How to remove popcorn ceiling

Lillie
by Lillie
We are having problems removing popcorn ceiling. What is the easiest way to remove it.
  9 answers
  • Judy Capone Mantell Judy Capone Mantell on Sep 22, 2015
    We used hot water in a spray bottle and a scraper. Don't forget this is hazardous material (asbestos), so take appropriate safety precautions. Some communities require special disposal methods.
  • Floweraday Floweraday on Sep 22, 2015
    I rented a commercial steamer, spread drop clothes everywhere. It was a real mess, the popcorn finish was on the ceiling and the walls. We have an old house and the upstairs wall and ceiling finishes are in all the rooms.
  • Vicki at Entri Ways Vicki at Entri Ways on Sep 23, 2015
    Have you considered covering them instead of removing them? Here's an example of some tin tiles you could use to cover. Or go for the less expensive cardboard option and spray paint them with metallic paint. http://entriwp.com/2015/02/05/tin-ceiling-tiles-reflect-light-brighten-a-room/
  • Bg Bg on Sep 23, 2015
    spray 2-3 ft square area with hot water - let sit a couple of minutes and scrape off (being careful to scrape flat across , so you don't gouge the sheetrock. We did our entire house about 4 years ago
  • Jcb Jcb on Sep 23, 2015
    I have been wanting to do this to my kitchen ceiling but hated thinking of the mess. I think I am going another way. I have decided to cover it with some kind of floor covering! Probably lightweight wood or "fake" wood. Since my kitchen is basically white, that is the color I plan to choose. Sounds so much easier than scraping.
  • Dee Maxwell Dee Maxwell on Sep 23, 2015
    Just be careful there is no asbestos; a lot of popcorn ceilings have that! I would just cover it either with planking or tin whatever look you want. Beats exposure to asbestos.
  • Sandy Sandy on Sep 23, 2015
    I did my ceilings, spray with water from a spray bottle and use a large scraper. Be sure and cover floors, pretty messy.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 26, 2021

    Call in a Specialist!

  • John mac John mac on Sep 05, 2022

    As an ex pro, my advice is this

    1. If you can afford it , call in a reputable pro, not a cheap fly-by-night chancer.
    2. If not, DO NOT TAMPER with it.
    3. Have a professional drywaller re- drywall OVER the old popcorn or old drywall
    4. If re-drywalling, while any work is being done in this area make sure that room is completely air locked from the rest of the house. Doors and windows should be sealed. Use proper door flaps to enter /exit. Remove tyeveks before exit. Unseen micro particles are carried in clothing and will contaminate the air on release. A micro particle can float in the air for several days and be ingested in to the lungs. Children and smokers are especially vulnerable. The pros use a glue mist to bring down these particles, and wait for 24 hrs before clean-up.
    5. If using the pros to remove the asbestos ( preferred option ) make sure they are using negative air pressure in the room/building and are using a dirty room /clean room and shower cubicle entry exit system.


    Note, it's a chilling fact that the youngest recorded death from Asbestosis is a chap of 24years old, whose dad was an asbestos worker and used to pick him up in his arms when he'd come home from work. It would appear he hadn't been changing his clothes after work and his son had breathed in the asbestos from his shoulders .

    It can take that long for Asbestosis to kill. So it's not to be treated carelessly especially where children and smokers are concerned.