Cleaning Walls & Ceilings
Washing your walls and ceilings will not only give your home a fresh look, it will make it smell fresher and get rid of trapped allergens. It's important, though, for your house cleaner to be aware of what type of paint is on your walls and ceiling before embarking on a cleaning regimen. Most painted ceiling surfaces are washable, but some ceilings, especially the acoustic type, need special treatment - which can also mean additional costs.
Many wallpapers are made of washable vinyl but some are considered "unwashable" for the inexperienced cleaner. Make sure that you ask your professional if he or she has experience cleaning wallpaper - especially if you have specialty paper. Wallpaper is absorbent and extra care must be given when washing.
Popcorn Ceiling Texture
A popcorn ceiling, also known as an acoustic ceiling, is a spray-on or paint-on ceiling treatment that was used in residential construction. Cheaper than painting, it was quickly sprayed on and was useful in hiding ceiling defects such as stains and uneven ceilings. Unfortunately, popcorn ceilings often contained asbestos and their removal needs to be done carefully by professionals. Acoustic popcorn ceilings are a surface that will attract and harbor dust particles floating freely in your household air. Removing the acoustic popcorn and applying a surface that does not attract dust particles will help contribute to the quality of your indoor air. Additionally, if there is asbestos present in the ceiling and it starts to flake, this could be a health problem to everyone in your home. If you have these types of ceilings, you may want to
consider their removal and replacement.
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
Acoustic ceiling tiles have sound-absorbent properties that "soften" the surface of the ceiling in order to deaden reverberating noise from throughout the room. Not only does this reduce the sound reverberation within the room, but it also helps block sound transmission to other rooms as well. As far as price is concerned, acoustical ceiling tiles do tend to cost more than traditional tiles or traditional ceiling covers. Installation costs for these types of tiles are also higher than traditional ceiling coverings. However, due in part to the recent growth in home office and entertainment systems, acoustical tile has begun to be used more commonly in residential settings. As more and more homeowners begin to consider this solution for their homes, tile manufacturers have focused on making their products affordable, easily available, and more attractive.
Interior Trim and Decorative Moldings
Trim and molding are decorative wood work that is used to embellish the floors, walls, and ceilings of homes. While the purpose is generally decorative, they may also be used to hide gaps that occur where a floor and wall or ceiling and wall aren't flush. Once installed, the trim can also provide minor reinforcement to the overall structure. By hiring a professional contractor, you can get perfectly tight joints and smooth, clean, professional results when installing trim, even on bad walls. The secret to tight-fitting joints is knowing how to adjust the cuts to make them conform to your walls' different conditions. No wall is perfect - but your molding and trim can be. Trim and Molding comes in many materials from wood or other composite materials and the price ranges vary based on the material and the intricacy of the design.
Other Cost Factors
For painting, wallpapering or installation of trim and molding, you may pay a premium on rooms with exceptionally high ceilings due to difficult accessibility. If you are looking at a repair, the cost could increase if electrical wiring or plumbing runs through the damaged wall, or if the damage is due to something such as an earthquake or natural disaster that could have affected the actual stability of the structure. If you are replacing an existing wall, you need to know
how much it will cost to knock down an existing wall.
