Acoustic ceilings, otherwise known as a "popcorn ceiling" or "cottage cheese ceiling", are ugly! They cause a home to look dated, and may even contain asbestos! Even the most up to date remodels are incomplete with these bumpy and unsightly ceilings. They are known to collect dust and to be difficult to maintain, and in the end, will drive the value of your home down. So, how can you get rid of it? Before removing the material from your ceiling, you will first need to find out if it contains asbestos. Homes built before 1979 primarily used acoustic ceilings containing asbestos. Even some ceilings in homes built in the 1980’s were installed with acoustic ceilings containing asbestos, as manufacturers were able to utilize all existing inventory prior to the 1979 ban. You aren’t required to test for asbestos, but The Environmental Protection Agency does strongly urge testing. The cost of testing is minimal, and you can find a laboratory to send your sample to in the local yellow pages under "Asbestos – Consulting & Testing". Use the steps below to obtain a sample of your ceiling.

* Thoroughly wet three or four small ceiling areas with a mixture of water and a few drops of liquid detergent using a spray bottle.

* Use a putty knife to carefully scrape about one square inch of the material from each of the areas into a sealable plastic bag.

If your results are positive for asbestos, consult a certified asbestos-abatement company for your removal options. If your results are negative, you may proceed with removing the material yourself. The process is hard and messy, but the benefits are worth the work! Follow the steps below to update your home, room by room!

* Remove everything from the room. Hanging fixtures, furniture, everything. Cover any exposed wires with wire nuts and turn off these fixtures at the breaker to avoid an electrical shock.

* Cover the floor and the walls with a lightweight dropcloth, covered with 6 mm plastic sheeting.
* Using a spray bottle, or even a pump garden sprayer, wet the acoustic material with a light water spray. Scrape the popcorn material off with a wide-blade taping knife.

* Once the material is removed, the drywall will still be wet. Let the drywall air-dry overnight. The following day, repair any damages with drywall joint compound, then sand the area.

* Apply texture to match the wall finish.

* Seal the ceiling with drywall primer and then paint with a flat latex.

For other tips on preparing your home for sale, or information on Myrtle Beach Real Estate, please contact me via my website, email at jeff@jeffcasterline.com, or by phone, 843.424.6900.