How to Remove Cottage Cheese or Popcorn Texture from the Ceiling
Mostly seen in homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, popcorn textured ceilings are inexpensive and can be applied to the ceiling with ease. They can also be removed quickly. If you don't like the way your popcorn textured ceiling looks, or if it's beginning to crumble, don't call in the professionals to take it down. Instead, use the right removal products and methods and you'll have the ceiling down in no time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheeting
- Freestanding light
- Painter's tape
- Childproof outlet covers
- Garden sprayer or spray bottle
- Putty knife
- Rags
Instructions
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Prepare your work area. Remove furniture and other items from the room, if possible. Cover the remaining items with plastic sheeting, as well as the ceiling fan or overhead light fixture, if you have one. Turn off the electricity to the room. Set up a freestanding light so you can see. Cover all electrical outlets with painter's tape or childproof covers and lay plastic sheeting on the floor. Tape plastic sheeting over the walls all the way up to where they meet the ceiling. This will protect the walls from damage and dirt during the process.
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Fill a clean, empty garden sprayer with warm water or use a spray bottle. Spray a 4 to 5 square foot area of the ceiling with water. Wet the ceiling thoroughly, but don't use so much water that it is dripping wet.
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Let the water sit on the section for about 30 seconds. Use a putty knife to scrape off the texture.
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Repeat this process, working in 4 to 5 square foot sections, until all of the texture is gone.
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Wipe down the ceiling with damp rags to remove any residue. Allow the ceiling to dry thoroughly before priming or painting.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective eyewear to keep the texture from getting in your eyes during the removal process.
Avoid letting the water sit on the ceiling for more than about 30 seconds. Doing so can damage the drywall paper underneath, as can over wetting the ceiling.
Some popcorn textured ceilings may contain asbestos. Remove a small piece of the ceiling and have it tested for asbestos by an EPA certified lab. If the material is asbestos-free, you may proceed with removing the ceiling. If it does contain asbestos, hire a certified asbestos remover to do the work for you. Attempting to remove a ceiling containing asbestos yourself may result in negative health effects. Most homes built after 1978 will have asbestos-free texture.
