Are snowflake or star ceilings a mid-west thing, or are they prevalent throughout the country?

Question

I personally was glad when we moved into this house that it was this and not the popcorn ceiling like our other house. (which I detest!) Whoever invented the popcorn ceiling should be...... (fill in the blank)

Mary Beth @ The How to Home · Answer

I have the same type of ceiling and I'm in Western PA.

Shari · Answer

I have a very similar pattern on the ceilings of my 1978 ranch-style home. I'm in west central Florida. It may be better looking than popcorn but this pattern is impossible to patch inconspicuously!

Between Naps on the Porch · Answer

My house here in Georgia has those all throughout and I wish it didn't. I much prefer the smooth ceiling. I think these are called stippled ceilings. I totally agreen about the popcorn/blown in ceiling. I talked with a contractor about getting rid of my stippled ceiling. I wondered if they could be sanded down. He said it's much less work and less expensive to just add a sheet drywall or whatever kind of thin wood they use then it is to try and sand it down. Would love to make all my ceilings smooth!

3po3 · Answer

I also have a (differently) textured ceiling and, having done some drywall work, I am convinced all textured ceilings are designed to hide sloppy drywall work. I understand, but I agree that a flat ceiling would look much better.

Becky P · Answer

I would so totally prefer a flat sanded ceiling! The kitchen had a partial wall removed from the previous owner and he had a hard time finding someone to patch that section of ceiling. That 4 foot stripe looks inverted compared to the rest of the ceiling.

Mary Insana · Answer

@Mary Beth, I'm here in Pittsburgh area too, Scott Township and we have the same ceilings in most of the rooms except the kitchen and bathrooms. I like it, it adds some texture to your rooms. 
 @ Shari, I had our entry way light moved because it was off enter and we had a ceiling fam put in. The electrician repaired where the old fixture was and you can't even tell where it was. He did a great job of matching the texture.

Mary Beth @ The How to Home · Answer

@Mary I. ~ that's good to know about the patch/repair. I have an area in my dining room that needs to be repaired.

Mary Insana · Answer

Mary Beth when my ceiling was patched he used a wadded up old T shirt to put the pattern back in the ceiling

Brian Campbell, Basswood Artisan Carpentry · Answer

Before sprayed acoustic, orange peel and knockdown textures, there were all sorts of hand applied textures that were stippled, brushed, combed or troweled on. Like anything, some were done masterfully and some only average or poor in quality. Many hand textures are far harder to pull off and more labor intensive than perfectly smooth ceilings and cost more. It is all a matter of taste and budget.

Danylle M · Answer

I have that same ceiling in my bedroom here in North Idaho. I have plans on covering it with bead board.

Sue Sullivan · Answer

This type of textured ceiling is very prevalent here in Ohio and is known as a 'stomped' ceiling texture. It is my opinion that most drywall tradesmen are not masters of their craft, so in order to hide the drywall imperfections in the ceilings, they dreamed up this texture medium to cover up seams and bowed areas. 
I don't think most builders want to pay for a master craftsman's talent, so smooth, flat ceilings and walls are not the norm. If someone wants smooth ceilings and walls, there is quite an up-charge for them. I've never seen anyone's repair job where the patterns and technique matched with this stomped technique. Exact brush size, amount of applied pressure with the 'mud', and general technique are all factors that can result in an unmatched repair section. I think it is best to totally re-do the ceiling if repairs need to be made. I speak from experience- my eyes were always going to the mis-matched area above the kitchen island when we took out the soffit and put in recessed light fixtures. The ceiling looked awful until we scraped off the texture and re-did the entire room. What a mess!

Brian Campbell, Basswood Artisan Carpentry · Answer

Here is a hand textured ceiling (not by me), but they can be exquisite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-f5lMb6JW8

Lisa Jewell · Answer

My house that I bought in NC coast had that kind of ceiling & I loved it. So no, it is not just a midwest thing.

Peace Painting Co., Inc. · Answer

Stomped ceillings abound in Atlanta too. A technique de jour to speed production in order to meet a price point. They can be sanded off or re-rocked.

Becky P · Answer

the only thing I dislike about the snowflake ceiling is when I am painting it, the points jab me in the head! lol

Paint-N-Plus · Answer

I have had luck removing this by taking a pump up sprayer wetting and rewetting and using a wide (12 inch) sheetrock knife to scrape off. This is time consuming and a mess.It will require some patch work but by far better than rerocking.Painter's can use a spray gun.Hot water works best.

Jeanette S · Answer

Smooth ceilings can cost as much as $500 to $1,000 a room, depending on size. A lot of it is to cover imperfections in the sheetrock work, but much of it is to cover the crooked lumber used in the ceiling. If you took down your texture, you might find a lot of work to level out between the joist! We had a room that had smooth but was wavy so we added a texture ceiling. You have to use the joist to attach the drywall so there is no way to hide the irregularities!

Mary Insana · Answer

Brian, LOVED the ceilings in your attachment. It would look great in my blah dianing room.

Brian Campbell, Basswood Artisan Carpentry · Answer

If you want really smooth ceilings or walls for that matter ask your contractor for a 'level 5' finish. If they give you a deer in headlights look you should keep looking. The average up charge is 15% over level 4.

Leslie D · Answer

If you choose 'Level 5', ask for references from customers who have used that company for that finish. Level 5 takes a true artisan, and if your house is older and you have irregularities in your ceiling, a level 5 finish can actually look worse than texture because every flaw will show, and it's difficult to see those irregularities until you get paint on it. It's hard to get a good level 5 if it isn't new drywall.

Rose F · Answer

As Paint-N-Plus said, there is a way to wet it down and scrape it off. I'm sure you can find ways to do it online. You can probably use a paint sprayer for the water.

Lisa Schneider · Answer

I would like that better than a popcorn/cottage cheese ceiling as well.

Tina · Answer

we have this all over the walls in the house we're in now! guess it was a fad back when these houses were built (50's or 60's) and of course we have the popcorn ceilings! ugh!

Phyllis · Answer

tina not just the 50's and 60's, it's all over my house and it was built in 1987.. hate this stuff.. It's hard to clean and harder to paint..

Scott · Answer

I have 28 years experience in plaster and drywall repair. Yes, this texture is nothing new. This texture has been applied since in could remember since the 70's called a stomp texture. Mexicans have a hard time with smooth ceilings! One of many cover-up's as to not conceal imperfections.
I believe texture dates a home. Smooth is my choice and is the easiest to repair. Picky persons cannot touch up this texture. Not simple to make 'Perfect'.
Comment from Affordable Class act Inc.
Hope I gave positive insite?

Beth · Answer

I have never seen one of these ceilings in Wisconsin, It is neat looking!!!

Diana Deiley · Answer

I've seen this style in homes in Massachusetts where I grew up, some even had glitter. (I'm crossing my eyes now.) Swirls were popular for a time too. Hated popcorn ceilings.
I lived in Arizona for 10 years and the norm there is textured walls and ceilings. Wonderful for faux finishing!

Janice Arrington · Answer

I have not seen them in Georgia. I came home from work a few years ago and my husband and his nephew had put popcorn in kitchen, living room, hall and bathroom. Thankfully they ran out before they got to the rest of the house. I hate it

Are snowflake or star ceilings a mid-west thing, or are they prevalent throughout the country?

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Are snowflake or star ceilings a mid-west thing, or are they prevalent throughout the country?

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