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Having done water damage ceiling repairs on several occasions, I didn’t feel particularly intimidated by the presence of water damage on the popcorn textured ceiling of the living room of our new house.  I expected to just patch the area with joint compound and then apply some spray on texturing to match.

Unfortunately, once I got up to the ceiling I discovered that the bond between the existing material and the underlayment was poor, and it began to flake off beyond where I initially intended to patch.  I got the idea to remove the popcorn material completely, and took a look on the internet to find out how to best do so.

I was shocked to discover that many (some claim most) popcorn texturing materials installed before the ’70′s contain substantial amount of asbestos!  I had the option of having the material tested for asbestos, but, not being a fan of popcorn ceilings to begin with, I chose to leave what remained in place and cover it.

As unpleasant as was my surprise about the asbestos, I was equally pleasantly surprised to discover that ceiling finishes have come a long way since popcorn ceilings and drywall.  I’d been aware of the availability of acoustic tile, but never cared for it.  However, there are now available a wide variety of options for anyone who wants to take ceiling water damage repairs to a new level.

There are available panels made of metal, stamped in a variety of designs, and faux metal panels as well.  At least one company manufactures planks of fiberboard that can be had in a variety of finishes and textures.  It was a whole new world to me.

Photo by thirteenthbatI settled on a plank system that required that I install furring strips around the room.  For this product, furring is required regardless of the soundness of the underlying material.  I also found that the metal and faux metal panels can be glued directly to an existing ceiling, although there is a difference among manufacturers as to the ability to do so over even a sound popcorn finish.

If you find yourself faced with the need to do extensive water damage ceiling repairs, why not take a look at these new products.  They certainly present a new experience of what a ceiling can be, and as far as home renovations go, they are definitely worth a look.