Popcorn ceiling texture can be removed more easily than you might think.
Spray-on acoustic textured ceilings, also known as "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" ceilings, are popular among builders because they are attractive and easy to install. If your popcorn ceiling is no longer attractive you can safely remove it using water and a putty knife. Using water lets you avoid hours of tedious and dusty sanding.
Instructions
1. Test a sample of your ceiling for asbestos and lead before you begin to remove it. Popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 could contain asbestos or could be painted with lead-based paint. If it contains asbestos or lead, leave the removal to a professional.
2. Remove all furniture, draperies and ceiling fixtures from the room. Turn off all electrical breakers running to the room and test each receptacle with a circuit tester to make sure the power is off.
3. Use painter's tape to secure two layers of heavy-duty plastic to the wall 1 foot above the baseboards. If you don't have a large enough sheet to form a basin to catch excess water and ceiling pieces, fasten two sheets of plastic together with duct tape.
4. Put down a layer of red rosin paper to absorb water and prevent slippage.
5. Apply a strip of painter's tape along the wall where it meets the ceiling and tape sheets of plastic to that strip of tape to protect the walls.
6. Don a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, a hat (or protective helmet), work gloves, a breathing mask and safety goggles.
7. Knock the peaks of the texture off with a wide putty knife if the has been painted. This lets water penetrate to break the bond between the texture and the drywall.
8. Mist the popcorn texture with water. A fine mist sprayer on a garden hose makes large areas easy to cover. A plastic spray bottle is suitable only for very small rooms, such as bathrooms or closets.
9. Scrape the texture off with your putty knife five minutes after spraying. If it doesn't come off easily, use a second coat of water. Scrape the ceiling gently to avoid damaging the underlying drywall joints.
10. Carefully inspect the drywall and joints after the popcorn texture has been removed and the ceiling is dry. Patch any holes or uneven joints with drywall joint compound and sand smooth before painting.
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