You cannot tell just by looking. Popcorn ceiling texture that contains asbestos looks identical to texture that does not, so lab testing is the only reliable way to know. Chrysotile asbestos was commonly mixed into ceiling texture through the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, so any home textured before then should be treated as suspect until proven otherwise.

• Do not scrape, sand, drill, or disturb the texture before it is tested
• A small sample gets sent to an accredited lab, with results typically back within a few days
• Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires testing before disturbing suspect material; removal itself is not legally mandated, and the Ontario Building Code does not regulate popcorn ceilings

We coordinate accredited asbestos testing at cost, $300 to $500 with no markup, so you have a lab result in hand before any work begins. Call us at (519) 729-7394 and we will arrange it. KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Kitchener service area · Google Reviews