Comments on: How to Remove "Popcorn" Texture From a Ceiling

on 4/9/2008 I gave instructions for removal of popcorn ceiling, however, somehow it got into the wrong category heading: Cleaning Popcorn Ceiling. So look for my instructions there and if you combine these with mine you should be ready to go on this project.

on 8/12/2007 Scraping the popcorn off without all of the dust is as easy as applying a fine mist of water from a pump sprayer you can get at any home improvement or hardware store first, then scrape the texture off. If the ceiling hasn't been primed or painted, all you will be left with is the original tape lines to sand. I never dry scrape and I do alot of ceilings.

on 3/14/2007 Without knowing about the unpainted/popcorn ceiling, I spent 35 dollars on ceiling paint and after I got the first 10 sq feet painted, the ceiling came off on the paint roller. Tough lesson for not checking the internet first. Had not planned to knock it down so didn't realize it would come off on the roller. Now I'm in a bind.

on 9/11/2006 I just did my bathroom ceiling. I just used a spray bottle filled with hot water to spray onto the popcorn, and since I had a hard time reaching with a putty knife or scraper, I found the windshield scraper in the garage. The slightly rounded edge worked great scraping in either direction, and the brush on the edge helped to clean off the trim. My husband was amazed that I'd done the job so quickly. Next task, the hallway.

on 8/21/2006 Getting enough water on the ceiling is the trick. We emptied the room and spread a heavy plastic tarp wall-to-wall, then taped it to the baseboards. Then we used a garden hose with sprayer/mist nozzle to spray water on the ceiling. We waited two minutes, then sprayed it again. Then waited about 4-5 minutes (depending on the room temperature) before scraping. By trial and error, we found this to work best.

on 8/8/2006 Spray down with hot water, then duct tape your drywall knife to your shop vac. Turn vacuum on and scrape away. It will collect 80-90% of the mess.

on 8/2/2006 Mix drywall compound ( 2 or three parts compound to 1 part water based paint
Get texture roller (cord like)
Apply
Problem solved- durable, washable and beautiful!

on 7/28/2006 Don't use a hose to apply water before scraping. Use a garden sprayer, like what you would use to spray insecticide or weed killer in the garden. I recommend you get a new one for the job rather than use one that has been previously used with bug or weed killers, though.

on 7/19/2006 I just did about 65 sq. yards. of popcorn texture removal over three days. I am re-carpeting, so I am paying for 77 sq yards of carpet and the texture was over everything except the closets (and there is always some carpet waste.)

Don't try to use a garden hose inside your house, the excess water creates a mold risk and can ruin sub floors and floor coverings. I bought a new garden canister sprayer that holds two gallons. They are usually used for weed killer, the cost $15 to $20 and you can use it on weeds after your done with the ceilings (or it can serve to keep curing concrete wet to avoid cracks). In a hot climate with a hot attic above the ceiling, getting the whole room wet at the same time isn't the best idea either. I was working inside at 80 degrees with a swamp cooler running, but it was 100 degrees outside and probably 120+ degrees in my attic. With that heat above the ceiling, the sprayed area drys out to fast to wet big areas (but what you spray on the floor won't dry fast at all). It worked best for me to wet a small area, say 2' by 2' at a time, when you are 3/4 through scraping that area, wet the next area, when you are ready to start the next area it will have soaked enough.

When a small area needs a little more moisture, wet a sponge with the sprayer and dab it at the tough spot. I used a three step folding ladder with a large top tray that held the sprayer, my scraper selection, a sponge, a sand paper covered sponge and a oblong trash can to toss some of the waste into. The trash can had a side pocket for extra liners, and that gap between the trash and the pocket wedged right over the bar on the top of the ladder so it never fell off.

I also found that on my particular ceiling, I needed no water and could run a putty knife under the texture to get the popcorn off of the surfaces that had no mud (plain drywall paper surfaces between joints), the texture only adhered strongly to the drywall mud covering the nails/screws line and the taped joints.

on 3/6/2006 Get a water hose and use that to spray the area. Be sure to put on a sprayer attachment. Cover everything up, because water will hit the walls. But you can scape the ceiling popcorn off with no dust whatsoever. Just don't spray too much water, and give it about 5 minutes to soak in.

on 2/21/2006 We used very very hot water and a little TSP in a fertilizer sprayer and wet the whole ceiling. We then let it sit for half and hour or so, maybe a little less, and it came off very easily. Also, work away from your self to avoid getting it in your face and eyes.

on 11/22/2005 If you spray the ceiling with a fine mist of water before you start scraping, you will not only keep down the dust, the popcorn comes off much easier, too. Do a small section at a time, so that the area doesn't dry before you get to it.

on 11/22/2005 You should use a pro tank and spray hot water on the popcorn ceiling. The water will soften the popcorn mud and it will scape off much easier.

on 11/22/2005 I used a paint sprayer with a valve that sprays up. I filled the sprayer with warm water. When I used this, it really cut the dust. The sprayer also makes the popcorn peel off all the way to the dry wall. This made it real easy.

on 2/4/2008 You can buy a ceiling scraper tool from Home Depot. The scraper can be screwed onto a threaded broom handle, and it is designed to allow you to attach a plastic bag to catch the scrapings (I use plastic shopping bags). Using the scraper in combination with spraying water on the ceiling works great, and saves a lot of time and effort. I use one of those pump-up pesticide sprayers. It's much easier than using a hand sprayer.