How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling For a Smoother Finish

Test for Asbestos

If your popcorn ceiling was installed before 1980, there’s a chance it could contain asbestos—in which case, it’s important to get a sample tested before you do anything else. Contact your local health department to find out how to do so, or find a top-rated asbestos removal service in your area to protect yourself from potential exposure.

Remove All Furniture and Fixtures

Photo: 4-image / Adobe Stock

Removing popcorn ceilings is messy business, so remove as much furniture as possible from your space. Not only will this help ensure that your furniture stays clean, but it’ll also give you freedom of movement while you work.

Removing ceiling fixtures and fans is necessary, too. You don’t want to run the risk of getting water in anything electrical, so be sure to cover up any can lights, electrical boxes, and switches. Also, be sure to open the windows to allow for maximum ventilation.

Cover Fixed Furniture and Floor Space

This is a good time to cover the floor and any leftover furniture or belongings with a tarp, and the walls with plastic sheeting (pro-tip: use painter’s tape to attach the sheeting). This will make for a much easier clean up once everything is done.

Spray the Ceiling With Water

Don your dust mask and safety goggles, because now the fun can begin. Start by spraying the ceiling. To allow for much easier scraping and removal, it helps to mist the ceiling with a pump sprayer and let it soak for at least 20 minutes or so beforehand. Just be careful not to soak it through; too much water could damage the Sheetrock underneath.

Scrape in Sections

Photo: ungvar / Adobe Stock

Run your putty knife along the wet ceiling, taking care not to gouge the ceiling. To help prevent gouges, you can round off the corners of your knife with a file or sander. Go around the room until all the texture has been removed. It’s typically easier to work in smaller sections, about four square feet or so. Not only does it make the large project more manageable, but the popcorn may dry out too soon and you’ll have to re-wet it if you do too large of a section at once.

Patch Up Imperfections

Once you’ve removed all the texture, you may need to patch some areas of drywall. Popcorn ceilings hide imperfections like visible joints or screws, so patching is likely. Cover any joints or screws with joint compound.

Refinish the Ceiling

Now, it’s time to make your ceiling shine. Give your ceiling a look over to ensure all imperfections are taken care of. If you’re still not happy with the final result, you can apply (or reapply) joint compound to ensure a smooth finish before painting. After you’ve done your repair work, sand the ceiling and give it a fresh coat of paint.

Clean Up

If you’ve kept the plastic sheeting down, then it’s hopefully caught the majority of the mess, so you can simply roll it up and dispose of the filled sheets. However, if you’ve done the ceilings of your whole house, all the sheets may not fit in a garbage bin or curbside pickup. You can rent a dumpster and have access to it for as long as you need, or hire a junk removal service to haul it away for you.