COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING ACOUSTIC CEILING REMOVAL

THE GENERAL PROCESS OF ACOUSTIC CEILING REMOVAL~While jobs to vary, here are the basics. We cover everything with plastic leaving only the ceiling exposed. Light fixtures, smoke detectors, ceiling fan bell housings and the like, will be dropped down or removed. Any remaining fixtures will be masked off. We then wet the ceiling and use drywall knives to scrape off the acoustic. Keep in mind some of this material may contain materials to be harmful if inhaled without proper protection. The liquid must be used in order to control the dust an to keep the drywall from being damaged by the scraping process. We then repair any damaged sheetrock, and recoat the tape joints and nail spots where needed.  Much prep work needs to be done, very time consuming.
Once dry, your ceiling will be retextured in the style of your choice. The new texture will need to dry for a minimum of 24 hours. Weather and temperature can affect the dry time. Keep the AC or Heating OFF during this process so the dust doesn't move around the home further. We also ask that you keep a few windows just slightly open throughout your home for good ventilation. These precautions are to insure good adhesion of the new texture to the sheetrock.  Painting Your Ceiling~If 1stAffordableContractor.com isn't painting your ceiling, be sure follow the instructions given after texture application. You can paint your new ceilings within 1-2 days, once the texture has completely dried. If painted when wet, your texture may crack, pop off, become blotchy or streaky looking. Your ceiling may need to be lightly gone over with a taping knife to remove any burrs and possibly sanded with drywall sanding screens to achieve the look you want. We Strongly suggest that a primer coat in addition to 1-2 coats of good quality paint should be used in order to finish it off. The primer is very important. Paint will soak into the new texture at a different rate than the sheetrock and the joint compound, and without primer, your ceiling may look streaky and uneven. This is dependent upon several factors, such as the color of the sheetrock paper, brand of paint used and application method. Dont be cheap on the primer, you may pay later.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REMOVE THE POPCORN CEILING STUFF?
It depends on the size of your home. Usually it takes ONE - TWO full days. Larger homes may take longer. We can also do the removal room by room, or split it into 2 different days. Whatever is more convenient for you and your family. Priming and painting your ceilings will be done the day following the texture application providing everything is completely dry. Painting will take additional time.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Several factors can effect the bid you receive for your particular home. Also, the price for the re-texture varies depending on the style you choose. Factors that can effect price are: whether or not it's furnished, high ceilings, woodwork/paneling, wallpapered walls, visible patches, obvious defects in the drywall, difficulty in removing the existing texture, etc....

WHY DID THEY PUT THAT ACOUSTIC CEILING STUFF ON THE CEILING IN THE FIRST PLACE?
More than likely It was cheaper for the builder. Acoustic texture really hides a lot of imperfections, so less coats are necessary when finishing the sheetrock joints. A few decades ago, it was in style. Some people still prefer the look of their acoustic ceilings. Not many though

WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY ACOUSTIC CEILING RETEXTURED?
Its entirely up to you and your family's preferences. We prefer spraying a really light texture on the newly stripped ceiling, this allows for the hiding of blemishes in the ceilings and is not vary apparent to the eyes. As you have already experienced, the OLD style acoustic ceiling is very difficult to clean...spider webs stick to it like crazy. Vibrations in the environment, such as large trucks and equipment, winds, doors slamming, etc, can cause kernels of acoustic to drop from the ceiling, leaving delightful white specks everywhere. Acoustic is outdated. Removing acoustic will also bring your home up in value for resale and give it a more modern look. Difficult to clean, acoustic ceilings attract dirt, cobwebs and strong odors like cigarette smoke. Allergy sufferers find that removing the acoustic often lessens their symptoms.

STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE WE ARRIVE
Before We Arrive~ Have all fragile items removed from the room(s), such as vases, tabletop framed photos, anything breakable that could be knocked over. Please remove all items from mantels, top shelves, table tops, etc. We will take care of moving large items around where we need them, such as sofas and tables. Keep in mind that you and your family will not have access to the work area during the process, so make any arrangements necessary for your convenience (toilet, necessary belongings, telephone, etc.) We HIGHLY recommend you make arrangements to leave the home during the work if your entire home is being done. The reason for this is the severe dust this process creates and the odor of the material. Especially for those who are highly sensitive to dust and have asthma or use inhalers.

In some cases, you may want to spend the night somewhere other than your home, especially if little children are present.