How can you make your home look better? One of the best ways is to remove those ugly popcorn ceilings. If you have one in your home, then you`re not alone. Popcorn ceilings are very common especially in the past late century.

However, these ceilings are not only unsightly, but they also have a tendency to crumble and fall on people when walking under them making them a hazard in your home.

You might not have given it much thought, but those popcorn ceilings are also actually hiding a lot of dirt and grime. For these reasons, it’s time to remove these ceilings once and for all. The good news is that removing these ceilings without any professional help is easy. Below is a guide to show you how.

What are Popcorn Ceilings?

Popcorn Ceilings are quite popular in the mid-to-late 20th century and had become a growing trend that almost every household had one since then. They are often known by various names such as acoustic ceilings, cottage cheese ceilings, and stucco ceilings.

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A popcorn ceiling was installed by builders to aid in the absorption of sound coming from above and also cover up blemishes in the ceiling.

The problem with this type of ceilings is that they get worn out as time goes by which can make your room unpleasing to look at. They have also been known for becoming cracked or crumbling over time which can lead to dust falling on whoever walks under them. This debris can actually contain asbestos fibers as well as lead paint chips which can be dangerous. 

Materials needed:

  • ladder
  • safety goggles
  • dust mask
  • a garden sprayer
  • a wide putty knife or drywall taping knife
  • drop cloths or plastic sheeting
  • painter’s tape

Removing Popcorn Ceilings

Let’s now move forward and start to discuss how to remove popcorn ceilings. Below is a simple guide to help you with this simple project:

1. Test for Asbestos

The first step you need to do before starting is to test for asbestos on your textured ceilings. Asbestos was the main ingredient that was used to create textured popcorn ceilings. This helped homeowners lessen the sound from above it as well as make an excellent fire retardant. 

To do this, you can hire a professional to test the surface of your ceilings or buy a do-it-yourself test kit from your local hardware store and send the sample to a lab. For those who opt for the DIY method, Keep in mind to wear proper protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and a ventilator or dusk mask. If it does test positive, make sure to hire a licensed professional to remove it.

2. Cover It Up

Removing Asbestos can become quite messy. So, to protect your floors and other items you have in your room, cover them up using drop cloths and tarps. To begin, first, remove all the furniture you have in your room. If you have any ceiling fans or hanging lights, make sure to take them down as well to make removing them easier.

Then use plastic sheetings by attaching them to the walls. Also, since there will be water involved make sure to cover any electrical outlets and turn off your HVAC system and close all vents. Lastly, keep the room well ventilated by opening any windows to make the air circulate. This allows you to breathe easier when you begin working on the removal project.

3. Make it Wet and Scrape!

Experts recommend working with a wet ceiling as it is easier to scrape the popcorn texture off compared to a dry one. Using a garden sprayer, wet a small part (preferably four-by-four-foot)  of the ceiling. Make sure not to soak it with water though.

This is because the water will penetrate underneath and damage the Sheetrock. Just wet down only the part you’ll work with first as the other parts will then get dry when you reach it. Once its wet, you can now begin scraping using a wide putty knife or drywall taping knife. Gently run the knife along with the wet parts while making sure not to gouge the ceiling beneath it.

4. Finish it Smoothly

Lastly, finish the removal by sanding it to make it smooth once again. Once sanding is done, prime your ceiling and then paint it with your chosen color to match the room. Just make sure that the floors are fully covered to avoid any paint stains from above.