Want to Remove Popcorn Ceiling and Paint? This is everything you need to know
No ceiling was safe from the popcorn ceiling trend that raged from the 1950s - 1980s. For decades, it seemed like you couldn’t walk into a home without seeing the distinctive white texture. While many ceilings still don the spikes, it’s no secret that popcorn ceilings have fallen out of trend.
Many people are ditching their popcorn ceilings for a timeless, traditional, flat ceiling. If you’re one of the many people looking to ditch your popcorn ceiling, you probably have questions: How much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling? Is it an easy project that I can do myself? Is it worth it to hire someone for the job?
The short answer to all these questions is this: it’s complicated. There is no standard popcorn ceiling removal cost because removing popcorn ceiling is different every time. The good news is you have options!
If you want to want to learn more about what it takes to remove popcorn ceiling and paint, keep reading!
Why is it hard to remove popcorn ceiling and paint?
One of the many problems with removing popcorn ceiling is that it’s nearly impossible to predict what the project will look like before you start. The level of difficulty in removal varies tremendously from project to project. Generally, the longer it’s been up, the easier it is to get down. However, if the ceiling was primed before the popcorn was put on, it’s extremely difficult to get off, no matter how long it’s been up. Unless you were the one to put the popcorn on or know exactly when and how it was done, you won’t know what the project will look like until you begin.
Additionally, even if all the conditions are the best-case scenario for the removal, there is often inconsistency in the ease of removal across one ceiling. This is why it’s nearly impossible to accurately estimate a popcorn ceiling removal cost. Whoever is writing the estimate has not yet uncovered the answers they need. On top of that, removing popcorn ceiling makes a big mess.
This isn’t meant to discourage you but instead to give you an accurate idea of what this project means before you dive into it. If you really want to take it on yourself, here are some tips.
Before you begin
Before you start removing your popcorn ceiling, there’s one major thing to look out for. If your house was built in the mid-1980’s or prior, there’s a chance your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic, fibrous mineral that was used in construction due to its fire resistance and insulatory nature.
If there’s a chance that your ceiling could contain asbestos, be sure to get it tested before starting any project. As soon as you start removing the popcorn ceiling, the fibers become airborne, putting you at risk. Asbestos exposure can cause several illnesses, including numerous cancers. There’s no level of asbestos exposure that’s safe, so test your popcorn ceiling before attempting any removal.²
How to remove popcorn ceiling and paint yourself
Still willing to DIY it? Here are our tips!
Prep your workspace
Before anything else, you’ll need to cover your workspace to protect it from the inevitable mess. First, move everything you can out of the room. Then, put down a layer of plastic over the floor and any unmovable objects or furniture. Next, put more plastic up on the walls, taping it at the top, and to the plastic at the bottom. Finally, put another layer of plastic on the floor, leading all the way out the door.
(We also recommend having another pair of shoes ready for you outside!)
Wet the ceiling
In order for the popcorn to come down, you’ll need to loosen it up. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and saturate the ceiling. Let it soak in, then you can start sanding!
Scrape or sand the ceiling
Now, you’re ready for the fun part, where you get to actually remove popcorn ceiling and paint! Before you start this step, we recommend looking around one last time to make sure everything is covered. Once the popcorn starts coming down, it’s going to get everywhere. Once you’ve done that, you can get to scraping or sanding the ceiling.
The quickest way to do this would be with an electric sander (even better if you have one with a vacuum attached to catch the mess as you go.) If you don’t have an electric sander, you can use just regular old sandpaper. It’ll take longer, but will still get the job done.
If you don’t want to sand, you can also scrape the popcorn off with a flat, sharp object. If you come across a section of popcorn that is especially stuck on, you can always spray it again to try and loosen it up.
Skim coat and paint
After removing all the popcorn, you’ll probably be left with an uneven surface. It’s typical for the sheetrock underneath the popcorn to rip during the removal process. Apply a skim coat to flatten your ceiling back out. Sand in between layers of skim coat, then prime and paint your ceiling.
Clean up
Here’s where your prep work pays off! Pull the plastic down from the top of the walls first, allowing the mess to roll toward the center of your workspace. Then, pull the plastic off the floor, starting from the corner or wall farthest from the door, and rolling up the mess as you go. Once you’ve rolled the plastic all the way outside, throw it out and change your shoes so you don’t track any of the popcorn back into the house.
Other Options
Not interested in the mess or work that popcorn ceiling removal requires? There is another option that also gets rid of the outdated trend! Instead of taking the popcorn down, you can easily cover it up with sheetrock. If you think this will make your room feel smaller, don’t worry. The sheetrock will only reduce the height of your room by ¼ of an inch. It’s so minimal, you won’t even notice the difference.
Covering the popcorn ceiling with new sheetrock is also a much easier option if you’re looking to hire someone to do the work for you. Unlike removing the popcorn, it’s easy to estimate how much installing new sheetrock would cost. Plus, since the project would likely take less time, it would likely be cheaper than the popcorn ceiling removal cost. All around, covering your popcorn ceilings is a better option than removing them.
In conclusion
If you’re looking to get rid of your outdated popcorn ceilings, we don’t blame you. You deserve to live in a home that you love. If you don’t want to DIY it and are worried about popcorn ceiling removal cost, reach out to your local handyman company! Set up an appointment for an estimate and suggest covering it rather than removing it.
Want to learn more about this topic from Colin and Jimmy? Listen to the podcast episode here!
*Information in this article provided by Colin Shaw & Jimmy Driscoll, written in collaboration with Jordan Chenette
References
“Beadboard | Popcorn Ceilings | Sump Pumps | Glass Shower Doors.” Behind the Studs, 9 Feb 2022, https://www.behindthestuds.com/home-improvement-podcast-episodes/beadboard-popcorn-ceilings-sump-pump?rq=s4%20e26.
Michelle Whitmer, Asbestos, The Mesothelioma Center, 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/