Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Wollongong
Licensed, careful work with one fixed written price.
Reply within 30 minutes.
The short answer
Textured popcorn ceilings need a lab test before anyone scrapes them.
If the coating contains asbestos and crumbles, it is treated as friable,
which homeowners must never remove.
Popcorn ceilings are quoted on site after testing, inc GST.
About popcorn ceiling removal in Wollongong
The bumpy white ceiling coating found in some older homes and units was
sprayed on. Many have no asbestos at all.
Some do, and in a soft crumbly coating that matters a lot.
Do not scrape, sand or wet-scrape it to see what is underneath.
Get one small sample tested first.
It is the cheapest decision you will make on the whole reno.
Two kinds of asbestos, two licence classes
Bonded
- What it looks like
- Firm cement sheet, set hard
- Licence class
- Class A or Class B
- Can a homeowner remove it?
- Up to 10 m² in total for the job, though a licensed removalist is recommended for any amount
- Clearance by
- After Class B work: independent competent person or licensed assessor. After Class A work: independent licensed assessor, with air monitoring.
Friable
- What it looks like
- Crumbles, powders or flakes by hand
- Licence class
- Class A only
- Can a homeowner remove it?
- Never
- Clearance by
- Independent licensed assessor, with air monitoring
How we do popcorn ceilings work
1.
Test first
One careful sample from each different coating.
2.
Plan by result
If clear, you carry on. If positive, the room is set up for friable work.
3.
Enclosed removal
The room is fully enclosed and the coating removed wet.
4.
Air monitoring
A licensed assessor clears the room with air monitoring.
The asbestos rules in NSW
Which licence the job needs
Asbestos comes in two forms. Bonded material is set firmly in cement sheeting.
Friable material crumbles by hand.
A Class A licence covers friable and bonded asbestos.
A Class B licence covers bonded only.
The 10 m² limit
Without a licence,
a person can remove 10 m² or less of bonded asbestos in total for the job.
SafeWork NSW recommends a licensed removalist for any amount,
and homeowners must never remove friable asbestos.
Five days notice to SafeWork NSW
Licensed removalists notify SafeWork NSW 5 calendar days before removing more
than 10 m² of bonded asbestos or any friable asbestos.
Clearance before you move back in
After Class A work,
an independent licensed asbestos assessor does the clearance and air
monitoring is required. After Class B work,
an independent competent person or licensed assessor does it.
The area is cleared before it is used again.
What moves the price
Show the 4 price factors
- Lab result
- Room area and height
- Full enclosure setup
- Air monitoring and licensed clearance
How asbestos removal works
1.Quick chat
Tell us what you have found and where.
We ask a few plain questions and tell you straight away whether it can wait.
2.Testing if needed
If nobody knows what the material is, we take a small sample,
seal it and send it to an accredited lab. Only a lab test confirms asbestos.
3.Fixed quote
You get one written price that covers the removal, wrapping and disposal.
No surprise extras once the job starts.
4.Neighbours given notice
Before work starts we let the people next door know what is happening, when,
and how long it will take.
5.SafeWork NSW notified
For licensed removal,
SafeWork NSW is notified 5 calendar days before work starts,
as the rules require.
6.Removal
The area is sealed off,
sheets come out whole where possible and are kept damp,
then double wrapped on the spot.
7.Independent clearance
Someone independent of the removal crew inspects the area before you use it
again, and you get the clearance paperwork.
8.Licensed disposal
Waste goes to a licensed facility and you receive the disposal paperwork for
your records.
Popcorn ceilings: your questions
My popcorn ceiling came back clear. What now?
Then it is a normal ceiling job and any painter or plasterer can deal with it.
You have saved yourself an asbestos removal.
Can I paint over it instead?
Painting can seal a coating that is intact, but it makes later removal harder.
If it is damaged or flaking, test it first.
Is this the same as a cement sheet ceiling?
No. Flat cement sheet ceilings are usually bonded.
Sprayed textured coatings can be friable. They are very different jobs.
Can I remove a popcorn ceiling myself?
Test it first. Some textured ceiling coatings crumble with light pressure.
If a lab finds asbestos in a coating like that, it is treated as friable,
and homeowners must never remove friable asbestos.
Scraping it yourself can spread fibres through the whole house.
Book a test before anyone touches it.
Does SafeWork NSW get told about my job?
For larger jobs, yes.
Licensed removalists notify SafeWork NSW 5 calendar days before removing more
than 10 m² of bonded asbestos or any amount of friable asbestos.
That five day window is built into our timing.
Request an asbestos quote
We will be in touch within 30 minutes. If it can wait, we will say so.
If it should not be touched, we will tell you what to do in the meantime.
- No photo upload needed. Just describe it.
- Your details are used only to answer you.