How to remove popcorn ceiling: 5 steps for easy removal

Is there a previous development much more despised than a popcorn ceiling? If you uncover yourself staring upward, asking yourself how to clear away popcorn ceiling, you are most definitely not by itself.

A beloved interior style pattern in seventies, popcorn ceiling is also acknowledged as acoustic ceilings or stucco ceilings. They were being in the beginning set up to assistance absorb seem from earlier mentioned or to deal with up any pre-present blemishes and imperfections in the ceiling. But like numerous traits from this time period of time, the popcorn ceiling has fallen out of favor and numerous owners are thinking how to take out a popcorn ceiling, or how to basic disguise this now loathed style element.

Completely ready to deal with the property enhancement occupation on your own and discover how to get rid of a popcorn ceiling? We requested how to eliminate popcorn ceilings safely and securely and very easily.

How to get rid of popcorn ceiling

If you are weary of on the lookout up at your current popcorn ceiling and are ready for a makeover, there is good information to be experienced. Getting rid of a popcorn ceiling is an uncomplicated Do it yourself venture that just needs some time, muscle mass and nominal expenditure.

Could your ceiling ideas be ripe for rediscovery? The ceiling holds limitless choices for creative imagination, and ought to be taken care of with the same thought as any other wall in your household. If you eradicating your popcorn ceiling is not an possibility, you can also try masking it up with on-trend wooden paneling suggestions for partitions, plaster, tin tiles or glass.

1. Examination for asbestos

In advance of you start, it’s vital to make confident that your ceilings really don’t have asbestos. Prior to the early 1980s, asbestos was an ingredient that quite a few made use of in textured popcorn ceilings. The popcorn-like texture was applied to support dwelling builders deal with sound journey, and it was a terrific hearth retardant.

We advise getting this ‘fifth’ wall analyzed by a expert, or you could also invest in a do-it-your self take a look at package from the components keep, which will involve you to send out the samples to a registered lab. If you go the Do-it-yourself take a look at route, make confident to use the acceptable basic safety gear, such as gloves, a ventilator or dusk mask, and eye safety.

If your ceiling assessments beneficial, you ought to have a qualified accredited in asbestos abatement to take away the texture, or you could request them to cover the full ceiling with paneling, drywall or plaster.

2. Prepare for removal

If your popcorn ceiling doesn’t contain asbestos you can put together for removal, but acquire acceptable protection safety measures. ‘It’s always best to put on a particulate mask in the course of removing,’ says Jeremy Hume, president and CEO of Phoenix CR Professional. Use goggles to shield your eyes, also.

Get the area prepared by taking away all of the furnishings, using added care of anything at all precious or sentimental. Mask walls with painter’s plastic, and protect the ground with plastic sheeting. ‘It’s best not to use a fabric tarp to include the floors as the cloth isn’t waterproof,’ states Jeremy.

It is critical to change off the electric power to the home, and open the room’s windows to assure fantastic air flow.

Fortuitously, the venture doesn’t demand any special or specially high priced applications. The essential popcorn ceiling elimination applications include:

Putty knife or taping knife
Drop cloths or plastic sheeting (plastic sheeting is regarded as a far better choice thanks to its watertight nature)
Yard sprayer
Basic safety goggles
Dust mask

4. Spray the ceiling with h2o

Unsurprisingly, a wet ceiling will be less difficult to scrape than a dry just one, so start out by working with a yard sprayer to soaked the ceiling to soften the substance.

‘Using a pump yard sprayer, lightly spray a around 5 by 5 toes part with drinking water, and wait around 10 to 15 minutes to allow for the drinking water to penetrate the popcorn,’ claims Jeremy Hume. ‘Don’t soak the ceiling as this can harm the drywall.

You will want to get the job done in tiny sections if not the parts will dry before you achieve them. Right after you spray with a back garden sprayer, wait about 10-15 minutes to allow for the h2o to fully absorb.

Now you’re prepared to start off scraping. ‘Use a putty knife and carefully run it alongside the moist ceiling,’ he suggests. Be careful not to gouge the ceiling content beneath.

Make your way all-around the place, till all the texture has been taken out. You may well have to have to go about stubborn areas much more than once. Endurance and persistence is a advantage when eliminating popcorn ceiling.

5. Sand, primary and paint

The moment the popcorn ceiling has been properly taken out, the ceiling can be sanded, any required repairs created. If there is any problems to the ceiling, this sort of as gouges, fix with joint compound ahead of you start sanding.

Following sanding the ceiling, give it a clean coat of paint. When the paint work is entire and dry, take away the plastic sheeting, reinstall any lights and ceiling lovers, and marvel at your newly clean ceiling.