How do I take a popcorn ceiling off?

Anne Marie
by Anne Marie
  3 answers
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on May 21, 2019

    Many You Tube videos available. However, it is a messy operation and we hired a pro to do our last few areas. You need to cover floors, block airflow to adjacent rooms (plastic sheets), check for asbestos first, wear eye and nose protection, dampen the ceiling with water (garden sprayer works well), use a wide putty knife to scrape the popcorn off. There are some popcorn removal kits available at big box stores. A fan can help pull dust out of the room and send it outside. You will need to apply some new texture and repair any imperfections in the sheetrock.

    • Anne Marie Anne Marie on May 21, 2019

      Hi Ken;

      Thanks so much for responding. I will make sure all doorways are blocked. Going to use plastic drop cloths, hopefully that will do the trick.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 21, 2019

    Ken's advice is very good. Don't forget to also wear a hair covering and long sleeves. It is the messiest thing I've ever done.

    I saw a video where they attached the scraper to a shop vac so that it sucked into the vac.

    I found warm water to be more effective. Also, if the ceiling has been painted you might have to use a solvent as well.