8 Steps to Test for Asbestos on a Popcorn Ceiling

You need to be able to reach the ceiling and scrape a chunk of it directly into a bag. Make sure you have a step ladder that is tall enough. With most kits, you need to dampen the ceiling material before you can scrape it, so have a spray bottle with water on hand. You also need a tool with a flat blade, like a chisel, utility knife, or screwdriver, as kits usually do not include these tools.

You will be scraping a small piece of the textured ceiling to send to the lab. Read the directions for your test kit to determine the proper size of piece to take. A typical kit wants a sample size roughly equal to a quarter coin in dimensions. The layer of popcorn ceiling texture is usually one-eighth of an inch or less in thickness. 

With a popcorn ceiling, some testing labs want two or three sample pieces from different locations in the room to gain a representative testing result. If you have a couple of areas with loose material or with damage, these may be the best areas to take the sample. Otherwise, try to work in a corner or along a wall away from normal traffic to make it less noticeable.

To prepare the room, follow the specific instructions for your test kit. Typically, you will want to turn off ceiling fans and place a drop cloth underneath the area where you will take the sample. Asbestos is a microscopic fiber that floats in the air when someone disturbs material that contains it. Taking a sample will potentially release some of the fibers into the air, so you will want to take precautions.

Because of the significant dangers of inhaling the microscopic asbestos fibers, you must put on PPE to do this job. These items should include:

• Coveralls with a hood

• A filtered mask that specifically guards against asbestos fibers

• Nitrile gloves

• Eye protection

Have someone put tape around the ends of the gloves and the cuffs of the overalls to seal the overalls fully.

Using your spray bottle, use a misting setting and spray the area where you want to take the sample piece. Spray enough water until you can see moisture soaking into the ceiling.

Using your flat-blade tool, carefully scrape across the dampened area of the layer of the popcorn ceiling. Hold the sample collection bag that was in your kit near the piece you are scraping loose in case it starts to fall. Pull the sample loose and place it into the bag.

If your kit manufacturer wants two or three samples, move to a new location in the room and take some additional samples in the same way. Seal the bag per the directions and complete any paperwork required to mail with the sample or create an online account.

Use the included box or envelope to mail your sample to the laboratory. Most testing kit companies will offer to email or text you with results after a few days.

If the test kit shows that you have a dangerous level of asbestos in the popcorn ceiling, you may want to reach out to a local asbestos testing company to do further testing. 

If you believe the testing kit you used is accurate, then the next logical question will be, “Who do you hire to remove a popcorn ceiling?” You can reach out to a local popcorn ceiling removal company to do the job for you. Make sure the pro understands that your popcorn ceiling tested positive for asbestos.

Although you can learn how to remove a popcorn ceiling yourself, you should not do this as a DIY job when asbestos is present. Asbestos is just too dangerous. In some locations, it is not legal for homeowners to remove materials containing asbestos themselves.

The average asbestos removal cost is about $2,200, while the average popcorn ceiling removal cost is about $1,950, so the two are nearly identical. If you have asbestos in your popcorn ceiling, you can expect to pay closer to the average cost for asbestos removal.