How to Remove a Popcorn Textured or Acoustic Ceiling

37Comments

When I removed our popcorn ceiling I taped a large blade to a wide vac nozzle. With the vac running it caught about 95% of the popcorn being removed. Very little cleanup.

TexasTed

Apr 22, at 7:54am

37Comments

That's all well and good, but if the ceiling has been painted once or more times, the water does not penetrate the paint. And let's face it, popcorn ceiling went out of style many years ago so most of the ceilings have been painted.

Geo Donaldson

Apr 21, at 4:14pm

37Comments

Ron,
That the best idea I've seen on removing popcorn ceiling.

Opusherringhead P

Apr 21, at 3:29pm

37Comments

I am glad there are none of these ceilings in my house!

papa11

Apr 21, at 11:16am

37Comments

no, what was left was what YOU would call a "knock-down finish" and what you or the future homeowner will call a unfinished nightmare. Since I assume it's been painted the ceiling will now require a complete skim coat thus costing someone four time the correct removal cost.

Ed Fagan

Jan 8, at 11:15pm

37Comments

You can repair popcorn and you can get it to match. I took me years to perfect the technique though. As for paining popcorn ceilings, I recommend they be removed but if you have to paint those dust collectors they should be sprayed not rolled.

Ed Fagan

Jan 8, at 11:11pm

37Comments

With all due respect, you used far to much water on that ceiling. Also, why the big mess? A six inch blade with a small bucket, hawk or cardboard box will work to catch that slop.

Jan 8, at 11:02pm

37Comments

Thanks. I never would have learned how to take the popcorn off. I will never get that in my home. Vickie

vickie

Nov 15, at 11:33am

37Comments

I would agree, if the age of the ceiling is unknown. In my house, I know it exactly: we built it in 1999, 20 years after asbestos was outlawed.

It's still dusty, be sure to wear a mask! I tend to do things a bit at a time, so have been removing the ceiling in our dining room one 2x12 strip per day. Takes longer, but less concentrated stress.

MSue

Nov 4, at 3:06pm

37Comments

Hi Taylor,

Here is an article that goes over the different types of drywall availiable. http://www.diynetwork.com/wind...

Emily Lyman
Ron Hazelton Team

Emily Lyman

Oct 5, at 7:09pm

37Comments

Hi Kam,

Here is a video series that may help with your texturing project. http://www.ehow.com/video_4426...

Emily Lyman
Ron Hazelton Team

Emily Lyman

Oct 5, at 7:06pm

37Comments

I wish I had seen this before I sanded the pop corn off it was messy with dust everywhere

Walter L Austin

Aug 26, at 1:32pm

37Comments

My husband and I bought an unfinished home a couple months ago, and this week the drywall is going in. We've never bought a house before, and we are wondering if there is such a thing as "cheap" drywall and "expensive" drywall? We'd like to have good drywall on our walls, but we don't know the difference between the two. Is there a way to tell a difference? Is there a way to prevent molding in the "drywall" phase of building?

Taylor Parker

Jul 24, at 10:35am

37Comments

omg it looks like alot of work

becky

Jul 23, at 10:29pm

37Comments

Great video. I have heard of doing this yourself but never knew how, and I'm glad you posted this video! This could definitely come in handy one day when I own my own home.

Liz Newey

Jul 16, at 9:40am

37Comments

to Barbara D you had a contractor tell u they would just patch the popcorn, No good, it won't match. My brother is a contractor and he said that is just lazy the whole thing should be removed and redone. Another question: You can paint Popcorn?? I thought that painting it would cause it to fall off?? If water can remove it, wouldn't the liquid in latex paint cause it damange??? and beside spray painting it, how would u paint it, U can't even dust it with a feather duster without lil sharpe peices raining down on you??

samantha woods

Jun 14, at 10:46am

37Comments

My father died of the asbestos-caused lung cancer; don't take the ease with which popcorn removal is depicted overcome the recommendation to have EPA testing done. The last five years of dad's "life" would certainly indicate that a couple of grand for a trained contractor is a lot cheaper than expensive repeated treatments, and gruesome pain. He worked in the construction trades and was in WWII in the Navy; asbestos in both places. I wish he was still with us, but I wouldn't wish the conditions of his death on my worst enemy.

George Fuller

Jun 7, at 4:25pm

37Comments

Yoo can't believe..it looks like piece of cake man - i'm going to scrap off popcorn myself.. contractor told me over 3K...I think i could do this my self under 300 bucks!

May 13, at 4:40am

37Comments

I simply scraped our unpainted popcorn ceilings with a wide putty knife. I held a paint roller tray with my other hand to catch a lot of the debris. It left what you would call a knock-down finish which is very attractive. I did tape and plastic-cover the walls and floors first.

Ann

Apr 29, at 10:58am

37Comments

Have you tried the scraper attached to a pan that connects to an extension handle, I have and it would work great if I would have filed the corners down like Ron did on his mud knife. Try it

Billy Walton

Apr 21, at 4:58am

37Comments

We had a plumbing leak, so instead of replace the popcorn ceiling decided to take it down. First of all it is a LOT HARDER than this. Depending on the type of popcorn ceiling that is up there and if there is paint over it, etc. We discovered that there were different sections of the popcorn (Our condo is 41 years old , so previous owners did different work.) In some areas, (dining room) the popcorn came off as Ron showed without much damage to the ceiling. But for the living room ( a MUCH bigger room) it was awful. It took much more water, blood, sweat and tears and the popcorn would barely come off without intense scraping. Furthermore, due to the intensity of the project, much of the drywall became damaged in these areas. We found several badly patched areas underneath the popcorn and will need to apply compound or fast set to the ENTIRE ceiling. It took 3 days at 10 hours per day to remove the ceiling and that did not include cleanup. As much plastic as we put up and on the floors, there was still a fine dust that we are still finding. GOOD LUCK. Be prepared to spend some time on this.

Vicki

Mar 28, at 3:41pm

37Comments

I actually like the look of popcorn ceiling if done right. The thing is i hate that it gets dirty and dusty. Thats the problem i have right now at my home. Not sure how long that popcorn ceiling been up there and it looks dingy.

Angel

Feb 16, at 6:15am

37Comments

I used a big lightwieght trash can lid to catch the wet popcorn.Alot less mess.Thanks

kim bennett

Feb 12, at 10:39am

37Comments

I was able to do this for one room where the ceiling was not painted. Can you follow the same easy steps for a room that was painted (latex paint)?

Larry

Jan 26, at 2:03am

37Comments

The previous owner of my home hit the popcorn ceiling with a latex paint. This was a bit of a pain to work with, so I grazed the top layers of paint with a sander then hit it with the water sprayer and it came off pretty easy, thanks for the video!

Alex

Jan 2, at 8:35pm

37Comments

Excellent video and easy steps to follow. I think my only hold up now is how to do a knockdown texture on the ceiling after I prime it. I'm doing an eight bedroom home and I've never done texture before, but I think with the right instruction I'll be just fine. Any tips or a video would be very helpful.

Michael La Guardia

Jan 2, at 6:30pm

37Comments

Great information.

Gwen

Nov 26, at 9:25am

37Comments

Textured ceilings are not, to my mind, a great look. Around here they are usually sponged on joint compound over drywall sealed with many years of water-resistant paint. If I were dealing with one I'd spend the money dedicated to plastic protection on drywall board and just over lay the old ceiling. You have to tape joints, cover nails and paint anyway...

Old Grey Dog

Nov 25, at 12:20pm

37Comments

Ron, The video makes it look so easy to remove the popcorn. Do you have a companion video showing how to texture / refinish the ceiling after the popcorn has been removed?

Kam Leo

Nov 20, at 1:59pm

37Comments

In step 6, I use a narrower scraper (6") and hold a plastic bucket underneath it as I scrape. There is no mess to pick up from the floor.

Jon Ryan

Nov 19, at 7:40pm

37Comments

Help. We have textured ceilings throughout our house. We would love to get rid of the texture but don't know how. The ceiling has a crack or two here and there. Replacing it is not really an option due to the 24 or so inches of insulation blown in above it. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you

Ray Varner

Nov 13, at 10:04pm

37Comments

I missed the episode on the acoustic ceilings. However, after looking at it on you're website, I thought I might add one little tidbit of knowledge I picked up during my 38 years as a professional painter and contractor. In the event you run across an acoustic ceiling that has been painted at one time or another. The water and scrape method may not work that well for you. What I have found that works, and will keep you from throwing you're hands up in frustration and anger. Get yourself a good exterior paint scraper. The type w/the long handle and 4 sided square blade (HYDE). Soon without that much effort you will through with you're scraping chores, and on w/you're drywall touch-up. I hope that this information will benefit anyone stuck in this situation. TKX. JEFF HUNTER EAST TEXAS

JEFF HUNTER

Nov 6, at 9:37am

37Comments

At first I was excited that there might be an easier way to restore a popcorn ceiling to a smooth finish, I'm a contractor in Annapolis MD and I have a few issues with this method. First I don't advise anyone to use alot of water indoors even with plastic down, water is every homes enemy. Second wetting drywall is the worst thing for it, mold spores gorge themselves on drywall paper and introducing moisture is not my advice, also this reduces the life and integrity of the drywall. Unfortunately there are only two options I recommend for a professional result and lasting workmanship. First scrape it with a drywall knife, then palm sand with 150 grit. Then skim coat with ez sand and prime, repeat til you approve. If the ceiling is in bad condition I would replace the whole ceiling.

Ryan Green

Nov 3, at 3:09pm

37Comments

I had a contractor look at my ceiling while giving me a bid for updating my bathrooms. He suggested just removing the 2x3 area resulting from a leak and that his men could "patch" that area. If I need to paint the entire ceiling so the color will match, is that possible and what kind of paint should I use?

Barbara Duncan

Sep 21, at 3:05pm

37Comments

THE VIDEO MADE IT SEEM SO SIMPLE. I'VE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE POPCORN CEILING SINCE I PURCHASED MY HOME 8 YEARS AGO. I THINK I CAN DO IT, AND WILL SOON GIVE IT A TRY., THANKS FOR ALL THE NEEDED INFORMATION!!!!!!!!

RITA

Sep 11, at 3:28pm

37Comments

You made that look so easy I believe I will attempt to undertake it. I have lived here since 1991, and I always hate how dust collects and hangs on the popcorn so this will be my perfect opportunity to get rid of it once and for all. Thanks for the suggestion!

Debbie Harris

Aug 27, at 6:15am

37Comments

Very well done and contained all the information I was looking for! Keep up the good work!

Jim

Aug 18, at 11:16am

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How to Remove a Popcorn Textured or Acoustic Ceiling