Can I remove a popcorn ceiling and leave the ceiling exposed?

I live in a 70’s bi-level with a popcorn ceiling in the living room. I’m thinking of removing the ceiling & leaving it exposed. There is a bedroom above it. Any suggestions/thoughts?

  5 answers
  • Debi53 Debi53 on Nov 12, 2019

    I live in the same era and kind of house. First, if you home was built before 1978, the popcorn probably contains asbestos. You need to get this checked out before you disturb it. Second, it is probably rough unfinished construction behind that popcorn ceiling. It probably won't be pretty. Just some things to consider.

  • Gk Gk on Nov 12, 2019

    You might be able to do this but as another Hometalker mentioned--it won't look pretty! There may be electrical wires and heating runs under that ceiling drywall. You would have to do some work to make it look good. It might be much easier and cheaper to just scrape off the popcorn and and paint it!

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Nov 12, 2019

    Hope you like noise! If you remove the ceiling you will also remove the insulation between the rooms. You will hear everything. You see it done all the time on tv and it looks cool, but the noise is never talked about!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 12, 2019

    Hi Karla,

    Don't do it, as it will make the room less soundproof. I would suggest you ask a few builders to come in and give their opinion and a price for their suggestions. That way you will have first hand ideas as to what could be done and a cost to do them. Then the questions would be, do you still want to do it? Can you afford to have it done for you? and Do you have the equipment etc. to Do It Yourselves??

    Best wishes.

  • Dottie' Dottie' on Nov 12, 2019

    I would leave the popcorn ceiling and paint it

    black !! If you like the idea of an open ceiling, then you could always incorporate faux beams in a nice shade of your choice, or big PVC piping painted black and hung to look like industrial piping.