How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

A scraping tool is needed to remove the popcorn texture.

While the popcorn roofing texture was once a commonly appreciated style in the mid- to late 20th century, many people look at these ceilings with disgust now. Removing popcorn ceilings is a chore, and if the popcorn spray was applied to your ceiling before 1979, chances are it contains dangerous asbestos. Put aside a weekend for this tedious project to reclaim the natural flat appearance of your ceilings.

Things You'll Need

• Water sprayer
• Plastic sheets
• Scraping knife
• Dust mask
• Goggles
• Ladder

Instructions

1. Cut a small section of the popcorn ceiling out to send to an EPA-certified lab to test for asbestos. If the popcorn ceiling does contain asbestos, hire a professional contractor to remove the popcorn ceiling for you.

2. Turn off the power in the room you are treating. Remove all furniture and fixtures from the room because this procedure is messy. Cover the walls and floor with plastic to contain the popcorn texture.

3. Spray the ceiling in sections with water to soften the popcorn.

4. Scrape the popcorn from the ceiling with a putty knife or similar scraping blade. Apply more water as needed to moisten the popcorn. Wear a dust mask and goggles to keep the popcorn dust out of your face.

5. Roll up all the floor paper to contain the popcorn debris and dispose of it.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider different options to refinish your ceiling, such as a flat color or alternative raised texture.

References

• Ron Hazelton: Remove Popcorn Textured Ceiling
• Popular Mechanics: Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
• House Painting Tutorials: Remove Popcorn Ceiling