How to Remove an Acoustic Popcorn Ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are one of the easiest renovations a home owner can do themselves. A popcorn ceiling is the type found in older homes that has a bumpy texture. It gets its name because it looks like popcorn which has been applied to the ceiling. Modern homes do not use this texture because it is considered out of style. Also, a popcorn ceiling can easily trap hair and dust, and create problems for those with allergies. These ceilings are easy to remove, once you know the proper technique.

The tools you will need are a large flat scraper, like the type you would apply drywall mud with, a water bottle, a drop-cloth, a bucket, and a ladder tall enough to reach the ceiling. The technique is simple. In order to set up, pick a small area, preferably in a corner, and place the drop-cloth on the ground below the area where you are working. Setup your ladder in this area, and have all your tools within easy reach.

First, spray a small area with water from the water bottle. It should be fairly damp, but not soaked. This will loosen the mixture that holds the popcorn texture to the ceiling. Let this soak in for a short amount of time. Then, after you have waited several minutes, begin scraping. Use the flat scraper and work a small amount of the popcorn texture off the ceiling. Be careful to leave it almost flat because you do not want to gouge your ceiling. Once you have an area wide enough for the entire scraper, it becomes much easier. Simply wet the popcorn texture and scrape.

You may notice that certain areas are more difficult to do than others. The reason behind this is simple. When drywall is applied to the ceiling, it is screwed in, and then the places where it has been screwed in and the edges are covered over with what is called "drywall mud". Popcorn texture is small particles of plastic, or some other material, that is suspended in drywall mud. Because it is being applied to a similar surface, it clings to it very well. So there are certain places on the ceiling where you may have to scrape a little harder. Take care in these areas not to gouge the ceiling.

Finally, before you begin, you should be aware that some popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos or lead paint if the paint is old. It is always best to test for these because of the damage they can cause. Even if it does not contain lead paint or asbestos, it is best to wear a mask and eye protection. Also, once the ceiling has been removed, you will need to apply some other type of finish. If they installed the popcorn ceiling directly to the drywall, they probably did not finish it properly for a flat ceiling.

Removing a popcorn ceiling is an easy, if messy, chore. But it will increase the value of your home and make it more livable for allergy sufferers. There is no difficulty to it, and even the most inexperienced homeowner can do this task without the help of a contractor.