Asbestos in 'popcorn' ceiling texture

[BigBake]

Some good replies in here and I'm no expert but I'd be prepared to walk and not pay the $1,000 if the seller refuses a home inspection. If your realtor didn't advise to put that in your offer, fire that realtor.

Worse case, you walk, seller keeps the $1,000 and you're not out the extra money paying for the test or remediation of the asbestos. You'd easily blow by $1,000 if it was positive and you had to pay for removal.

Additional - if the seller is refusing to let you get the home inspected I'd walk for sure. That's a huge red flag they are hiding something else and know of additional problems with the house.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Additional - if the seller is refusing to let you get the home inspected I'd walk for sure. That's a huge red flag they are hiding something else and know of additional problems with the house.

That would be my main concern. May be more than meets the eye with this one.

 

[ZB4CY]

We're trying 'asbestos' we can to help you!


Yeah.. I suck.

Good-day.

 

[1100011CS]

The seller is not refusing an inspection. We are having a roofing guy and an electrician inspect it. They are refusing the asbestos test. And no, I will never use this realtor again and will make sure I point everyone else I know away from them.

 

[BigBake]

The seller is not refusing an inspection. We are having a roofing guy and an electrician inspect it. They are refusing the asbestos test. And no, I will never use this realtor again and will make sure I point everyone else I know away from them.

Okay, so that's the difference. You yourself have checked and fear there is possibly asbestos in the ceiling. It's not bad to have a roofer and electrician come check things out but I would suggest a complete home inspection by a qualified pro. If that inspector puts in his report "possible health hazard of asbestos in ceiling due to age (70s) recommend having tested" then you can negotiate the cost of it with the seller.

*Edit - I don't know the exact verbiage that'd be in report but the inspector would list it if he felt it was a risk to your health and safety.

 

[NorthCyd]

Sheetrocking a ceiling is not the easiest and shows the most imperfections, but I do agree there is ways to hide the small imperfections. Owner can also hang the sheetrock and let someone else mud/tape it, there is options.

I sheetrocked our living room ceiling having never done it before. As long as you read up on how to do it and take your time it can turn out fine. We used orange peel texture which doesn't hide much. The joints turned out great and you can't really see them. Bonus, now that I've done it I notice just what a ****** job many contractors do on ceilings.

 

[isu2014]

It's very likely to have asbestos. But I'm dubious about asbestos. It's dangerous with prolonged exposure (think guys who made it or installed it every day). If it were me I'd have no reservations removing it myself (wearing a respirator, of course).

I wouldn't. I know it's probably 99.9% safe, but I've watched a family friend die of mesothelioma. NOT worth even the 0.1% risk, trust me.

 

[dosry5]

The seller is not refusing an inspection. We are having a roofing guy and an electrician inspect it. They are refusing the asbestos test. And no, I will never use this realtor again and will make sure I point everyone else I know away from them.

Be honest, its Charter isn't it? Or do you not want to say over fear of him suing you?

 

[1100011CS]

Be honest, its Charter isn't it? Or do you not want to say over fear of him suing you?

I doubt Charter is big time enough to sell houses in Marshalltown.

 

[MNCYWX]

It's very likely to have asbestos. But I'm dubious about asbestos. It's dangerous with prolonged exposure (think guys who made it or installed it every day). If it were me I'd have no reservations removing it myself (wearing a respirator, of course).

This is my exact stance on it.

 

[oldman]

If you are going directly over the existing, use 1/4" gyp board. Weighs a LOT less, and will still give you the surface you need for taping and finishing.

 

[Bryce7]

That is a new one on me. Just great, another stupid thing to worry about.

If you try to encapsulate it by painting over it, sometimes it comes off in splotches. Then you need to take it all off. I had an older main house where I could paint it. In the "new" addition, liquid paint made it all come off.

 

[SpokaneCY]

It's very likely to have asbestos. But I'm dubious about asbestos. It's dangerous with prolonged exposure (think guys who made it or installed it every day). If it were me I'd have no reservations removing it myself (wearing a respirator, of course).

Asbestos can only kill you if its airborne. In many cases its probably safer to leave it in place but popcorn ceiling is different than tiles or pipe wrap.

 

[BigBake]

Note on covering it with other drywall, it's still there and could cause you issues as the seller when you try and sell your house (or renovate) later on.

 

[CtownCyclone]

The seller is not refusing an inspection. We are having a roofing guy and an electrician inspect it. They are refusing the asbestos test. And no, I will never use this realtor again and will make sure I point everyone else I know away from them.

Does it have aluminum wiring as well?

 

[Cyclonepride]

Note on covering it with other drywall, it's still there and could cause you issues as the seller when you try and sell your house (or renovate) later on.

If you don't test it, you don't have to disclose it.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

If you are going directly over the existing, use 1/4" gyp board. Weighs a LOT less, and will still give you the surface you need for taping and finishing.

The problem with that thin of board is it won't take much time to "wave". If you run your fasteners every 16" o.c., then gravity will take effect in between each of those and it will sag. That is why they use to only use 5/8" on ceilings for it's stability. Now they make strong enough 1/2" so to avoid those problems. A lot of people anymore are putting up car siding or even real wood floor on ceilings. It's sort of a fad, and fairly expensive but if done correctly it looks fantastic. Much easier to install due to weight, no butt joints to tape, no sanding, no texture, no sagging. Good stuff.

 

[Gorm]

The house I bought was built in 1979. So I didn't worry about the asbestos. There was probably a slight chance that some was in there, but being built 2 years after they banned it, I just overdid my breathing protection, and was fine.

As for removing it, I got lucky and the other owners did not paint over it. I just sprayed some water on it, and scraped it off with a 6" scraping knife (Similar to a putty knife). It was super easy. Took me about 4-5 hours per room.

The tougher more annoying part is skimming the ceiling before you apply a top coat. In my case, the walls had a medium / heavier texture on them, which I duplicated after I sanded the ceiling smooth. Then just some BM white paint.

 

[oldman]

The problem with that thin of board is it won't take much time to "wave". If you run your fasteners every 16" o.c., then gravity will take effect in between each of those and it will sag. That is why they use to only use 5/8" on ceilings for it's stability. Now they make strong enough 1/2" so to avoid those problems. A lot of people anymore are putting up car siding or even real wood floor on ceilings. It's sort of a fad, and fairly expensive but if done correctly it looks fantastic. Much easier to install due to weight, no butt joints to tape, no sanding, no texture, no sagging. Good stuff.

I think, being it is already rocked, you could use adhesive as well as fasteners to take care of the sag. Just my opinion.

 

[BigBake]

If you don't test it, you don't have to disclose it.

No, but if an educated buyer or inspector comes along when they go to sell it just became an issue.