@Callan Jonas glad it worked out!

[@bandita445]

@@how2q But from what I've read, asbestos is dangerous once disturbed, no matter how minor. Isn't it disturbed by this way of testing?

[@how2q]

I am by no means an expert. “Dangerous” aka detrimental to your health. Yes i am disturbing the area but wetting it down and taking appropriate personal protective equipment precautions is definitely a safer way to remove/test. I equate exposure to short term (smoking a few cigarettes to long term…smoking ur entire life). I hope that answers ur question. If you do find your popcorn ceiling does have asbestos have a qualified contractor remove (if u choose to do so). Painted or unpainted popcorn is deemed safe if undisturbed

[@bandita445]

@@how2q Ok, thanks. I thought the danger lingers after the disturbance, not just during the process. I'm going to get some quotes on removal, but from what I've heard, it's about $5K in my area!

[@carolynjass2803]

Thanks. I appreciate that you didn't have a lot of filler but just showed us what we needed to know.

[@how2q]

Haha your welcome...a lot less editing for me and a lot less skipping ahead for you!

[@markswheelsandwings6595]

Peace of mind is PRICELESS !! Thanks for showing how quick and easy this can be.

[@how2q]

Definintely...thanks mark!

[@heyzeuss]

Thank you. Just purchased a home that was built in 1967. Will be doing this day one on possession day.

[@how2q]

Congrats on the new home!

[@intrpolfan1]

Please give an update! Did it have it?

[@how2q]

@intrpolfan1 no it did not. Unfortunately at one point it was painted. Super difficult to remove!

[@FlyingwithBigErn]

Excellent video Q! You made it look very easy. Cheers!

[@how2q]

Editing helps...merry christmas!

[@MariMari-ny6si]

Thank you for your video! I don’t have popcorn ceilings but I have some sort of handcrafted putty designs of roses and paisley on my ceilings. Probably done mid century. I don’t know exactly what this material is. Could this type of artistic ceiling also contain asbestos?

[@Danumals]

Crazy I remember being a kid and flicking off little chunks of popcorn ceilings for fun lol. Whoops.

[@how2q]

Honestly i probably are lead paint chips as a kid when we lived in government housing!

[@DerZeroHero]

@@how2q lead paint? Didn't you have those lead soldiers? They were so common! Kids used to have hundreds of those. I had a friend that would put them in their mouth all the time LOL

[@jhanks2012]

also which provider will allow me to send in an anonymous sample for testing? i have no desire to be forced to provide an address to which they will begin advertising relentlessly for asbestos removal services or otherwise be entered into a database of homes that have had asbestos detected in them

[@hannahkozie7956]

In Phoenix? My family and I live in Globe. Where's the location you took it to? I requested a quote from a company to do it for me and they said it'd cost $370 ☹

[@how2q]

m.emclabs.biz/ This is the place i used off the I-10 in tempe

[@migs6365]

Where can I go for test here in Canada Ontario

[@how2q]

Not familiar w your area…google asbestos testing.

[@cylin5220]

With the scrapping, if it has asbestos, it would be disturbed, right? What should be done to cover the scrapped area in the meantime? Thanks.

[@how2q]

To seal area i recommend latex paint (hence take small sample in inconspicuous area)

[@jmackinjersey1]

If you decide to leave it on the ceiling, you can buy a small can of "spray texture" at HD. Then use a piece of cardboard to practice on and try to find the closest matching spray pattern. Remember though, that you are spraying on a ceiling, so hold the cardboard in the same orientation.

[@how2q]

Great advice…thx!

[@VoiceOfVoiced]

Thanks for this video, very helpful. One question I can't find answer to anywhere, if my ceiling is smooth surface, not "popcorn", and looks like smooth white plastering, could it still also contain asbestos?

[@how2q]

Plaster can just as easily have asbestos as popcorn ceilings. Age of home/plaster would help determine if it contains asbestos. If you are not planning to demo or disturb it will be fine.

[@VoiceOfVoiced]

@@how2q thank you very much for replying. I'm getting an expert to check it soon. Unfortunately I dd already disturb and come into contact with it so I'm a bit concerned. The flat (in Spain) was built around 1920 but could easily have been decorated again in the later 20th century ie during the prime asbestos years!

[@how2q]

@@VoiceOfVoiced just realize LONG TERM exposure is very dangerous. Short term is not ideal but not of too much concern. I equate it to smoking. One cigarette will not kill u.

[@VoiceOfVoiced]

@@how2q ok thank you again. I'll get it checked out but that is already a big reassurance.

[@ninjaydes]

Very interesting. It's like amalgam dental fillings. When set, unlikely to cause any harm. When applied and more importantly removed, then you get mercury safety concerns.

[@nancysexton545]

I have an amalgam filling....crap, now I have something else to worry about besides asbestos...HA!

[@ninjaydes]

@@nancysexton545 As in, you'd rather _not_ listen to a dentist who says you _must remove the filling to replace it with composite material,_ since that is a red flag they care more about profit than the patient's health and safety.

[@jhanks2012]

hello does anybody know if i wear a gasmask with a standard particulate filter, not the cbrn type, does that offer enough protection from asbestos similar to what a p100 mask would? trying to use what i have, if possible

[@jaimeaarroyo-aviles2706]

I live with my grandparents and their home has popcorn ceilings. According to them, house was built in mid 1970's. I've been trying to find an asbestos testing facility here in Puerto Rico in order to send in a sample for testing but I havent been able to. Im getting very worried since I've noticed that the ceiling is starting to fall off and peel off in some areas. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

[@how2q]

Check for ANY testing lab in your area. Next option would be to collect sample like i did in video and send to the US for testing. you can also look into “at-home” test kits which, as you will see, aren’t as reliable but may give you and indication you need further investigation. Good luck

[@jaimeaarroyo-aviles2706]

Thanks for the quick response, Ill get right on that, thank you very much.

[@CrazyAsian1]

The popcorn ceiling was added to my house in 1990. Is it likely for it to contain asbestos. I already purchased a sample kit.

[@nineteenfortyeight]

I think the ban began in 1989

[@arnarfreyr9508]

What if my house was made in 1988 and has a popcorn cealing how can i tell if it has asbestos?

[@how2q]

The best way us to take a sample in a in discreet location. Just wet it down and use something to scrape off a small sample. Bigger cities have places you can have it tested. There are also at home test kits which may not me as accurate but would give you peace of mind

[@desiraeceniceros1468]

Thanks for your help! You made it real easy!

[@how2q]

Great…glad it helped!

[@snailandfox9983]

What if I have popcorn ceiling in just three bedrooms; do I have to take a sample of each room or is enough doing it in just one room?

[@how2q]

You should be good w just one room. Applied probably at same time unless there was a renovation

[@nineteenfortyeight]

1984 vintage?

[@how2q]

Ooh good guess i believe 86-87

[@phyfts]

I have this in my house that was built in mid 90s. Should I be worried?

[@how2q]

No you really shouldn’t. Asbestos in popcorn ceiling is only an issue when you are removing it. It becomes “airborne” when disturbed…only then is it an issue

[@CelestialTrailblazer]

@@how2q My popcorn ceiling in my room is shedding or peeling off due to old age and probably due to any vibration from loud sounds. House is built in 1910. Since I moved in back in 2018 I'm noticing that I have to vacuum my room constantly every week or every 4-5 days. I wonder, if I should move out or stop living in that room forever. What are my options ?

[@how2q]

I would probably move out of that room and just seal it with plastic ( the doorway parentheses). At this point I would have it removed professionally. You could possibly check in with your insurance company. This can get pretty expensive.

[@joshjbeats]

I've had popcorn ceiling in my room for years. Is absestos only dangerous if it's being removed from the ceiling? Otherwise it's safe if I just keep it there and leave it alone?

[@how2q]

Yes don’t touch it. Only when disturbed is it an issue

[@jmackinjersey1]

Depending on when it was installed. If it was sprayed on the house/ceiling after 1980, then you are generally safe, because it was not sold after 1979, and all of the sold product was removed from the markets. Yes, they "may" have been some contractors that continued to use old product, but that was a rarity. If your popcorn ceiling is still holding strong, not peeling/blistering/falling off, then you will be fine, even if it does have asbestos in it.

[@catherinecipriano1707]

I didn’t know this was even a thing and I’ve had ceiling fans put in all rooms and a garage door opener in the garage. All popcorn ceilings and my house was built in 1977. So did I basically just give my son and I a death sentence if our ceilings do have it?

[@how2q]

It is definitely a thing…popcorn ceilings are only an issue when you remove “popcorn” or the ceiling itself. We were removing the popcorn part of the ceiling…when you remove it you just need to protect yourself. As it sits in your house it is totally fine. It is encapsulated and can’t hurt you.

[@elgadgy6508]

😅

[@person5020]

The popcorn cieling in my house is peeling should I be worried

[@how2q]

Ella depends on the age of your home. If it was built in 70's and early 80's I would have it tested. If it comes back positive you definitely need to do something about the issue.

[@person5020]

@@how2q Thanks, it was built in 1999

[@how2q]

1999…you should be fine but always good to test it anyways

[@person5020]

@@how2q ok, thanks

[@mireyahernandez7989]

Hello I’m in the Phoenix area and tested my room of a 1984 also through EMC labs thanks for the recommendation & just removed it last week but now, I was told that the joint compound and tape, sheet rock could have asbestos I am so worried as I did sand after removal !

[@DUCKemz]

Good stuff. Thanks!

[@how2q]

Hope it helps! Thx for watching

[@patrickl8943]

As soon as I see that chartreuse I will assume asbestos is somewhere in the mix, aesthetically speaking

[@how2q]

Haha another key sign of danger or bad taste

[@Proud3579]

🤑🤑🤑