HELP! What To Do With Popcorn Ceiling?

[lilly]

My new house was built in 1977.  It has popcorn ceiling all over the house.

I haven't had it tested for asbestos yet, but here are the things I'm undecided on:

1. Should I have it tested for asbestos and then remove the popcorn ceiling and have it skim coated and smoothed out?
2. Or, should I just spray paint a new coat of paint over the old, original popcorn ceilings?

If I spray paint over the existing popcorn ceiling, the paint will be harder to remove in the future (10+ years from now is when I plan to remove the popcorn ceiling if I don't do it now), because the extra layer of spray paint would have hardened and adhered to the ceiling and would be harder to remove.

What do you suggest I do?

[Reporter]

Have it tested. Buildings that were made around that time do have asbestos and CO2.

[lilly]

Have it tested. Buildings that were made around that time do have asbestos and CO2.

Yes, I will have it tested for asbestos.  I was thinking that maybe I could just spray paint over it for now since I don't have a lot of time to get it tested and get the popcorn ceiling removed.  (I am so behind on my move-in date.  The wood floor just finally got done being installed a few days ago.  Took the contractor forever to install the hardwood floor!)  Anyway, I do want to get the popcorn ceiling removed eventually in the future (10+ years from now).  So then I thought that since I'm planning to have it removed in the future anyway that maybe I should just have it removed now.  Ugh.  If only time wasn't of the essence!

[YAX]

Don't eat the popcorn. It's gotta be hella stale since it was from 1977. 

[Reporter]

Where has she asked if it was okay to still eat the popcorn?

uthor=YAX link=topic=398200.msg4951206#msg4951206 date=1563937849]
Don't eat the popcorn. It's gotta be hella stale since it was from 1977.

[Reporter]

I don't like to cover things up with just paint. The problem won't go away just being covered up.

Yes, I will have it tested for asbestos.  I was thinking that maybe I could just spray paint over it for now since I don't have a lot of time to get it tested and get the popcorn ceiling removed.  (I am so behind on my move-in date.  The wood floor just finally got done being installed a few days ago.  Took the contractor forever to install the hardwood floor!)  Anyway, I do want to get the popcorn ceiling removed eventually in the future (10+ years from now).  So then I thought that since I'm planning to have it removed in the future anyway that maybe I should just have it removed now.  Ugh.  If only time wasn't of the essence!

[YAX]

Where has she asked if it was okay to still eat the popcorn?

I'm trying to warn her so she don't have to ask. 

[Reporter]

lol

I'm trying to warn her so she don't have to ask. 

[ProudLao]

I say leave it alone for now. One project at a time lol

[lilly]

I say leave it alone for now. One project at a time lol

I was going to just leave it alone but it's so ugly, lol.  It's getting tested tomorrow for asbestos.  If the results come back positive I plan to just spray a new coat of paint to encapsulate it so I feel better about it, because having it abated would be about 20 grand.  Most houses built before 1980 that have popcorn ceilings most likely have asbestos.  If you don't disturb it you should be fine.
If the test results come back negative, I might remove the ugly popcorn ceiling and smooth it out.

[ProudLao]

The popcorn ceiling was banned in 1977, so you may just luck out. Hope it will be a negative result.

[lilly]

Thank god, the test results came back and I have zero asbestos in my ceilings.  I am so happy and relieved!

I am now looking for a popcorn ceiling removal contractor.  Anyone know any good ones or you've received quotes and are able to share the quotes with me, that'll be great!  Let me know!  Thank you!

[ProudLao]

Good news 

Try online services for home repairs like home advisor.

[lilly]

Good news 

Try online services for home repairs like home advisor.

I had a guy from Home Advisors come quote to scrape off the popcorn, skim coat, and sand and get the ceilings ready for paint.  He quoted $7,000 for the whole house, then went down to $6,000, then went down to $5,500.  I can live with $5,500 but there's too much going on atm and I can't delay moving in anymore so that will have to wait.  I prefer a smooth ceiling to the textured knock down look.

[theking]

I had a guy from Home Advisors come quote to scrape off the popcorn, skim coat, and sand and get the ceilings ready for paint.  He quoted $7,000 for the whole house, then went down to $6,000, then went down to $5,500.  I can live with $5,500 but there's too much going on atm and I can't delay moving in anymore so that will have to wait.  I prefer a smooth ceiling to the textured knock down look.

Doesn't sound like a trusted "Home Adviser" the way he went about quoting??