How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling Safely

Acoustic ceilings(another name for popcorn ceiling) was highly popular in most homes that were buil from the late 1950s right through the early 80s.In that era,it seemed everyone had wanted a popcorn ceiling as it was very easy to apply,covered up noise,and was great at hiding any imperfections in the ceiling.
Popcorn ceilings had certain drawbacks such as difficulty in cleaning, but the biggest drawback today is the presence of asbestos in it. Almost all building material including cement, roofing, tiling, insulation, and paint from the 1930s right through the mid 80s contained asbestos in them. Asbestosis,Lung cancer,and Mesothelioma are the most common diseases caused by ihalation of abestos.So it is not hard to understand why many now are choosing to get rid of the popcorn ceiling.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Before you actually remove any of the popcorn finish,it first needs to be tested for any abestos.That being said,remove a small section/piece with a putty knife.

2. Send your sample into the lab.If it does indeed contain asbestos,your best bet is to leave it alone if it is in sound condition.You could also have it removed by an asbestos-removal contractor if it is deteriorating.

3. You can continue if no asbestos was found.Start be covering up all your furniture or relocate what you can for the duration of this job.If you have a ceiling fan,you should cover that up in some clear plastic.Protect all curtains,window coverings,and fireplace surrounds.

4. Use childproof outlet protectors to prevent debris from infiltrating. Cover the floor with large plastic dropcloths fastened to the baseboard trim with masking tape.

5. Wear eye protection and a dust mask. If you are removing a small section, use a hand sprayer and catch the falling debris in a bucket.When you are all ready,just start scraping it off.

[jaredsgirl]

on 10/17/2009 We have popcorn ceilings all through our house. Great article on how to remove them. It's something we've been considering. 5*

[harbinger]

on 9/6/2009 lol sent this before registering...but will resend....my friend had this problem....simply had the ceiling reputtied....no mess...little dust and you cant tell it was popcorn before