Will my marriage survive the process of removing popcorn ceiling?

Liz28386718
by Liz28386718
Our home has potential, but it is so outdated! My husband is super talented he is also extremely busy. Plus, the popcorn doesn’t bother him. We live in a state of disrepair with no light at the end of the busy tunnel. So, are there any options for hiding, removing or re-doing the ceilings in our house without costing too much. More detail of my story if there’s an audience for my sad story. But not about divorce, just life’s unfortunate events that took my health.
Love the site. And the ingenuity of people!

  9 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 16, 2018

    https://www.hometalk.com/categories/remodeling-renovating/ceiling/popcorn-ceilings

  • Kathryn Woehler Kathryn Woehler on Jan 16, 2018

    Sheet rock over it. Lots of happy wives and husband living under great new ceilings!

  • Lin30487935 Lin30487935 on Jan 16, 2018

    If the ceiling was painted after the popcorn was applied, forget it or re-drywall over it. But if it has not been painted, it should come off fairly easy using a spray water bottle and a putty knife or scraper. You would have to empty the room and cover the floor because it makes a huge mess, but so worth it.

  • Emily Emily on Jan 16, 2018

    I'm sorry Liz4 I had to laugh at the Marriage survival. I have been married a very long time and while removing a popcorn ceiling has not been one of our challenges there have been many, many others! Maybe you could hire an industrious teenager to remove the popcorn for you? The house shows on t.v. lead one to believe it is not too difficult a job.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Jan 16, 2018

    Removing popcorn ceiling is a major pain in the ass... but it is not hard.

    I am 66, and not fond of ladders... and I have done it by myself, and that includes resurfacing the ceiling after the popcorn is gone.

    A couple of tips...

    *Put a large heavy-ish tarp on the floor, from wall to wall to wall .. so you can scrape the popcorn down onto it... and just sweep up the stuff into a bucket or trash can (if your floor is tile just sweep it up, vacuum and mop later)

    DO NOT try and scrape the whole ceiling onto the tarp and roll it up like a burrito... the wet popcorn stuff gets really heavy..really fast.... been there.. DONE that!!

    ** Don't bother with the scraper with the bag attached... it quickly gets too heavy to maneuver

    *** Use a cheap garden sprayer filled with warm water and a wide (5 in or 6 in) putty or spackling knife for scraping.

    **** Work in small sections, 3 ft X 3 ft, or as far as you can comfortably reach from the ladder. Spray 1st section, wait about 15 minutes, spray again and spray next section... scrape 1st section.... repeat... till done.

    Sweep up often, empty your trash can often.

    Work smart... it does not all have to come down in one day..

    I used a product called "Venetian Plaster" to go over the ceiling after the popcorn was down (we were lucky they had taped the seams between the drywall sheets)... One coat of the Venetian Plaster then 1 good coat of paint (I had the Venetian Plaster tinted to match the paint color I wanted)


  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Jan 16, 2018

    Good answer from Marty.

  • Melanie Czoka Melanie Czoka on Jan 16, 2018

    LOL. I'd go for it! Lay down a tarp if your floor is carpeted.

  • Karen V Karen V on Jan 16, 2018

    Prioritize all you want to accomplish, the ceilings may not actually need redone. Good Luck!