A popcorn ceiling has been sprayed with a coating of textured material. Before 1980, this mixture often included asbestos. After 1980, asbestos was banned and replaced by talc. Many homeowners choose to remove older popcorn ceilings because the texture material can flake off and is difficult to patch and paint.
Materials
The cost of your materials will depend on the size of your room. A contractor will already have the tools needed to complete the job. However, supplies that cannot be reused will incur additional costs.
If you are doing the job yourself, you can use common painting tools that you probably already have. You will need to purchase protective plastic to cover your walls and floor. Measure the square footage to determine how much plastic you will need. You also will need painters' tape to attach the plastic, as well as joint compound and joint tape to touch up the ceiling after removing the popcorn texture. When calculating costs, remember to include wallboard sealant, primer and paint for finishing the ceiling. Also include incidental supplies such as paint roller covers.
Labor
The largest expense when paying a contractor to remove a popcorn ceiling is the labor involved in room preparation and cleanup. Some contractors also may charge a disposal fee if the ceiling debris cannot be discarded along with regular household waste. To save money, homeowners can do many of these tasks themselves.
Test for Asbestos
If your popcorn ceiling was installed before 1980, you must have it tested to see if it contains asbestos. A contractor will require that this test be done before accepting the job. To collect a sample, wet a small section of the ceiling texture and scrape a small amount into a sealable plastic bag. Call your state health department for a list of laboratories certified to test for asbestos. You will have to pay a fee for the test, roughly $40 when this article was written.
Ceilings with Asbestos
If the popcorn ceiling tests positive for asbestos, some states will allow you to remove it without hiring a contractor. Your local health department can tell you the rules and give you information on safe removal. If your state does not allow do-it-yourself removal, you will need to hire a company licensed for asbestos removal. This can be quite expensive, and you may choose to paint over the popcorn ceiling rather than have it removed.
Ceilings without Asbestos
If the popcorn ceiling does not have asbestos, it is up to you to decide if you want to hire a contractor to do the work. The removal process is uncomplicated: Remove all furniture and ceiling fixtures. Cover the walls and floor with plastic and tape all seams together. Wet sections of the ceiling with a spray bottle of water. Allow the water to soak in, then scrape off the texture with a spackle knife. Roll up the plastic from the floor and dispose of the plastic and debris. Touch up any loose joint tape and patch holes in the ceiling sheetrock. Seal the bare sheetrock, prime and then paint.
Safety
Popcorn ceilings may contain talc. Although it is less harmful than asbestos and there is minimal risk of inhaling dust from the dampened surface, a respirator will protect your lungs. Wear safety glasses or goggles to keep material out of your eyes. The ingredients in the popcorn texture also could irritate your skin, so cover up to prevent a rash from an allergic reaction.
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