Popcorn ceiling texture removal generates tremendous amounts of dust. Wear a dust mask or respirator mask to protect your lungs.
Popcorn ceiling texture, an acoustical application, was used in the '60s and '70s as a way to inexpensively give a ceiling a textured look. Due to the ease of application and the ability to cover up any flaws in the ceiling, including flaws in workmanship, carpenters and home owners used it often. The textured ceiling is hard to clean and today's homeowners, buyers and sellers alike, groan whenever a popcorn ceiling is addressed. The removal of popcorn ceiling texture is a messy and, if it contains asbestos, a dangerous undertaking that can only improve your home's value once it's removed. (See Reference 1)
Instructions
1. Decide if you really want to tackle this project on your own or if you should hire a professional removal company. The physical demand of working above your head for hours on end is sometimes worth the extra money to hire professionals. Dangers of breathing dust that may contain asbestos, as well as the damage to your home's drywall if removal is done improperly, poses health risks as well as risks to your wallet. (See Reference 1)
2. Test the popcorn texture for asbestos before starting your project. To do this, spray a small area of the ceiling with water and use putty knife to scrape off a square inch of the texture into a baggie. Seal the baggie and send to an asbestos testing lab, which can be located in the yellow pages of your local phone book. If your ceiling contains asbestos, then some areas require professional removal. Check with your local building inspector for laws concern asbestos removal. (See Reference 2)
3. Prepare the room by removing all furniture. Tape off light switches and electrical sockets and lay out plastic sheeting to completely cover the flooring. Install plastic flaps for entryways over doors and windows. Staple or tape plastic sheeting from the top of the walls to the floor and tape the wall plastic to the . This will help you keep the dust contained as you remove the popcorn texture. Lay a second layer of flooring plastic in overlapping sections but do not tape this layer together. (See Reference 2)
4. Shut off air conditioning or ventilation systems to further contain the dust being released into the air. Popcorn texture is composed of drywall compound and bits of Styrofoam and as it is scraped, fine particles of dust could invade your entire home. (See Reference 2)
5. Wrap rags around the legs of the stepladder to prevent the legs from tearing the plastic as you move the ladder around the room. (See Reference 2)
6. Suit up into protective gear. Overalls, boots, head covering, gloves, face mask and eye protection are all a must when removing popcorn ceiling texture. (See Reference 1)
7. In a tank sprayer, mix 1 cup dish detergent with 5 gallons of water. Spray the ceiling with the mixture and allow water to penetrate the popcorn texture, waiting about 20 minutes. Test to see if the mixture has fully penetrated the texture by scraping a small section. If the popcorn texture is not fully wet, then respray and wait an additional 15 minutes. (See Reference 2)
8. Scrape the popcorn texture off the ceiling once it is fully saturated with the soap and water mixture. Use the bladed putty knife to scrape the texture. Allow the texture to fall onto the plastic, as you will be using it to help clean up after the process is complete. (See Reference 2)
9. Wrap the loose plastic around the debris when you are done scraping the popcorn texture off the ceiling. Dispose of plastic and debris together. (See Reference 2)
10. Refinish the ceiling before removing the plastic from the walls and the floor. Remove the wall and floor covering by rolling to capture any debris remaining on the plastic. Wipe walls, trim, doors and windows with wet rags to clean up any dust that escaped the plastic coverings. (See Reference 2)
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