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Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Everything You Need to Know

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Haley Kieser
Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Everything You Need to Know

It's hard to imagine that putting in a popcorn ceiling could ever seem like a good idea. What was fashionable at one point is now nothing more than an annoying DIY project, but luckily it's a simple job. Back in the fifties popcorn ceilings were considered a great way to decorate your home on a budget. The texture hid imperfections in the ceiling, while the cost of manual labor and materials was minimum at most. But these days this tacky decor really only leaves you with one question: how do I get this stuff off my ceiling, as soon and as quickly as possible?

First off, you need to decide whether you should hire a professional. Thought the cost is obviously best avoided, there are worst things than losing money. Asbestos, for once. Though the Clean Air Act of 1978 made made the use of this particular building material legal, asbestos was commonly used in houses built during the fifties and sixties. In order to remove anything containing asbestos, therefore, you have to contain the area, making sure the particles don't spread. While asbestos removal may cost anywhere between $3 to $10 per square foot this is a worthwhile investment considering the health implications you or your loved ones may face. You can see whether your ceiling contains asbestos with a test that costs $75 to $100--if it comes out positive, you'd better hire a pro.

However, if asbestos isn't an issue, removing popcorn ceilings is a perfectly doable DIY project. You'll need 1) a drywall scraper, 2) a drywall knife, 3) a paint roller with an extension handle, 4) a spray bottle containing water  5) a drop cloth 6) drywall compound 7) a sanding block 8) primer and paint. The process should take two days and costs under $200. Ready? Let's get started.

First you'll want to prep the room. This is easy enough: just remove all furniture from the space and cover everything else with a tarp. This is extremely important, since small crumbs of drywall will soon be raining down on your room. Once you've done that get out your spray bottle, fill it with warm water and spray a small area of the ceiling. This will soften the material, making your job much easier. Make sure not to saturate the material completely, since this could damage the wall at large. Let the water sit twenty minutes or so before you begin the removal process. 

Next, you'll have to scrape the ceiling. Take a drywall scraper and begin removing the material, one small section at a time. The process is slow but make sure you are thorough--you want to leave behind a clear surface for the layer of paint. Once you've finished this process get rid of the debris by rolling up your tarp loaded with material and dumping it into an outside garbage bin. 

Once this step is completed it'll be time for the touch up. Use your drywall compound to fill in and even out surfaces giving your wall a smooth finish. This will take all night to dry off, but once this is down just wipe the areas clean with a sanding block and a wet cloth. Once this is finished it's only a matter of applying primer and a paint in order to erase that popcorn ceiling from your memory. And voila! You're done. The process might be a pain, but you'll feel much better once it's over, and you can forget your popcorn ceiling ever existed in the first place.

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Haley Kieser
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