Best Way to Remove PopCorn Ceiling?

Linda kelley
by Linda kelley
I want to remove the popcorn ceiling in my house. I know it's a mess to do. My concern is what is underneath. What do you do after popcorn is removed? Is it hard? Ugh...plan on doing this summer. Please help!!!
  5 answers
  • Generally, there is drywall underneath. If not, then it could be plywood. You might have to use spackle to patch some dents and dings (like from scraping the popcorn) but then you should be able to prime and paint.

  • William William on Jun 21, 2017

    How to Remove a Popcorn Textured or Acoustic Ceiling


    Check for Asbestos


    Take a small sample of the ceiling material and send it to an EPA certified testing lab before you begin. If your ceiling contains Asbestos, you will need to have a certified asbestos removal contractor do the job for you.


    Turn Electricity Off and Remove Light Fitting/s


    Since you’ll be using a lot of water in this project, first be sure to turn of the electricity and check it with a circuit tester. Remove all furniture and ceiling light fittings.


    Cover the Floor with Plastic Sheeting


    Tape small pieces of plastic over each electrical outlet and cover the floor with heavy duty plastic floor sheeting, extending it up the walls a foot or so.


    Cover the Walls with Plastic Sheeting


    Run painter’s tape along the upper edge of the walls then cover the entire wall with plastic sheeting, taping the top edge to the tape already there. Roll out a layer of resin paper on the floor.


    Wet the Ceiling


    Using a garden sprayer, wet the ceiling, working in 4 to 5 square feet areas at a time, wetting the ceiling thoroughly, but being careful not to over-wet it.


    Scrape the Popcorn Material off the Ceiling


    Round off the corners of a joint knife (to prevent gouges) and use it to scrape off the popcorn ceiling. If you run into any hard scraping areas, apply a little more water, wait and then try again.


    Unroll Second Layer of Resin Paper and Finish Scraping


    Unroll another layer of resin paper directly on top of ceiling debris and continue scraping ceiling. When all material has been scraped off, take down plastic sheeting from walls, roll up wet paper and plastic on floor and place all into a large garbage bag.


    Re-cover any Bare Joints Using Joint Compound and Joint Tape


    Mix joint compound in a tray and apply along the joint lines. Dip joint tape into water, squeeze of excess and use a putty knife to press the tape into the joint compound. Smooth off excess.


    Fill any Eroded Nail Holes


    Use two thin applications of joint compound to bring holes flush with the wallboard.


    Sand the Ceiling


    Use a sanding pad on the end of a long pole to sand off any high ridges.


    Finish Your Ceiling


    Fill any low spots with another coat or two of joint compound, sanding in between coats. Prime the ceiling using a primer that says “for wallboard”. Your ceiling is then ready for you to paint or texture as you like.


  • Charla Schuman Charla Schuman on Jun 21, 2017

    The first person was right, in that there is generally drywall underneath. To keep the paint from just being sucked right up into the ceiling, you'll want to be sure and prime! Kilz is good!

  • Doris Smitherman-Swope Doris Smitherman-Swope on Jun 21, 2017

    Just put some water in a spray bottle and spray about a 3x3 ft. square it's easier to do in sections....You really should put something down on your floor first.... You will need a ladder and some sort of a straight edge tool and just scape it off...you will have sheet rock under it.....after it all dries if want a little texture back I have been known to mix the texture with my paint and buy a paint roller that isn't smooth and just get to painting.... Remember that the mud will change your color slightly unless you are using white.... If you don't want to go to all that trouble and still want just a little popcorn just get up on your ladder with your straight edge and knock off some of the big pieces....

  • Ari7734962 Ari7734962 on Jun 21, 2017

    I have removed popcorn ceiling and the easiest and least messy way is to use a shop vac. Use the extension with the bare floor attachment and scrape and suck it right up. I did put down plastic drop cloth to catch any that didn't get sucked up, but it was minimal. I had my ceiling done in couple of hours.