How To Remove Popcorn Ceiling Faster

Keep your home safe and clean with these popcorn ceiling removal tips!

Nothing feels more disgusting than a popcorn ceiling, and no one likes it. That means if you are looking upward, thinking about how to remove the ugly-looking popcorn ceiling, you are not alone.

Fortunately, we have some good news for you. Removing a popcorn ceiling is easy, and you can do it without hassle.

Scroll down to know how to remove the popcorn ceiling faster.

What is a Popcorn Ceiling?

A popcorn ceiling is a ceiling with one variety of drywall mud, styrofoam, or stucco bits on the ceiling surface.

These are also called acoustic ceilings, stucco ceilings, or cottage cheese ceilings. During the late 20th century, these were a hit because they could absorb sound from above. Also, popcorn ceilings helped in covering ceiling flaws with minimal effort.

But just like other 1980s trends, the era of the popcorn ceiling has also fallen out. In fact, many homeowners now find them unsightly and ugly.

Old popcorn ceilings also come with health risks because they contain a certain amount of asbestos.

Before removing popcorn ceilings, get an EPA-approved test kit to check for asbestos. If asbestos is found, hire an abatement professional for the work.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceiling Faster

Follow these steps to remove your dated popcorn ceiling without any hassle.

#1 Do a Scrape Test

The first step to removing the popcorn ceiling is a quick scrape test. Use a tool to scrape a small area before committing to the entire scrapping process.

You will notice that some texture comes off easily, but sometimes, you need to wet the ceiling with water.

Usually, wetting the area is the perfect solution. Still, if the water soak does not soften the surface, you either have to move further with the difficult scrapping job or look for another method to hide the ugly popcorn ceiling.

#2 Test for Asbestos

Popcorn ceilings installed before the 1980s are likely to have asbestos, which can cause lung cancer. So, get an EPA-approved kit before starting the work. Also, contact your local healthcare department and ask about testing a sample.

If the test comes positive, drop the idea of scraping the popcorn ceiling. Instead, you can cover the ceiling with new drywall or tongue-and-groove planks. But if you want to get rid of the popcorn ceiling, hire an asbestos abatement contractor.

#3 Prepare for Big Mess

Before the work starts, properly cover the floors and walls with plastic wrap or cloth. Avoiding using canvas drop cloth because water can easily soak through them.

Using plastic drop cloth is better because you can roll and throw them in the trash. After scraping all the popcorn ceiling texture, leave the plastic so you can collect the mess from sanding and repairing.

#4 Get the Furniture Out

Try removing all the furniture from the room so they don’t get covered by the dust created while scraping the popcorn ceiling. Taking out furniture also leaves you with enough room to move the ladder without hassle.

If moving the furniture out is not an option, put all of them on one side and cover them with a cloth. It will protect them from the dust.

#5 Remove Ceiling Fixtures and Fans

Honestly, you cannot begin the process of removing ceiling fixtures or fans because they will get in your way. Also, removing them would rule out the possibility of spraying water into electrical fixtures during the process.

#6 Cover Electrical Boxes

Shut off power to all the appliances in the ceiling and cover them with painter’s tape to keep the wiring dry during the process. Likewise, cover the electrical boxes with tape, so you do not damage them during the process.

#7 Use a Pump Spray

Use a garden pump spray to scrape the popcorn ceiling easily. It will also reduce the dust created during the process.

After spraying the ceiling, let it soak for a few minutes before beginning the scraping work. Give light misting because too much water can damage the drywall.

If the popcorn ceiling doesn’t seem to soften after a few minutes, spray again. But if the ceiling doesn’t soften even after several attempts, it means the ceiling has been painted. Or paint might have been used during the process.

In case the popcorn ceiling is painted, water won’t penetrate. So, you need to dry scrape the surface to reveal the unpainted texture. Then wet the area to scrape the texture easily.

But if the popcorn ceiling texture contains paint, you can either abandon the project or dry-scape the entire surface.

#8 Work in Small Sections

Spraying and scraping the entire ceiling at once can be time-consuming and tiring. So, you should work in a small section of about four square feet.

Also, if you work on too large a surface, the water might dry before you can scrape it off. In such a situation, spray again before scraping the ceiling.

#9 Use a Mud Pan to Collect Mess

Use a mud pan to collect the wet popcorn before it hits the floor. This way, you don’t create a mess while moving the ladder around. A mud pan can also be used to clean the scrapper edge when it gets loaded with wet popcorn.

#10 Prevent Gouging

No matter whether you use a drywall taping knife or a wide putty knife, always round off the corners. It will protect the ceiling from getting unnecessary scratches during the popcorn texture removal process.

#11 Smooth After Scraping

After scalping, don’t leave the ceiling as it is. At the minimum, you must sand the ceiling to get a smooth appearance before painting.

Is Popcorn Ceiling Bad for Your Health

Here’s why popcorn ceiling is bad for you:

Asbestos

One major cause of concern with popcorn ceilings is the use of asbestos. But asbestos won’t be harmful if the property remains completely sealed or the ceiling is not disturbed.

The problem here is if you ever want to renovate your home, asbestos can appear as a major threat. Also, if you are reselling your home, you need to inform your potential buyers, which can even reduce the resale value.

Therefore, remove the popcorn ceiling to eliminate the health risks caused by asbestos. You can either do the work yourself or hire professionals.

Dust Build-Up

If your popcorn ceiling was installed after the 1980s and does not contain asbestos, it’s still bad for your health. How? Well, the texture of the popcorn ceiling acts as a magnet to dust and traps it.

It can increase the chances of developing respiratory illnesses, including allergies.

How Long Does Popcorn Ceiling Last?

If not damaged, the popcorn ceiling can last for decades. The only thing that can make the popcorn ceiling lose its texture is water damage. That’s because the moisture can loosen the texture and make it fall off.

Also, the texture would fall if moving furniture hits the popcorn ceiling. But if your ceiling is painted, it will not get easily damaged as the paint seals the surface.

Why Remove Popcorn Ceiling?

Removing the popcorn ceiling not only reduces the risk of developing respiratory issues or removes asbestos, but it also increases your home’s resale value.

Wondering how? Today homeowners want to purchase a home with a smooth and clean ceiling. They don’t like the idea of a popcorn ceiling.

In fact, once you have removed the popcorn texture from the ceiling, rooms will look brighter and better. That’s because the texture can absorb light, making a room look darker.

The maintenance cost of popcorn ceilings is also pretty high. And if the popcorn texture of a small area is once ruined by water or furniture, it will be difficult to match the texture again. The ruined area will always stay noticeable.

Conclusion

The popcorn ceiling was a popular trend back in the 1980s. But its trend has gone, mainly because it looks ugly and poses various health risks. For starters, most popcorn ceilings have asbestos. Also, the texture of popcorn can trap dust.

To remove the popcorn ceiling, follow the steps mentioned in this post. Make sure you don’t proceed with the popcorn texture removal work if it contains asbestos. Instead, hire abatement professionals for the work.