Home Improvement Ideas Interior Walls How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings Popcorn ceiling textures were once a popular home aesthetic. Learn how to remove popcorn ceilings if they no longer suit your space. By Timothy Dale Published on January 9, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images / photovs Project Overview Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 3 hours Skill Level: Intermediate Estimated Cost: $100 to $500 Popcorn ceilings were once a popular choice for interior ceilings. Many homes had this ceiling texture throughout, though it was often absent from kitchens and bathrooms. Because the ceiling treatment can make a home feel dated, some prefer to remove popcorn texture. Additionally, popcorn ceilings can trap dust and dirt, making it more difficult to keep the ceiling clean. Homes with one or more pets may also notice pet hair clinging to the peaks and valleys created by the texture. While popcorn ceilings offer a small amount of soundproofing, this minor benefit isn't typically enough to offset the out-of-date appearance and increased maintenance. Use this guide to learn how to remove popcorn ceilings and update the aesthetic of your house. Safety Precautions When removing a popcorn ceiling, take certain safety precautions to ensure the job is completed without injury. Typically, a DIYer must be on a ladder to scrape off the popcorn texture, so having a second person available to hold the ladder is a good idea. Additionally, both individuals should wear gloves, closed-toe shoes, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, safety glasses, and masks. This personal protective gear will help prevent the dust and pieces of ceiling texture from coming into contact with your skin, getting into your eyes, or being inhaled. Ceilings built between 1950 and 1980 might contain asbestos, so if the home was built during this period, have the ceiling tested before starting this project. When to Call a Professional If the ceiling is made of asbestos or contains asbestos, you'll need to hire professional asbestos removers to get rid of the asbestos. A DIYer or general contractor cannot handle this job safely. As an alternative, homeowners may enclose the asbestos by installing ceiling-grade drywall over the popcorn ceiling instead of removing it. When the ceiling is high or the DIYer doesn't have enough experience to feel comfortable tackling this job, it's best to hire a professional to remove the popcorn ceiling. Similarly, if the job seems too messy or time-consuming for a DIY project, calling in a professional is a great way to quickly and efficiently update the home. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Tarp Plastic sheeting Painters tape Ladder Pump sprayer Paint scraper Putty knife Sanding pole Paintbrush Paint roller Paint tray Materials Joint compound Primer Paint Instructions How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings Prepare the Area Removing a popcorn ceiling is messy, so it's essential to prepare the area in advance to protect the walls, floors, and any furniture or appliances that cannot be removed. Start by moving any furniture, appliances, or other items out of the room. Also, remove any ceiling fixtures or fans and set them aside for reinstallation when the job is complete. Cover the floor and any furniture or items that cannot be moved with a tarp, and attach plastic sheeting to the walls with painters tape. Open any windows in the room and leave them uncovered to increase the ventilation. Wet the Ceiling Scraping off the popcorn texture requires the ceiling to be wet. Use a pump sprayer to mist the ceiling, being careful not to use too much water, as this could damage the drywall or sheetrock underneath. Spray the ceiling thoroughly, allowing the water to soak in for about 20 minutes. Popcorn ceilings are typically very dry and absorptive, so they should quickly soak up the water. Scrape Off Popcorn Texture After letting the ceiling soak for about 20 minutes, it's time to start removing the popcorn texture. Run a putty knife along the wet popcorn ceiling to scrape off the popcorn texture, but be careful to avoid gouging the ceiling with the corner of the putty knife. Work in a 3-by-3-foot section until the entire ceiling has been scraped clean of the popcorn texture. If part of the ceiling starts to dry out too soon, you may need to re-wet the area. Patch and Sand the Ceiling With the popcorn texture gone, you might see imperfections in the ceiling that were previously hidden, such as visible joints or screw heads. Use joint compound to patch any problem areas, and give the compound enough time to dry. After the joint compound is dry, use a sanding pole and screen to sand the entire ceiling. This smooths out the existing ceiling while also leveling the patched areas to create a uniform appearance. Finish the Ceiling If the ceiling still shows noticeable imperfections, add a skim coat to finish the ceiling. This process involves applying topping compound to the entire ceiling using a broad 12-inch drywall knife. Once the topping compound has dried, use the sanding pole and screen to sand the ceiling. Next, apply primer to the ceiling with a paintbrush and roller. Let the primer dry, and then apply paint to finish the ceiling. Clean Up Once the job is complete, it's time to clean up. Cleanup should be relatively easy as long as you prepared the area properly. Start by reinstalling any ceiling fixtures or fans and remove the plastic sheeting from the walls. Most, if not all, of the debris should be on the tarp. Roll the tarp inward to trap the debris and take it outdoors. Pour the debris into a trash bag or put the entire tarp and the plastic sheeting into a trash bag for disposal. Use a vacuum to clean up any dust or debris that managed to get through the gaps or cracks between the tarp and the plastic sheeting.