Keep the popcorn where it belongs—in the movie theater
Popcorn ceilings were once popular for their soundproofing and ability to hide imperfections during construction. But with changing aesthetics and concerns about asbestos—which was used in some older popcorn ceiling formulations—you may be ready to say goodbye to the textured look. Follow the below steps to safely scrape off the texture and get a smooth finish.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If asbestos is a factor, your ceilings are super high, or you simply decide you’d rather not take on this messy, time-consuming project yourself, hire a professional to get the job done.
If you detect (or suspect) that your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, stop the project immediately and call a pro to test for asbestos. Attempts to remove asbestos yourself put you at risk for exposure to asbestos fibers during removal, requiring specialized training, equipment, and proper disposal methods.
If asbestos is not an issue, but spending a weekend staring at walls doesn’t sound like fun, a local popcorn ceiling removal contractor can help you achieve the smooth ceiling you want, without risking damage to your drywall.
In terms of how much it costs to remove a popcorn ceiling, the average cost for a pro to do the job is around $1,900. This cost is largely dependent on the size and complexity of the job, as well as where you live. The cost to remove popcorn ceilings is around $2,000 if you hire a local popcorn ceiling pro. If you have a larger house or particularly high ceilings, on the other hand, you can expect to pay as much as $2,900.
Justine Harrington contributed to this article.
Whether you plan on selling your home or not, removing popcorn ceiling is almost always a smart idea. Not only will you enjoy it as a homeowner, but it also gives a home a much more updated, clean look. Additionally, if the popcorn ceiling is old, it can be a health hazard because it may contain asbestos.
Popcorn ceilings that do or do not contain asbestos are practically indistinguishable. The only way to know is through an asbestos test. The best indicator to look for is if your home was built between 1950 and 1980.
Yes, you can cover up popcorn ceiling with ceiling-grade drywall instead of removing it. This is advantageous versus removal for a couple of reasons. If you have asbestos in the popcorn ceiling, then it’s a way of enclosing the area and sealing it off. It also creates a smooth, seamless finish for the ceiling.
