dont want popcorn ceiling?

Question

assuming there is asbestos in my popcorn ceiling, is it easier to just apply new drywall over the popcorn? also it may be a messy job to scrape off the popcorn anyway. i was thinking of using a layer of plastic in between to avoid disturbing any loose popcorn. any suggestions, experience, or advice?

Answer 1

Depending on how long the popcorn has been there, (say within the last 10 years), there shouldnt be much risk of it containing asbestos. Most popcorn paint contain styrofoam or cotton type pellets.

Suggestions:
1. If you really want to remove it, you have 2 options: a. Have a professional do it, and b. as someone said before, spray it with a vinegar/water solution, and wait about 10-15 minutes, it should be easy to scrape off. Its always best to use a mask over your nose & mouth to avoid breathing any dust there may be.

2. If you have loose or missing spots on your ceiling, you can buy either loose "popcorn" and mix it with your current color of paint, then touch up the ceiling, filling in the missing spots, I do believe that this also comes in a spray can-type of product as well. Check with your local Home-Improvement store for availability--(If this is your choice of option)

3. Although a plastic liner would be desirableto keep loose popcorn from falling, it is really not necessary. Actually may not be a good idea, depending on where you live. Here's the scenerio: You have insulation, then drywall, then primer paint, then popcorn and more paint--usually latex (which is water based), all these are layered. . . Now you have the idea of adding a layer of plastic, then another layer of drywall, which will trap moisture inbetween the current popcorn ceiling, and the new drywall. If moisture gets trapped between the popcorn and the ceiling it is attached to, you can get mildew trapped in there. It could be a potential health hazzard over the years to come.

4. Have you thought about having a "drop ceiling" installed? They are made in such a way that air will circulate under them, reducing the risk of moisture and mildew problems.

Hope this gives you a few more thoughts or options.

By the way, I have a popcorn ceiling too, and I hate it ! You cant clean them, Its a hassle to try and paint over them, and when you try to get the cobwebs off, the popcorn comes down!

Answer 2

I also spent some time in front of the computer for some tips on how to patch a popcorn ceiling, and I found this article here very useful: http://www.miconstruguia.com/en/patch-a-popcorn-ceiling/
Hope this works for you too.

Answer 3

Popcorn ceilings typically do NOT contain asbestos.... they are actually made of cellulose and/or styrofoam beads. If you were simply looking to remove it because you thought it had asbestos... you don't need to.

If you don't like the popcorn look... you can take it down... and yes, it is messy, lol. You want to move the furniture out of the room, or at least out of the way, and cover everything with plastic... including the floor. It wouldnt hurt to tape the plastic seams together. It's also a good idea to hang plastic in the doors to other rooms, and cover your windows with plastic too... Id remove any curtains, or blinds while working in the room.
A good floor scraper is handy for scraping the texture off the ceilings... wear a dust mask, and eye protection... a bandana or shower cap, will help keep the mess out of your hair too. Scrape it down as smooth as you can. Believe it or not, this will actually be faster than putting up new dry wall.
IF.. you happened to gouge the ceiling with the scraper, then you will need to touch up the gouges with a little joint compound... let it dry, and sand smooth.

Once you have it scraped smooth.... if you have any remaining texture left.... you can sand it with a drywall screen... then you are ready to prime and paint.

Its messy... can get hot... and the cellulose can make you itch, if you get it on your skin,... but its not hazardous, if you take the simple precaution of keeping it out of your eyes and use a dust mask to keep from breathing the dust.

Ive repaired a lot of popcorn ceilings over the years... it will take longer to get ready to work, and to clean up afterwards, than it will to actually scrape the ceiling ;)

Have Fun!

(O, by the way.... Ive run into several cases where the little pieces of 'popcorn' are falling off the ceiling.... this can be fixed without removing the majority of the ceiling, but is almost as dirty as scraping it clean, lol..... put down the plastic, again... but instead of using a floor scraper, simply use a stiff broom, and 'sweep' the ceiling... this will remove any pieces that are loose, and about to fall down. Then painting the ceiling with a heavy nap roller, will help seal in the rest of the 'popcorn')

Good Luck!

Answer 4

i have brush-painted over those products earlier. draw back of that's the paint will avoid you or persons from eliminating it contained in the destiny. Popcorn can somewhat be bumped off by utilizing wetting and scraping if that is present day stuff over (or could I say 'lower than') drywall. in case you paint it then you definately won't be able to moist and scrape it later and far harder to get rid of. Older stuff will be on plaster and a good larger job to get rid of. you could %. a secluded nook in a closet to target in case you want. I scraped and adjusted my ceiling years in the past. I also wore out my proper rotator cuff doing the replace the ceiling area cuz i did not comprehend what i became doing. also plastered over the popcorn in a unmarried room, so the popcorn is punctiliously hidden lower than a smooth plaster end. Popcorn DOES serve to conceal defects and irregularities on your ceiling. maximum ceilings are not thoroughly flat and eliminating the feel makes that extra glaring. It is likewise prevalent as "acoustic ceiling", sound bounces round our homestead a lot extra on condition that I bumped off it. Flat plaster ceilings and hardwood flooring - no one can sneak round and also you could hear the fish tank effervescent by the total homestead.

Answer 5

Any time I have heard about people dealing with popcorn ceilings they have hired professionals to remove it.

Your ideas make sense to me though, but asbestos is not good. See what answers you get here and check at your local Home Depot or Lowe's.

Answer 6

Just wet it and comes right off with a putty knife. Just dont get it so wet that you damage the drywall.