What sets Mountain Brook ceilings apart
Mountain Brook grew out of Robert Jemison Jr.'s Mountain Brook Estates in the late 1920s and became a city in 1942.[VERIFY: Mountain Brook development and incorporation dates] Its streets around Crestline Village, English Village and Mountain Brook Village hold everything from 1930s Tudors and colonials to 1960s and 70s ranches, and a few patterns come up often:
- Plaster under the popcorn. Older homes often had texture sprayed on in a later remodel to hide cracked plaster. Once it's off, the plaster may need repair before it can go smooth. See ceiling repair.
- Crown molding and built-ins. Detailed trim and finished woodwork need careful masking so nothing gets scratched or wet.
- Remodeled homes with one popcorn room left. Many houses were updated room by room, so it's common to find texture only in a den, hallway or upstairs bedrooms.
Planning the job
Test before anything else
Texture sprayed on between the 1950s and the 1980s can contain asbestos, whether the house itself is older or not. Have it sampled before removal. See testing a popcorn ceiling before removal.
Ask about containment
In a furnished house with hardwoods and rugs, containment is what separates a good job from a bad one. Ask how the room will be sealed and how the HVAC will be protected.
Pick a finish that suits the light
Big windows and chandeliers show every ridge. A full smooth skim coat holds up best under that light, and it's the finish most Mountain Brook homeowners ask for.
Permits in Mountain Brook
The City of Mountain Brook runs its own building department.[VERIFY: City of Mountain Brook issues residential building permits] Cosmetic texture removal and painting generally don't need a permit, but electrical changes do. Your professional should confirm what applies to your address.
Costs
Plaster repair, painted texture and the level of finish are the biggest cost drivers here. The Homewood cost guide explains each factor, and painted popcorn removal covers ceilings that were painted over.