Remove Popcorn Ceilings

If you want to get rid of popcorn ceilings, you're not alone. Removing popcorn ceilings makes it to the list of top 10 home-maintenance questions "This Old House" receives. Popcorn ceilings have uneven surfaces that were fashionable in the 1950s. However, people typically consider them an eyesore now. Popcorn ceilings also present a challenge to clean due to their texture. Because of these qualities, popcorn ceilings can drag down the value of a property, according to MSN Real Estate.

Instructions

1. Add 1 tbsp. of liquid detergent and 1 cup of water to a spray bottle. Cover and shake to mix.

2. Spray the soapy water on a 1-square-inch patch of the ceiling. Use a putty knife to remove the popcorn texture, placing the sample into a small plastic bag and sealing the bag.

3. Send the sample to an asbestos-testing laboratory. If you have asbestos in your ceiling, you can't safely remove the popcorn texture yourself. You have to hire an asbestos-abatement contractor to get rid of the ceiling texture. Only attempt to remove the popcorn ceiling yourself if your test comes back negative.

4. Remove all the contents of the room in which you want to remove the popcorn texture. Hang plastic sheets from where the walls meet the ceiling and lay a drop cloth on the floor. The removed popcorn material will fall down, so these precautions help keep your things clean.

5. Spray water on the ceiling with a garden hose to loosen the popcorn texture. Let the ceiling texture absorb the water for 10 to 15 minutes.

6. Scrape off the popcorn texture from the ceiling using a wide taping knife, utility knife or drywall knife. Alternatively, use a specialized ceiling-texture scraper, a long-handled scraping tool with a plastic bag to catch the falling debris. Allow the ceiling to dry.

7. Fill in any holes and imperfections on the ceiling with a joint compound. Let the joint compound dry and sand the ceiling to get a smooth surface.

8. Paint the ceiling with a drywall primer, according to product instructions, and flat ceiling paint. A flat finish hides imperfections better than glossier finishes.

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