Can anyone tell me an easy, or at least fairly easy, way to "un-popcorn" my ceiling? I want to take all the popcorn stuff down and paint it.
By Cricket from Parkton, NC
Try here: www.ehow.com/ how_4524209_remove-popcorn-textured-finish-from.html (03/14/2010)
By Keeper
Is it possible to just take a sander and sand it down? If so, what do I coat it with before painting it? (03/15/2010)
By Cricket
Many of the popcorn ceilings have asbestos in them and they shouldn't be disturbed, except by professionals. A small piece of asbestos (less than the size of a dime) can cause mesothelioma (cancer). You can read about this danger at many websites. They recommend that you do not even disturb the ceiling by painting! (03/16/2010)
By Janet
Depends on how old the place if as to whether it has asbestos in it. I'd call around a few professions and ask their advise. Tell them you do not have the money for a professional but would he please advise you. I've gotten really good advice from professionals who are willing to advise me without having them do the job. Also, you maybe could call places like Sherman Williams paint. Hope you find the answer; I too hate the popcorn ceilings. (03/16/2010)
By Betty
Cricket, please have it tested before you even attempt to remove it unless the popcorn is less than about 15 years old! Even though asbestos products were banned in 1978 the existing supplies at that time were not banned and could continue to be used!
Call a local hardware, paint store, etc to see if they carry test kits. If it turns out the test says 'yes' then you truly need to have a professional come in and remove it or there are special ceiling tiles that you can purchase and place over the popcorn.
Please be careful, Sweetie! Asbestos can cause Emphysema and Mesothelioma. :-( Better safe than sorry! (03/16/2010)
By Deeli
Sorry just getting around to reading TF. I saw this done on Trading Spaces or some show on HGTV.
The trick was using a water hose and scraping it off. It just slides off when wet. They covered floors with plastic tarp and had a shop vac ready. It seemed to go pretty fast. Oh, you might try spray bottles, the big kind that you get in lawn and garden, and fill that with water and do small sections. Good luck. Not sure about asbestos. (03/16/2010)
Everyone else is right, you have to be concerned about asbestos! That being said- our house was built in early 1970s and has original tiles on the floor. I was pretty sure by their look that they were asbestos. Called Health Dept. for advice on testing and removal. Their expert told me I could bring a small piece in to have it tested for free if I wanted to, so that's an option. He also said that to remove something that has asbestos in it, like floor tile, it is important to get it wet so that it keeps the dust down so you don't breathe it. Wear protective clothing, gloves and mask over mouth, nose and eyes.
Now, as to the ceiling, ours probably has it there too, but we removed it from the kitchen anyway. We went to the hardware store and bought a NEW thing that you use to mix and spray your own pesticides. I don't remember what they're called but it's a plastic canister you pump with air that has a hose and trigger to spray (DON'T use one that's been used for that purpose, buy a NEW one!). Put painter's plastic over floors and counters. Put warm water in the sprayer and use it to spray the ceiling (maybe 5'x5' section at a time).
We let it sit for a few seconds and then used a plastic paint scraper/drywall applicator to scrape the wet stuff off the ceiling, holding the scraper at an angle. Don't scrape too hard or you can tear through the drywall. When done with each section, wipe it down well with a damp rag. Be sure to put a good primer like KILZ over it to seal the drywall that might still have asbestos in it from the popcorn. (03/16/2010)
I am a female remodeling contractor, I would say getting the popcorn down is not hard but one of the messiest things you can do. Empty the room if you can, cover the floor from corner to corner with plastic. Fill a garden sprayer with warm water (not one you sprayed poison with). Spray generously, has to be pretty wet. Let it sit for 15 minutes or so. Use a flat head shovel and scrape it across the ceiling, wear SAFETY GOGGLES. We had two people. I used the sprayer, my son-in-law scraped. After it dried, the ceiling had to be sanded and re-textured, and of course repainted. (03/17/2010)
By Lisa K
Check this ThriftyFun post: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83829211.tip.html for a step by step article on removing ceiling texture.
Barbara (04/12/2010)
By R Barbara
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