What's the best way to remove "popcorn" from ceilings?

Cindy Nesbitt
by Cindy Nesbitt
Our house is 10 years old, and that ceiling is in every room. I don't want to get into something that I will make a horrible mess of, and wind up regretting that I ever started. But sure would like it gone!

Thank you for any advice!

Cindy Nesbitt

  7 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 13, 2018

    https://www.hometalk.com/categories/make-over/ceilings

  • Ste31998657 Ste31998657 on Mar 13, 2018

    The best way to do this is by scraping all you can and then you can get a pole sander and remove the remaining popcorn that way.

    • Cindy Nesbitt Cindy Nesbitt on Mar 14, 2018

      Thank you Steve!

      I'll make sure to have that sander ready! Expecting a mess, but hoping for the best!

  • Ellis Ellis on Mar 14, 2018

    I've seen it on do-it-yourself tv shows--they spray the ceiling with water from a spray bottle to moisten it, then scrape it off with a wide scraper.


    I would pick the smallest, walled-off room--the bathroom? a small bedroom?--and try it. That way, if it turns out to be an awful mess, you only have that one room to repair.

    • Cindy Nesbitt Cindy Nesbitt on Mar 14, 2018

      Thank you Ellis! Great advice! I'm heading out to buy a wider scraper, a spray bottle and a pole sander, and will start in the ensuite, smallest room in the house! I think that's a smart plan!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Mar 14, 2018

    Removing popcorn ceilings requires a certain amount of flexibility and physical agility. You will be working for extended periods of time reaching up, with your neck and head tilted backwards.

    • Cindy Nesbitt Cindy Nesbitt on Mar 14, 2018

      Well, I guess while I am doing this I can count this as exercise? lol! Thank you for the warning! This won't be pretty!

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Mar 14, 2018

    This Hometalker will show you the way!https://www.hometalk.com/diy/repair/dining-room-project-remove-popcorn-ceiling-23182159?r=1

  • PJ Kelley PJ Kelley on Mar 14, 2018

    I had this done professionally as it was incredibly messy to do it myself. They wore masks and hung plastic at every door leading into my living room. Worth every penny to have it done. You can scrap it yourself but what I was getting was that horrible mess you spoke of so I stopped and called in professionals.

  • Barb Adams Barb Adams on Mar 14, 2018

    Removing popcorn is fairly easy, but tedious. You just wet the surface and using a flat scraper, scrape off the popcorn being careful not to gouge the surface. Prime and paint. Search "remove popcorn ceiling"