How to remove popcorn ceiling that has been painted?

Question

Does having a paint over a popcorn ceiling change how I'd remove the popcorn ceiling?

Bobbie · Answer

Mix one part vinegar to ten parts water and spray it on the ceiling. The vinegar should help break down the paint. Use a large pole-type scraper and more muscle. Wet the ceiling, scrape as much as possible, and then wet and scrape again.

DesertRose · Answer

We removed ours by wetting a section and scraping it off. We had to cover everything and it was a big mess but it came off. It left a textured but flat ceiling and we painted it. Our neighbor did it later and duct taped the scraper to the wide vacuum attachment of a wet/dry vacuum hose and saved himself the big mess. I wish we had thought of it! Hope this helps. Our ceiling was also painted and came right off.

Rae · Answer

Get a spray bottle and fill it with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and warm water. Spray the ceiling, wait a few minutes, then use a scraper to remove the popcorn. You may have to repeat the vinegar and water spray a couple of times in order to get it all. Make sure to put drop cloths or plastic sheeting down on the floor before you start to catch the mess. Best of luck!

B. Enne · Answer

Spraying water won't help if it was painted with oil paint. If it was latex or acrylic paint, you are fine.

If your house was built before the mid 80's, it could contain lead or asbestos. I had mine tested, before I scraped it.

Perhaps this would work on oil.

http://www.ezstrip.ca/how-to-remove/remove-popcorn-ceiling-painted/

Alice Elaine Lord · Answer

Look at your property records to see when the house was built. If it was after 1990 your pretty safe to remove it yourself. if it was before you need to see if it had asbestos in in and you have to have a licensed contractor remove it. I just sprayed water on it and used a large sparkle blade to remove mine and then washed the remaining residue.

Lori · Answer

When I removed our I attached a vaccum cleaner attachement, with duct tape (hey we're in the south! ) to a shopvac. Although it didn't catch all of it, it did help! After over a year trying to figure out what to do next, I simply got some joint compound and trowled it on, making 'a curvy swirl, every so often, it took me 3 buckets of joint compound and I did it all by myself, but a much stiff neck afterwards, have to just find the right color paint now..

Alisha · Answer

Hi There! I'm not sure how able you are, but I did my own ceilings and it's not hard At all. Just some hot soapy water in a sprayer and a paint/mud knife/scraper and a lot of elbow grease. Spray in sections, let it soften and then scrape it right off. I finished mine with a light orange peel texture and paint. I did about a room a day and had my 1700sq. Ft home done in a week!

Kim · Answer

Before removing popcorn ceilings it is important to have it tested for asbestos. If it was installed before 1985 it is likely asbestos. Any time you disturb it (do something that makes bits of it come off) you are in danger of inhaling carcinogenic fibers.

If not asbestos, prepare for a dirty job.

Tape and plastic off area to contain debris. Spray heavily with water from a new pump pesticide type sprayer. Scrape with floor scraper. If water isn’t saturating well, score lines in the popcorn with a screwdriver, being careful not to gouge too deeply.

i hope that helps

😊

Jayna L Griffith · Answer

Scrape them off! Lay a tarp down under the area you'll be working first because it will get messy.

Dave · Answer

It would be best to remove it all together. It should be tested for asbestos anyway before it is touched. I played someone to scrap it off, it did not have asbestos, all he did is wet it with water in a spray bottle and used a blade, it came right off. Looks much better than the popcorn. It is finished underneath.

Sharon · Answer

It may have been painted to encapsulate asbestos. Get a kit at the hardware store, and test it before you do anything.

Tiffany from Dream Design DIY · Answer

We have removed popcorn ceiling but not on a ceiling that has been painted. To remove one that has been painted you spray water on it and allow it to sit for about a minute then scrape it of with a putty knife. If there is paint mix 10 parts water and 1 part vinegar. The vinegar breaks down the paint. Here is a link for more info.

Zard Pocleeb · Answer

It can be removed with a wide scraper and usually some sanding. Make sure to throw down some drop cloths because it will make quite a mess.

Lynn Sorrell · Answer

Use 2/3 water &1/3 downy to hold fibers together from getting/flying all over(you will not know if it has asbestos so you should treat it like it does). Put tarp down to keep mess to minimum,spray section of ceiling then scrape with putty knife making sure not to gouge drywall/paster?? underneath, sweep & clean as you go to keep dust scrapings in room. Do not track outside of room on clothing,hair,shoes.Tape off the vents/air ducts.Bag all scrapings really well. Wear mask, gloves, eye protection. Wipe everything down several times with damp clean rags throwing them away as you go. Let everything, ceiling dry really well up to 2-3 days depending how humid it is where you live then check to see if any spot sanding is needed or you need to patch anything on drywall/plaster?? primer then paint. This is actually easy DIY but time consuming due to clean up.if you use any cloth for clean up(rags,drop cloth) throw it out because fibers will get trapped then when dry could be released in air if item is moved/shaken much. Don't forget to clean all equipment too ,scrapers,brooms,dust pan,ladders,step stools so you don't move dust around by them either.Don't use your vacuum. Once it's done you will be so glad you did it. it will look better and be much easier to keep clean.

Jcraw · Answer

Score it gently so when you spray it with a water solution the liquid gets thru To loosen the bond. Or “punch” it gently with a wire brush Enough to break through the paint layer.

Tody · Answer

use the largest scraper you can find. **Wear protective eyewear** scrape it off. I did it in bathroom but added sand texture to new paint. (In case there are sum residuels)

Peggy Riggles · Answer

Yes you can. Getting it started may be a bit tougher than if it hadn't been painted, but I found it actually came down in larger stretchey sheets due to the paint! Use a wide(12') taping knife to scrape it down after spraying with water. I held a shallow box like what canned veggies come in at Costco and caught what I could and dumped into black plastic trash bags rather than into the tarp, for less mess to clean! Good luck! Its literally a pain in the neck. But it's worth it!

Kelli L. Milligan · Answer

Scrape and scrape. Be sure to wear protective goggles. You can also apply 1/2' drywall over it and finish smooth. Make sure to find studs and screw up long enough screws.

J · Answer

We used warm water in a spray bottle and a very wide plastic scraper. Scrap gently so you don’t damage sheet rock, you can always respray a section for more scraping Concentrate on one section at a time. Make sure to drape everything with plastic or drop cloths for easy cleanup.

Penny · Answer

VERY easy, Get a spray bottle with warm water and a 1/4 cup of vinegar. Work in grids, spraying the area to dampen--NOT to saturate. Wait a few minutes and use a plastic or metal straight edge to scrape it. It comes right off. Two things, make sure you've put plastic down so it doesn't damage the floor or furniture. This will work IF the popcorn hasn't been painted over.

Kim · Answer

Removing Popcorn ceilings

First make sure it is not asbestos! It's a simple Mail in test. I know that Home Depot carries them, I assume other places do as well.

Once you determine that it is asbestos free, empty out your room. Cover all that can't be removed and your floors with plastic. This is gonna get messy! Cover door openings with overlapping sheets of plastic that you can use like a door.

Spray your ceiling really well with water. A new pump bug/yard sprayer works great for this. Do not used a used one! Let water soak in and scrape down. Putty knives work great. If you have a floor scraper and a steady light hand, that works really well!

When all scraped, use plastic to wrap up debris and haul out.

**KEEP TEST RECORDS ON FILE!!!

Disposing of asbestos into the trash is subject to fines and imprisonment.

Hope that helps

: )

Sjt29229935 · Answer

You said your ceiling had been painted and coated. If that is the case, the soaking method probably won't work. We ran into the same issue with our ceilings. Over the years, people have repainted them and that seals the original popcorn making it strongly adhere in some areas while releasing in others. It is a PAIN!!! You literally have to scrape and sand and repair and say bad words. I strongly suggest you call it the pros to tackle them. It may cost a little more, but well worth your sanity. Ours were done in the early 70's. At that time, they hung the drywall differently too and there were waves in the ceiling that needed remudding to straighten before repainting, They were an easy answer back in the day, but a nightmare to change, especially if painted/sealed. Good luck!!

Tara Austin · Answer

we used a spray bottle with some water and a floor scraper. It made a mess and took forever but it came off.

Jgr26317845 · Answer

Spray with warm water with garden sprayer after covering floor with plastic. Let sit and then scrape with spatula . lightly sand after dries . Roll up plastic and discard .

27524803 · Answer

Just be aware that wet popcorn gets really heavy... really fast...we tried the roll it up into a burrito tactic... really heavy and hard to hold on to.. we have always used a heavy-ish tarp...so that the dropped popcorn can be swept up and placed into a large trash can which can be emptied more often for easier handling.

Nicola · Answer

A sander and wear a mask and goggles

William · Answer

Yes but it will be a little harder with the paint. You would need to use a mixture of vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Fabric softener and hot water would also work. You need to cut through the paint first then the ceiling.

Elizabeth Michels Pinizzotto · Answer

yes,, most of them have paint in them. I had one with sparkles in it. Same wet and scrape method that makes a mess - or you can sheet rock over the entire thing.

Joy30150932 · Answer

Spray with a little water, a square at a time, maybe 4X4 and scrape off. Cover your hair and the floor before starting. You will probably find that the seams were not done smoothly as this was an easy and quick way for contractors to finish a project fast by doing a lot less work.

Georgette Jensen · Answer

When removing hang wet sheet on doorways so it does not get to other rooms.

How to remove popcorn ceiling that has been painted?

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