What is the Process of Popcorn Ceiling Removal?

Does your home still have popcorn ceilings that have long been outdated? While they may have been in style a long time ago, popcorn ceilings have fallen by the wayside in favour of more modern and updated finishes. If you’re looking to give your home’s interior a significant overhaul, removing your popcorn ceilings can make a massive difference. But how exactly is popcorn ceiling removed? What techniques are out there that remove all that sprayed-on stucco material? Here are 3 main ways that popcorn ceilings are removed. Scraping One of the more obvious ways to get rid of popcorn ceilings is to simply scrape it off. For this method, a utility knife will be required to chip away at the material until a smoother surface is achieved. Once the material is scraped off, the surface will need to be smoothed out with a thin joint compound layer and sanded down to achieve a smooth surface. This is the most common method of removing popcorn ceilings and is also the most affordable, but it’s a very time-consuming and slow process. Not only that, it can be a dangerous process if there is asbestos in the material and the proper precautions have not been taken to contain it. When asbestos becomes airborne, it is dangerous to humans when inhaled. Before scraping, it’s always recommended to have the material tested for the presence of asbestos. If it tests positive, the scraping process should be avoided unless done by the professionals. Covering With Drywall Another method of removing popcorn ceilings is to cover it with ceiling drywall. There’s no need to scrape the material off; instead, just cover it up with gypsum board and tape it appropriately. This is a better option if there is any asbestos present in the sprayed-on material. It also provides the smoothest finish. Since it’s typically challenging to handle the boards with only one person involved, it’s advised to have a team of people tackle this job. Lather on a New Coating While you won’t get a completely smooth surface with this method, it will be much less textured than the original popcorn ceiling. It’s also a fairly easy process. All that’s involved is cleaning and prepping the area with quick-set drywall mud, adding a bonding agent, then applying a finishing compound to create the new texture. Before this method is chosen, it’s important to make sure that the original substrate is secure, because adding another wet product could add more weight than the ceiling material is able to handle, which can cause it to come undone. A ceiling specialist should be consulted first. In fact, ceiling specialists should be consulted first before attempting any of the above methods. At The Ceiling Specialists, we are highly trained and experienced in the art of removing popcorn ceilings and will help you breathe new life into your home while you sit back and let the professionals handle the dirty work. Popcorn ceiling removal – it’s what we do best.