Do you know that the popcorn ceilings were famous in the 80s and the 90s? This was because applying the right texture to the drywall and plaster ceilings was easy to hide the flaws. Also, painting is not required. But the rough texture of the popcorn ceiling can catch lots of dust and cobwebs. That is why many people choose to remove popcorn ceilings. Further, it can be hard if some cracks or holes need to be rectified. Therefore here you can know all about popcorn ceiling removal. This will help you to get rid of the popcorn ceiling easily.
So if you are trying to renovate your old homes by removing the popcorn ceiling then follow the DIY tips below.
1. Scrape it off
Before you decide to paint the room you can try to scrape the popcorn ceiling off. First, try scraping the wall dry and then dampen the texture with water and do it again. Further, you will find that some texture will come off easily but the other sides can take more time. Wetting is the best way for the popcorn ceiling to come off easily.
But if it does not come off even when wetting the ceiling then there may be paint mixed in the ceiling. Then you may have to try some other way for popcorn ceiling removal.
2. Check for asbestos
The popcorn ceilings that were available from before 1980 may contain asbestos. You can try calling professionals and let them examine if the walls contain asbestos. So if the test results show wall asbestos, there is a way to remove it.
First of all, you can cover the popcorn ceiling with drywall or tongue-and-groove planks. Or else you can hire a contractor to get rid of the popcorn ceiling asbestos.
3. Get ready for the mess
When removing the popcorn texture you have to get ready for a mess. But there are some things you can do to reduce the mess. Firstly you must not utilise canvas drop cloths as the water can soak in them. You can do the cleanup with plastic too because you can transfer the mess in it and throw it out.
Also, leave the plastic on the floor when you get rid of the popcorn ceiling as all the mess will be accumulated in it. It will be easy for you to clean the house.
4. Keep furniture and fixtures out
Before removing the popcorn ceiling you have to take all the furniture. The work can get messy so you have to save all your furniture from dirt. Therefore remove all the furniture from the place and start to work. Also, take care to remove the fixtures in the ceiling too.
5. Use pump sprayer
For easy scraping of the popcorn ceiling, you can use a garden pump sprayer. You can let the ceiling soak in water for a few minutes. Spraying a little bit of water is enough because too much water can damage the wall. If you find that the textures have not soaked well then try to spray more water. After that, you can scrape off the popcorn ceiling.
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6. Scrape in small sections
You can start the scraping by planning to scrape at the small area. If you work from a large area at once it can become hard for you. Sometimes some areas of the popcorn can dry off. You have to spray water in those areas and scrape again.
7. Use correct tools
You have to make use of the right tools to do the scraping job. If your ceiling is scratched then you will require the right tools to make the process easy. The popcorn ceilings can be stubborn as they can be hard to come off. The experts recommend a 12-inch putty knife to do the job well. It will work well on a large ceiling. They are the best popcorn ceiling removal tool.
8. Take time to work
Removing popcorn ceilings can be a very difficult process. So do not rush because you may get tired. Plan well and do it slowly. Long strokes, in the same way, can get a lot of ceilings at once. So you can try this method. But be careful not to leave a scratch on the wall.
9. Damage will happen
Sometimes even if you are very careful when scrapping some damages may happen, But do not get stressed out because of it. Even expert workers may experience these damages. If there are any damages you can smooth it down with some drywall compound. Then leave it overnight. This place will be ready for primer and paint.
10. Smooth down the areas
Scraping off the popcorn ceiling alone will not make it paint-ready. You may have small flaws in it. So you have to set this right before doing the paint job. Smoothening the ceiling will make it look great. It will allow you to paint it without any problems. Then only your ceiling will look great and well-finished.
Conclusion
You can remove the popcorn ceilings easily with the steps given above. These easy steps will help you to do your work effectively.
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