Worried your old popcorn ceiling has asbestos? It’s the right question to ask. Master of Ceilings arranges certified lab testing and handles asbestos popcorn ceilings using encapsulation — a recognized method that seals the material rather than disturbing it.
If your home was built before the mid-1970s, your popcorn or stucco ceiling might contain asbestos. This applies to thousands of Toronto-area homes — especially in neighbourhoods like Cabbagetown, Riverdale, The Annex, Leslieville, Etobicoke’s older areas, North York’s older sections, Mississauga’s Cooksville and Lakeview, and similar pre-1975 built communities.
The important thing to understand: asbestos in a popcorn ceiling is a risk when it’s disturbed — sanded, scraped, drilled or broken up. Left intact and properly sealed, the material isn’t being released into the air. That’s the whole principle behind encapsulation: instead of breaking the ceiling up, we cover and seal it.
For many homes that’s a sensible option, and it costs considerably less than full Type 3 abatement. It isn’t right for every ceiling, and we’ll tell you if yours isn’t a good candidate.
I’ve handled asbestos popcorn ceilings in hundreds of older Toronto-area homes since 2010. We arrange certified Ontario lab testing, then provide encapsulation if the result is positive. Encapsulation is a recognized approach for managing asbestos-containing material in place. We do this work properly, honestly, and without fear-selling you on more expensive options you don’t need.
HIGHER RISK if:
LOWER RISK if:
The ONLY way to know for sure is to test. We arrange certified Ontario lab testing — $50-$150 per sample.
For many homes with asbestos popcorn ceilings, encapsulation is worth considering. Here’s why:
Home age check, ceiling condition review, honest discussion of options. No pressure to test if you don't want to.
We collect a small sample and send it to an accredited Ontario lab. They issue an official certificate with the result, usually in 2-5 business days, and we pass it straight to you.
Walk you through results honestly. If negative: standard popcorn removal. If positive: encapsulation discussion.
Full home protection. Multi-layer plaster bonded to existing texture. Level 5 skim coat finish.
You get the official lab certificate showing the test result, plus a written record of the work we completed — yours to keep for your files.
Hi, I’m Sony. I founded Master of Ceilings in 2010 with one mission: bring true European craftsmanship to Toronto homes.
For over 15 years, my team and I have worked on older homes across Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, and the entire GTA. Pre-1975 bungalows in Etobicoke. 1960s homes in North York. Century houses in Riverdale where the ceiling has been redone three times. When a ceiling might contain asbestos, I tell people the same thing every time: test first, then decide. I’ve never once talked someone into more work than their ceiling needed.
“I treat every home like it’s my own. If it’s not perfect, I don’t leave.”
I’m on every job site personally. No subcontractors. No shortcuts. Just clean work, fair pricing, and straight answers. When you call 647-972-4858, you talk to me. When my team arrives, I’m there. That’s how Master of Ceilings has been since day one, and that’s how it stays.
No. After Level 5 skim coat finish, your ceiling looks like any other beautiful smooth modern ceiling. No one can tell it’s encapsulated unless you tell them.
Painting over it doesn’t disturb the material, so it’s not the same as scraping. But a coat of paint isn’t encapsulation — it doesn’t seal the surface the way multi-layer plaster does, and the texture stays. We’d suggest testing first so you know what you’re dealing with before you decide anything.
Yes. The certified Ontario lab issues an official certificate showing whether asbestos was found and at what level. We pass that straight to you — it’s your document, not ours. We also give you a written record of the work we did. Keep both; they’re worth having if you ever sell the house.
Yes. Every project includes a 1-year written workmanship warranty covering the plaster and finish work we do. If anything isn’t right within that year, we come back and fix it.
