About Popcorn Textured Ceilings
Popcorn-textured ceilings were a popular form of design back in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, but they have been making a comeback in recent years. The main reason for applying the texture is to create a sense of added flair and depth to a ceiling as well as to hide imperfections in a poor paint job, or to hide water damage and chipped paint. If you're considering working a popcorn texture for your ceilings, keep in mind that it is simple to apply, but difficult to remove.
Identification
Popcorn-textured ceilings can be noticed by the bumps or points that are created and blended into the paint rather than a smooth or flat finish. Some popcorn textures have sparkles or crystals in the paint adding shimmer and color to the ceiling. A popcorn ceiling also can be identified by feeling the roughness and some sharp edges which can poke the skin. The popcorn texture is created from a formula called spray texture and is sold at many home improvement stores around the world. Textured ceilings also can be created by a mixture of paint and spackle that is formed into a thick consistency, and then applied to the ceiling with a trowel or sponge.
Function
The main function of having a popcorn-textured ceiling typically is to hide blemishes and uneven patterns in the ceiling of a home or building. The textured ceiling gives a false impression that the painted area is blemish free, when in fact it could be hiding dips, nicks in the plaster or drywall, as well as gaps between wall edges. Popcorn-textured can add splashes of color and glimmer by adding glitter or small colored gravel to the ceiling, therefore blending into the surrounding decor.
Misconceptions
Some misconceptions of popcorn-textured ceilings are that they are permanent fixtures to the ceiling, and nothing more will need to be done after the texture has been applied. This is true for as long as the ceiling doesn't require a fresh coat of paint. Actually, it is impossible to successfully paint over popcorn-textured ceilings because of the texture not allowing the new paint to adhere properly. The paint will begin to drip profusely, and there will be visible gaps in which the new paint will not be able to apply.
Prevention/Solution
In newly hung drywall or plaster, as well as a new house, popcorn texture is discouraged because the texture will have to be removed if the ceiling is to ever be repainted. This can be a very tedious and time-consuming project. Removing the popcorn texture is not impossible, and can be done with the right tools such as plenty of cotton drop cloths to cover the area and the floor, warm water, sponge, spackle knife or other sharp-edged object, and several plastic tarps on top of the cotton drop cloths. Applying warm water to the texture and then scraping the texture away is the only way to get rid of it rather than removing the drywall or plaster. When removing the texture, extra care has to be taken due to the dust of the texture, the paint chips and accidental damage to the plaster or drywall.
Effects
Popcorn-textured ceilings provide a rich textured look that gives dull and battered ceilings the look of elegance with design flair. Popcorn texture can easily be applied with a special spray gun found in home improvement stores or by a paint brush technique that involves dipping the brush in the paint mixture and then twisting the brush in a method that creates a small mound or raised bump. This is done in a semi-circular motion until the desired effect is reached.
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