Test for Asbestos
Cut a small sample of the blown-on acoustical ceiling directly into a clean plastic baggie, seal it tightly, and have it tested at an asbestos testing lab. If the results are positive for asbestos, stop at this step and contract with a certified asbestos removal firm to remove this hazardous material! Proceed only if the test was negative for asbestos!

Protect Furniture, Walls and Floor
Remove furniture. The project will be messy rather than difficult, and will require protecting furniture, walls, and floor from water and debris during the removal process.

Disable Electrical Circuits
Throw the necessary breakers at the circuit breaker box to disable electrical circuits for overhead lighting, light switches, and outlets.

Confirm Power is Off
Insert a circuit tester in the receptacles in the project room to confirm the power is off. Water used in this project to soften the acoustic ceiling will create a wet environment and possible electrical hazard.

Remove Light Fixtures
Take down any overhead or wall-mounted light fixtures.

Cover Floor
Cover the floor with heavy-duty plastic sheeting.

Apply Plastic Patch
Apply a small plastic patch sealed against the wall with painter

Extend Plastic Sheeting up the Wall
Extend the plastic floor sheeting up the wall about 12 inches and seal the edge entirely with masking tape to prevent any water from running down the wall and seeping under the baseboards.

Run a Line of Painter
Run a line of painter

Roll Out Layer of Rosin Paper
Roll out a layer of rosin paper to absorb water that falls from the ceiling and to help prevent the floor from getting slippery. Apply heavy-duty masking tape or duct tape along the overlapping edges to hold the strips of paper in place.

Spary Ceiling with Water
Fill a clean pump garden sprayer with plain water and spray the ceiling in individual 4-5 square foot areas. Make several passes to let the water soak in and thoroughly wet the material. To avoid letting the water soak through and damaging the surface of the wallboard underneath, do not over wet the ceiling.

Scrape Off Popcorn Surface
Use a joint knife with the sharp corners filed smooth (to prevent gouges and tears), and gently scrape off the popcorn surface. If scraping does not easily remove the popcorn, dampen the surface again and wait a few more minutes for it to soak in thoroughly. Work across the room, scraping areas that you dampened first.

Lay Down Additional Rosin Paper
Lay down additional pieces of rosin paper, if the volume of removed material on the floor becomes an issue. Layer the paper on top of the existing debris to provide a cleaner walking surface until all the popcorn has been removed.

Pull Down Plastic Draping
Pull down the plastic draping and other protective materials. Allowing them to dry first will limit the mess. Roll them, the rosin paper, and debris together in one bundle and put it in a plastic bag for the garbage. Leave the layer of plastic sheeting on the floor to collect the joint compound and sanding debris.

Remove Loose Joint Tape
Lay down a thin layer of joint compound, after removing any loose joint tape that has separated from the ceiling because of the moisture.

Use Fresh Joint Tape Over Joint Compound
Cut a length of fresh joint tape and dip it in water to make it stick better on the layer of joint compound just applied and to avoid air bubbles. Use your fingers to squeegee off excess water. Align the tape over the joint, and use the joint knife to apply another thin layer of compound and press the tape firmly against the ceiling. Repeat the process anywhere the tape detached from the ceiling.

Refill Nail Holes
Use the joint knife and compound to refill nail holes flush with the rest of the ceiling. Applying two thin coats is faster than overfilling and then having to sand off ridges. Two thin coats dry faster, too.

Smooth Repairs
Use sanding mesh on a pole sander to smooth the repairs after they dry.

Complete with Joint Compound, Primer and Topcoat
Apply a second coat of compound and re-sand problem areas. Complete with one to two light skim coats of joint compound prior to painting with a primer intended specifically for wallboard. Topcoat the dry ceiling with paint or texturing material, as desired.