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Popcorn Ceiling removal....

Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:16 pm
Posted by im4LSU
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Aug 2004
34426 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:16 pm
anyone have any experience with this? I have 2 bathrooms that I'm removing the popcorn ceiling from and I'm looking for pointers.

I know to dampen it and use a taping or putty knife to scrape, but I'm wondering if there is anything else that I might be able to put on it before scraping to help get it all off. I let the shower run as hot as possible for about 15 minutes to get it nice and steamy then I used a pump sprayer to put another light coat of water on. I let it sit for about 10 minutes to absorb and when I went to scraping a decent amount came off, but it seems as though there might be a little residue left. It is leaving an uneven surface so that's what is leading me to believe that there might be something else I could apply to help remove all the way to the drywall. Some of the areas I wet didn't even seem to absorb any water and wouldn't hardly scrape off at all.


Any advice?
This post was edited on 4/12/23 at 1:17 pm
Posted by Major Dutch Schaefer
Location: Classified
Member since Nov 2011
38225 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:19 pm to
I hired a guy to do it in a house I had in Florida. He just did what you are doing, wet it, let it sit, scrape. He did a good job, I was able to just paint the ceiling after he scrapped the popcorn off.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
12184 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:19 pm to
The areas that are not absorbing water are likely painted.

It's pretty common that the areas that do come off will be rough. Although, sometimes it comes off cleanly.

The times I've removed or had removed required the ceiling to be floated (with mud) for an even finish.
Posted by Baers Foot
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Member since Dec 2011
3875 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:31 pm to
I sprayed with a pump sprayer and used a putty knife. Then I got some drywall joint compound, rolled it on the ceiling with a 12 inch roller, and did my best to float it out with a 12 inch drywall knife. Painted with flat paint and came out good. Not contractor perfect, but you wouldn't notice unless you stared at spots.
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
10842 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 1:57 pm to
Scraped my entire house several years ago. Surface was as you say, imperfect due to difficult to remove spots or residue, that, if I tried hard to remove would leave gouges.

Hired painters to finish, prep and paint it. They did outstanding. First they smoothed it out where it needed, then they sprayed some type of clear binder over everything to seal it and prep for the very light orange peel texture that was mixed with paint. The orange peel masked any imperfections leftover, so I wasn't looking for a perfectly smooth ceiling. It's smooth enough.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19395 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 2:06 pm to
I've removed a lot of it over the years and did pretty much what you are doing. Spray it with water to soften it and then use a 6 in. taping knife to scrape it off.

The thing I've found with popcorn ceilings is it was used in lieu of doing a real nice job in floating to hide imperfections under the rough texture of the popcorn.

I'd make sure there was no more loose stuff left on the ceiling and mix up joint compound and float the whole ceiling to even it out. Most times that was followed by a light orange peel texture blown on with my hopper prior to the finish painting job.
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
10842 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 2:28 pm to
I've also found that rooms with recessed lighting also "hide" whatever texture is applied (light isn't shining up onto the ceiling).... so if you go w/ orange peel, recessed lights may make it look even more "smooth."

ETA:... "may" make it.... I'm basing this off of mine, may not apply to all.
This post was edited on 4/12/23 at 2:29 pm
Posted by armsdealer
Member since Feb 2016
12273 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 3:23 pm to
We had it removed in our last house, it came off so easy the guy didn't even have to wet it. We were getting water damage repaired too so while they were replacing the roof and some of the ceiling drywall we had it all done or it was something we could have done ourselves. Be bought the house at auction and it needed a roof before moving in.
Posted by junkfunky
Member since Jan 2011
35776 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 3:41 pm to
I did that but used a 2' wide scraper blade on a pole. Set the end of the pole into the crotch of my paints, pulled back on the pole, and walked backwards. Wasn't too bad but had to do a couple spots a few times.
Posted by Major Dutch Schaefer
Location: Classified
Member since Nov 2011
38225 posts
Posted on 4/12/23 at 4:47 pm to
quote:

junkfunky


quote:

Set the end of the pole into the crotch of my paints


Name checks out.
Posted by Buds4
Unfortunately, Earth
Member since Oct 2022
191 posts
Posted on 4/13/23 at 4:15 pm to
Just FYI- Asbestos was used in some popcorn ceiling materials until the 90s. Be careful and use a respirator.

LINK
Posted by meeple
Carcassonne
Member since May 2011
10842 posts
Posted on 4/13/23 at 4:35 pm to
quote:

Asbestos was used in some popcorn ceiling materials until the 90s.


I sent samples of ours off to be tested before scraping. Yes, suggest anyone do the same if their home was built before this.
Posted by sleepytime
Member since Feb 2014
3856 posts
Posted on 4/13/23 at 7:41 pm to
Using warm water with a little bit of fabric softener helps soften it up. I used a 10 or 12in wide knife and radiused the corners to help prevent gouging.
Posted by 9rocket
Member since Sep 2020
1643 posts
Posted on 4/13/23 at 9:11 pm to
quote:

Asbestos was used in some popcorn ceiling materials


Another good reason to thoroughly wet the ceiling..This will keep the asbestos from floating around in the air.
Posted by Athis
I AM Charlie Kirk....
Member since Aug 2016
15758 posts
Posted on 4/13/23 at 10:25 pm to
I saw a video where a guy rigged up the end of a wet vac to the wide putty knife that on a stick. It vacuumed the crap as it came off the ceiling. That's all I got...
Posted by Oxforder
Oxford
Member since Jun 2016
144 posts
Posted on 4/14/23 at 10:24 am to
HD has a popcorn scraper that you can attach a grocery bag to to catch it as it falls. It's not completely perfect, but it does a pretty good job.
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