How do I remove popcorn ceilings?

Beverly
by Beverly

Our daughter recently bought a townhouse that has popcorn ceilings throughout--- ugly and dated. I have read the best way to remove it is spraying a small section with water and using one of the long scrapers designed for this purpose. Do you agree? Also, is scaffolding the only way to avoid a stiff neck after this massive job??

  5 answers
  • Shore grandmom Shore grandmom on Jan 16, 2019

    Or she could have it covered with 1/4" sheetrock.

  • Susan Davia Susan Davia on Jan 16, 2019

    yes water is the best but please remember,older homes may contain asbestos ....and even with scaffolding you will be looking up so a sift neck may still occur....the job will be messy and when I did it I was half way into it when I thought to myself..."I could have lived with it"lol

    • See 2 previous
    • Russbow Russbow on Jan 16, 2019

      ;;Not necessarily, Remaining stock was ok to use after it was outlawed, so it the builder or his supplier had it, it was used.

  • Katie Sara Creates Katie Sara Creates on Jan 16, 2019

    My husband and I did this when we moved in a few years ago. We filled a spray mop (one that had a soft, washable pad) with a mixture of warm water and dish soap and sprayed the ceiling enough to loosen the popcorn texture. We then "mopped" away the texture and dried the ceiling underneath with microfibre cloths. We worked in small sections, and once all of the texture was gone and everything had dried out, we added a couple coats of fresh, white ceiling paint.

  • Mel Kiser Mel Kiser on Jan 16, 2019

    scrape and scrape. When all the popcorn is gone ,fill in you digs/ scratches with drywal compound . You can use a damp sponge to help finish the compound reducing the amount of dust( instead of sanding.) prime and repaint

    • Beverly Beverly on Jan 16, 2019

      Thanks! We have had lots of experience with drywall compound so my husband is now an "expert." LOL I will be the one giving advice........:)

  • Susan Davia Susan Davia on Jan 16, 2019

    what about wood planks placed over the popcorn