QA

Quick Answer: How To Scrape Painted Popcorn Ceiling

When scraping popcorn ceilings, you’ll want to use a 4-inch utility knife or a drywall knife to chip away at the texture and create a smooth surface. You’ll probably need to skim it with a thin layer of joint compound to smooth out imperfections, then sand it smooth before repainting.

How do you scrape off popcorn ceiling that has been painted?

Removing a Painted Popcorn Ceiling To help breakdown the paint, spray a mixture of one part vinegar to ten parts water on the surface of the ceiling. Use a 4-inch utility knife/type scraper to remove the material. This method is messy and slow, but it works.

Can you scrape popcorn ceilings that have been painted?

Yes, popcorn ceilings can be removed after they have been painted. Removing the ceiling is much easier if it has never been painted, but it can be removed either way.

How do you remove a painted textured ceiling?

How to Remove a Painted Stomp Textured Ceiling Cover the floor with plastic sheeting, and hang plastic in the doorways. Scrape the ceiling with a hard-bristle push broom. Fill a garden sprayer with water, pump it up and spray the ceiling thoroughly. Scrape off the softened texture with a drywall knife.

What is the easiest way to remove popcorn ceiling texture?

“Use a wide putty knife or drywall taping knife and gently run it along the wet ceiling,” he says. Be careful not to gouge the ceiling beneath. (Filing the edges of your putty knife can help avoid gouges.) Make your way around the room, until all the texture has been removed.

Can popcorn ceiling be sanded off?

When scraping popcorn ceilings, you’ll want to use a 4-inch utility knife or a drywall knife to chip away at the texture and create a smooth surface. You’ll probably need to skim it with a thin layer of joint compound to smooth out imperfections, then sand it smooth before repainting.

Do you need to sand after removing popcorn ceiling?

You need to properly sand the ceiling once you remove the popcorn and top off the bad seams and the dings. Priming the ceiling before painting will be a wise move. Painting on bare drywall will absorb the paint’s moisture and will not allow even distribution of the texture.

Is it worth it to remove popcorn ceiling?

It’s time consuming and annoying, so if you’re bothered enough by it you can have it removed. It’s worth remembering that removing the ceiling in itself will cause a lot more dirt and dust around your home, at least while the work is being carried out. If you’re ok with that, then removing the ceiling is a good idea.

How can I cover my popcorn ceiling without removing it?

Popcorn ceilings should be covered with lighter materials such as paint, paneling, or planks. One option to consider is gypsum board paneling, a material that is very similar to drywall, but much lighter and easier for the ceiling to support.

How do you change a textured ceiling to smooth?

Add some joint compound to the hawk. Scoop a small amount of the joint compound off the hawk using the taping knife, and then apply it in thin, smooth coats over the textured ceiling. This technique requires multiple coats, so don’t feel the need to fill in all the low spots on the first pass.

How can I tell if my popcorn ceiling has asbestos?

You can test a popcorn ceiling for the presence of asbestos by carefully scraping a small sample into a plastic bag and having it tested at an EPA-accredited lab. While homeowners are allowed to remove a popcorn ceiling that contains the material, a professional asbestos remediation company should do the job.

Are all popcorn ceilings asbestos?

Do All Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos? So, in 1977, the U.S. government banned the use of asbestos in ceilings and most ceilings installed after this date, would not contain any asbestos. So, yes, most popcorn ceilings have asbestos, especially if they were installed before 1977 or the ban.

WHO removes popcorn ceilings?

One of your best options for removing popcorn ceiling in your home is to hire a drywall contractor near you. Not only are drywall contractors well-versed in ceilings, but they also have the skills, experience, and equipment needed to complete the job well. Removing the popcorn ceiling costs $900 to $2,800.

Should I sand popcorn ceiling?

Popcorn ceilings can be seen as such an eyesore on an otherwise beautiful home. However, the thought of manually sanding it off sounds so much worse than actually having to look at the ceiling itself. It’s basically a vacuum for your ceiling, sucking in the grit you sand off, so there’s virtual zero cleanup.

What do you do after you scrape popcorn ceiling?

After you have scraped all the popcorn off, allow the ceiling to fully dry. If you scored an A+ in following my what not to do’s, you may not need to do this step. Those spots where I tore the paper on the drywall needed to be fixed. Lightly sand them to make them as even as possible, then spackle as needed.

How do you sand a ceiling after removing popcorn?

If you want to chip away at the texture and create a smooth surface after scraping popcorn ceilings, you’ll need a 4-inch utility knife or a drywall knife. If you want to smooth out imperfections, you’ll probably need to skim it with a thin layer of joint compound, then sand it smooth before painting.

Is it better to remove popcorn ceiling or cover it?

Most of the time, removing the popcorn ceiling takes too much effort, and it cost you a lot of cleaning during and even after. Due to removing a popcorn ceiling is time-consuming, messy, requires many skills, and has dangerous asbestos, covering it is the best option.

Will removing popcorn ceiling increase home value?

By removing popcorn ceilings, you are increasing your home value and ridding your home of the “outdated” look. One important note: If the popcorn was added before 1979, get it tested for asbestos.

How much does removing popcorn ceiling increase home value?

Schutte estimates that removing a popcorn ceiling would add $25,000 to $35,000 in value for a large estate executive home. For a home of about 1,400 square feet costing about $200,000, he estimates an added value of about $2,500—essentially, close to what a homeowner might put into the project.