Why Popcorn Ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings became popular in the 1950s, during the construction boom following World War 2. When builders were putting up 100s of homes, they found it faster to spray on a popcorn ceiling texture versus paint. This reduced costs by omitting the final (3rd) coat of mud. Popcorn is also good at masking uneven seams where the sheetrock meets and other defects that pop out after a ceiling is painted. Popcorn ceilings continue to be popular in warm climates where high ceilings are used to draw hot air away from the living space below. The popcorn ceiling texture also provides some noise reduction qualities, so it’s used more often for bedroom and hallway ceilings. Kitchens and living room ceilings might then have a flat or smoother texture for higher durability and ease of cleaning. Acoustic ceilings evolved into the metal grids and drop down panels we now recognize in schools, offices and businesses where they need noise reduction. Acoustic tiles remain popular for home basements whe
