How can I cover a popcorn ceiling?

Betsy Frahm
by Betsy Frahm
The popcorn ceiling from the 80's is crumbling in many areas, and every room in my condo has them except the bathrooms. It's too expensive to have it removed, so what can I cover it with other than dry wall that will be cheaper and yet look great.
  6 answers
  • Tamela Bowie Interiors Tamela Bowie Interiors on Oct 18, 2016
    Hello Betsy, Your local Home Depot or Lowe's should have a kit or a can that can repair acoustic or "popcorn" ceilings. Just take a small damaged piece of the ceiling to match the texture and be sure to have touch up paint for the ceiling. This in my opinion is the least expensive way to repair the ceiling. Hope this information helps. Take care!
  • Helen Helen on Oct 18, 2016
    First of all, you'll need to scrape off the "popcorn ceiling and then wash it down to get rid of the whole mess. Then, do wbat you will with it Paint it, wallpaper it or whatever.
  • Betsy Frahm Betsy Frahm on Oct 18, 2016
    I don't want to scrape it off as the estimate is way too expensive and messy. I am too old to do it myself. Wanted to put up something like maybe ship lap or bead board, or flooring. Even tin. But taking it down is not an option.
  • Deb Deb on Oct 18, 2016
    Popcorn ceiling can be painted over, using a nappy roller.
  • Claygrider Claygrider on Oct 18, 2016
    You do not indicate how many square feet of ceiling are in this particular room. You also did not say how you were going to have an alternative surface put on it. If you cant take the popcorn down ( on your own) then you surely cannot put up another surface. If you have considered having someone else put the other surface on then THEY could also take down the popcorn. Yes, its a little messy, but with a pump up sprayer ( to dampen it with ) scraping it off is a cinch. Second to that, locate the ceiling joists, screw 1" x 4 ' screeds to it and then fasten the tin ( or whatever ) to that. leave the popcorn where it is and go over it.
    • Betsy Frahm Betsy Frahm on Oct 19, 2016
      I would have preferred to remove it as it is crackling in many areas, but unfortunately it was painted at some point and the water won't work on it. The condo is roughly 1900 sq ft of ceiling. I would like to have someone simply cover it with something as you mentioned in your last sentence. That seems to be the most cost effective, and least messy. Quotes I got for the removal of it were around $4000. Thats insane. It has to be cheaper to put up a new ceiling over top of the old one.