One of the more popular home renovation searches is how to remove a popcorn ceiling. Removing popcorn ceilings has become a big business.
For a good reason, these ceilings are no longer appealing in today’s homes. In many areas of the country, seeing popcorn ceiling removal businesses has become commonplace.
If you look closely, you’ll probably end up seeing an advertisement on the side of a truck to have your popcorn ceiling removed.
They were all the rage in the 1960s and many years after—partly because people liked them and made building homes easier.
As a builder, you didn’t have to create a perfect ceiling with tricky angles and lines. You could popcorn the ceiling instead, which covered up any imperfections.
Today, few buyers are interested in retaining the material on their ceilings. The material and texture are unattractive, tend to hold onto dust and make a space seem smaller and less appealing.
So, how hard is it to get rid of one? Fortunately, there are several ways to restore your ceiling, one of which will fit your needs and your home’s goals.
If you are going to be selling your home, removing a popcorn ceiling can go a long way in helping it sell quicker and for more money.
Today, many buyers lack the time, motivation, or inclination to take on a popcorn ceiling removal project.
Many buyers will see a home filled with wallpaper and will balk if they have to remove it. This is why many real estate agents talk about making homes more appealing before they hit the market.
Removing wallpaper certainly falls into that category. Wallpaper dates a house, and most buyers don’t want it because it is highly personalized.
Removing these ceilings and wallpaper is always suitable when it comes time to sell your property. They are improvements with a high return on investment. If you think that popcorn ceilings may come back in style, don’t count on it!
What is a Popcorn Ceiling?
Before we discuss removing this kind of ceiling, you might wonder what it is. A popcorn ceiling is an outdated building method with various spray-on treatments. Tiny particles of polystyrene or vermiculite cause its bumpy surface.
These elements give popcorn ceilings sound-distorting characteristics. Other names for popcorn ceilings include a stipple or acoustic ceiling. For many years, these ceilings were the standard for residential construction, especially in bedrooms.
Before the early 1970s, asbestos fibers were not uncommon in popcorn ceiling mixtures. However, they became unpopular when the Clean Air Act in the US banned asbestos from being used in ceiling treatments. Since then, these ceilings have been viewed with even more disdain.
So when someone asks what is so bad about this type of ceiling, you know the answer.
Numerous companies now specialize in removal. Let’s dive deep into how to do this project.
Safety Precautions and Preparation
Before diving into the removal process, it’s imperative to prioritize safety and preparation. First and foremost, I recommend you conduct an asbestos test using an asbestos test kit if your home was built before 1980.
Asbestos, a hazardous material once commonly used in popcorn ceilings, can pose serious health risks if disturbed. If your ceiling tests positive for asbestos, it’s strongly advised that you consult with a professional for safe removal.
Equipping yourself with safety goggles and a dust mask is essential to protecting your eyes and lungs from debris and potential asbestos fibers. Additionally, turning off the room’s power and covering electrical outlets with painter’s tape will safeguard against water damage and electrical hazards.
Covering your floors and furniture with plastic sheeting will simplify the cleanup process. Having a drywall mud pan on hand is also beneficial to collect the scraped-off popcorn material efficiently.
Tools and Materials Needed
I recommend having the right tools and materials to remove the ceiling effectively. You will need a garden sprayer to wet the ceiling, which helps loosen the popcorn texture for easier scraping.
A drywall taping knife or a putty knife will be your primary tool for scraping off the softened material.
Subsequent steps will require a sander to smooth out the ceiling surface, preparing it for painting or further treatments. Keep a drywall mud pan nearby to collect the debris and minimize the mess.
During the process, painter’s tape and plastic sheeting protect your walls, floors, and furniture from water and falling debris. Lastly, please don’t overlook the importance of personal protective equipment; I recommend safety goggles and a dust mask to shield yourself from dust and potential asbestos fibers.
How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings
1. Scrape First When Removing a Popcorn Ceiling
Most resources will tell you to spray the ceiling material and scrape it off. While spraying has advantages—the material comes off more quickly—there are also risks to applying water to your ceiling. The ceiling may absorb water and become damaged, and the popcorn material will also absorb water and become difficult to manage.
To use the scraping method, it is best to use a utility knife and chip away at the popcorn material to break it away from the ceiling material underneath. Chances are, there will still be imperfections in the ceiling, so you will probably want to smooth over some joint compound and sand the ceiling before you paint.
You can do all your scraping from a ladder, but consider getting a lift or a platform to use while you scrape. You may be scraping for hours, and having a stable base to work on will be worth a little extra cost.
Scraping will also be involved if the popcorn is painted, as the material most likely soaked up the paint. A utility knife won’t be sufficient to scrape through the paint. If asbestos or lead paint is a concern, choose another option below.
Watch Out For Asbestos in Popcorn Ceiling Removal!
CAUTION: These ceilings often contained lead and asbestos before 1979. Do not scrape your ceiling if the popcorn was applied before 1979.
If you are not familiar with asbestos, it is a substance that has been known to cause cancer. It has been banned in over fifty countries, although surprisingly not in the United States.
Asbestos is not something you want to take chances with, as it is highly toxic! Asbestos is a primary cause of Mesothelioma cancer.
Use a Test Kit and Hire Professionals
Using an asbestos test kit for the ceiling is vital because of the potential health risks associated with exposure. The ceilings installed from the 1940s to the early 1990s often contained asbestos.
If disturbed, the material can release harmful fibers into the air, leading to severe health conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Here is a good reference for determining if your popcorn ceiling has asbestos. You can test it for asbestos by carefully scraping a small sample into a plastic bag and testing it at an EPA-accredited lab.
Various asbestos test kits offer different features, such as fast results, multiple sample testing, and all-inclusive services that cover lab fees and expert consultations.
Homeowners are permitted to remove ceilings that contain asbestos; however, it would be more prudent to hire an asbestos remediation company to do the work. By hiring a specialist, you won’t have to worry about disposing of the popcorn ceiling.
Testing for asbestos should ideally be conducted by hiring a licensed asbestos professional, as DIY kits might not be as accurate and could increase the risk of exposure.
Use Professionals For the Removal of Asbestos
If asbestos is detected, I highly recommend you opt for professional removal. The process involves several steps, including creating a containment area, using wet methods to prevent dust, and properly disposing of the asbestos waste.
Handling asbestos requires specialized knowledge and equipment to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
Given the severity of health risks linked to asbestos exposure, testing, and professional removal, if necessary, are essential steps for homeowners with popcorn ceilings likely installed before the early 1990s. These actions protect the health of occupants and contribute to the safe upkeep of properties.
Removing the ceilings has risks, so consider it carefully before proceeding.
2. Use Drywall to Cover The Popcorn Ceiling
The danger presented by asbestos is only significant if it becomes airborne. If you can keep the asbestos contained, it won’t show any threat.
Drywall products are available that are lighter than the drywall you put on your walls. They are perfect for mounting on the ceiling—on top of the popcorn—to create a smooth surface and contain the dangerous material.
When removing a popcorn ceiling, using drywall can be more challenging than scraping, and it does require more money, tools, and some help from another person.
You will need to screw in the drywall and apply mud and tape to get the look you want – one that is smooth instead of showing seams.
Having someone to help you move and position the boards is a great help, too.
Remember that while you can use a few ladders to get up to the ceiling, you will be much happier if you rent a slight lift to provide a raised platform from which to work. Less fatigue for you and an easier time ensuring that every little detail is correct.
You are not alone if you are uncomfortable with putting up the drywall. Doing it correctly takes more skill than just scraping away the popcorn.
It may be worth hiring a contractor to ensure that your ceiling looks exactly how you want it to.
The Family Handy Man has an excellent article on how to cover a popcorn ceiling with drywall. It is worth checking out!
3. Applying a New Design With a Skim Coat
Although smooth ceilings are desirable in many home renovation projects, there is still a place for texture other than popcorn.
Some owners want to achieve a textured look in older homes to regain the original look that existed before popcorn ceilings became a hit.
You can create your texture with drywall mud, joint compound, and finishing compound. Using a tool like a knife or a trowel, you can design a custom texture that is much more expressive than a simple, smooth ceiling.
Your process is essential here, as applying ready-mixed joint compound directly to the ceiling may cause some shrinkage. You want to apply quick-set drywall mud directly to the ceiling to create a base for the joint compound.
Before you start slapping mud on the ceiling, please bring in a contractor to verify that it can handle the added weight of the mud and joint compound. Older homes can be brittle at times, and the last thing you want is for the ceiling to fall in after you have worked hard to improve it.
4. Going Over The Popcorn Ceiling With Wood Instead
Given that removal is challenging, you may want to consider another option. One possibility is to skip removing the popcorn ceiling altogether and instead apply wood over it.
Using wood can make a room far more impressive. By adding wood, you are not only making the room look more handsome but also removing the dated ceiling.
Homebuyers love to see details such as wood ceilings. Of course, adding wood ceilings to every room in your home would be quite a project and not one worth taking on.
You would use a wood ceiling in a couple of rooms. Your family room and master bedroom might be good options. These are two essential rooms in the home where wood would add charm and character.
Armstrong also has other alternatives to make a bold statement with your ceilings. Check out some of the different options for covering those ugly popcorn ceilings.
Real Estate agents are always recommending ways to make a property more desirable. Add touches such as this can make an impression on home buyers.
DIY vs. Contractor For Removal
The ceiling has got to go—you know that much. But should you do the job yourself or hire someone else to do it?
DIY means you will save money, so it has distinct advantages. However, you want an excellent finished product, so research and verify that you feel comfortable with your chosen process.
Scraping all day may be doable, while fitting drywall, mudding, and seam taping may be less appealing.
Remember, spending a little more money and being happy with the final product is better than finding yourself halfway through a botched job that may be much harder to repair and correct.
You could try giving it a shot in a smaller room, and if it doesn’t work out, hire a contractor instead. Remember, shoddy workmanship will be just as bad as having a popcorn ceiling when it comes time to sell your place. Removal almost always looks better when done by a pro.
How to Find a Removal Contractor?
If you decide that the remediation isn’t something you want to tackle yourself, you’ll need to find a local professional. If you don’t know of any specific popcorn ceiling removal contractors, you may want to ask around with other construction professionals. They may be able to offer some recommendations.
Another thing you can do is do an online search. I would recommend a search term such as popcorn ceiling removal near me or removing popcorn ceiling near me. You should see some potential contractors in your general location.
Can I Remove The Ceiling Myself?
You can remove a popcorn ceiling only if the asbestos content is less than 1 percent. If it is higher than 1 percent, you are not legally allowed to remove it. You will either need to leave the ceiling as it is or hire an asbestos removal company.
It is advisable to wear a mask even if no asbestos is found when removing the ceiling. The dust removed from the ceiling quickly gets into your lungs, creating an unpleasant situation.
How Much Does Removing Popcorn Ceilings Cost
You’re probably wondering about the cost of removal. The biggest concern among homeowners regarding removing popcorn ceilings is how much it will cost.
Removing them does not have to be a considerable expense. It costs anywhere from $1 to $2 per square foot, which is around a couple of thousand dollars for an average-sized home.
Getting your ceilings textured and painted after removal could certainly add expense. A smooth ceiling will likely add cost as the installation is more labor-intensive.
You can try to reduce the cost by removing all furniture before professionals arrive. It would also be prudent to test the ceiling for asbestos to determine whether removal can be done safely without assistance. Otherwise, you can plan on these items being an additional expense.
See a Video on How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings
Sometimes, watching a video on specific home improvements can be helpful. Take a look at the video on removal.
Does Removal Increase Your Home’s Value?
Yes, it does, mainly when found in more expensive homes. They date a property and instantly make a home feel outdated compared to others.
They make it look less attractive and, therefore, more challenging to sell. Many people look at popcorn ceilings as a cheap form of construction. The appearance of drywall or plaster is far superior.
By getting rid of the popcorn ceilings in your home, you will remove a significant objection. You’ll make your home more marketable, putting more money in your pocket. You will likely end up selling your home faster. Removing them will be well worth your time and money.
So, removing them is worth it when selling a house.
Final Thoughts
Removing a popcorn ceiling can be wise, especially when selling your home. Be sure to research your removal method carefully, and always do your due diligence to discover whether there is asbestos.
Getting rid of them can be easier than you think if you plan. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful. Best of luck!
Additional Helpful Home Improvement Advice
- Improvements that make your house easier to sell—do you want to make your house far easier to sell? That’s an easy question, right? Here are some excellent improvements you can make to make your home-selling experience a better one.
- Remodeling mistakes to avoid—You can’t afford to make remodeling mistakes when selling a house. Learn some of the more common mistakes to avoid them.
- Improvements that increase a home’s value – you can make some specific home improvements to a property that will make a real difference when it comes time to sell. Learn the improvements that have a healthy return on investment.
Use the above additional resources to make wise choices regarding home improvements. Don’t assume every home improvement you make adds money when it comes time to sell. This is one of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have.
About the Author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided information on removing a popcorn ceiling. Bill has expertise in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.
Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications in which he has been featured. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. For the past 38+ years, Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
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