I have a popcorn ceiling and HATE it. Can I sand it?

Question

What would it look like if I sanded it, and then repainted it?

Answer 1

test in a corner first, i suggest using a wide putty knife and scrape it (spray bottle of hot water might help). Be prepared for the mess.Also when popcorn ceilings are sprayed the seams and joints in the drywall do not need to be perfect so you might need to finish all the seams....

Answer 2

Popcorn ceilings can be scraped off...a trowel works well. If you have an older home proceed with caution though. It may have been applied due to cracks in the ceiling and chances are it is lead based (extended exposure to lead can cause brain damage-no lie). No, I'm not saying you will eat it! Just wear gloves and a respirator mask. I know this is last on everyone's fashion accessories list, but you will be very thankful for the eye goggles too. It will make a mess, so your best option is to clear out the room and put a drop cloth down (you can get plastic ones at your choice of retail home improvement store for about $2.00-I find painter's tape works well to keep it in place and makes for easier clean up). Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Ive had a lot of fun working and repairing popcorn ceilings... The fastest way to remove it, is to use a Floor Scraper.... this is a tool that looks like a long-handled hoe... but instead of the head being bent to 90 degrees of the handle, it is straight.

This is very messy, lol... so cover everything with plastic, and wear a cap or something to keep it out of your hair.... and don't work with your mouth open, lol. In fact, it would be a good idea to use a dust mask, and safety glasses to keep the stuff out of your mouth, and eyes. It wouldnt hurt you to swallow it... but it doesnt taste good (the voice of experience! LoL). This model of floor scraper, will let you clean your ceiling without a ladder. After you have the bulk of it scraped off... you could, if you wanted to.. sand it a bit to smooth it out... I would use drywall sanding screens, on a pole sander for that. You COULD rent the type that professional drywall installers use, that has a vacuum hookup, to help minimize the dust from sanding.

Here are some links to a couple of different floor scraper types. The link to Lowes has a 'flexible' scraper head, similar to a drywall knife... and the one to Ace hardware has a stiff scraper...tho that particular link is to only a 4 handled scraper... you can buy that kind of scraper, with a long handle, at any local hardware store, for less than $15. (By the way... while you CAN use smaller types of scrapers, drywall/putty knives, etc... youre going to wear your arms, neck and back out, using them! LoL)

Have Fun!

Answer 4

"Popcorn" usually refers to a spray on foam made popular by Sears in the 50s-60s. I would really check this out with your landlord if you rent.
If it is your own property there are a couple of things to concider. Some popcorn contained asbestos. If yours does, it must be removed by a licensed haz mat handling company. It's expensive but it's good to get the stuff away from your family.
If it does not have asbestos, it's still messy but doable.
The spray on stuff was sometimes put up to cover cracks and other flaws in the ceiling so be ready to plaster and repair.
Put down drop cloths. Try scraping off a small area with a paint scraper. If it comes off easy, then go with this dry method. Wetting the popcorn with a spray bottle can remove really stuck on areas.
Good luck.

Answer 5

It is a very messy process if you sand it. Cause the pop corn ceiling is very hard and tough .. so you first hose it with lots of water.. and it really gets ugly.
Here is what most of the handy men do : They measure the area of the ceiling, and they cover it with think wooden boards designed specially for this purpose then fill in between them if there is any spaces.. and paint the boards.
It may sound like drag.. but it is way better than the sanding.

Answer 6

wouldn't try sanding it. that will prove to be a whole pile of work for not much result. scrape it off if it has only been painted with latex paint you could try wetting an area and seeing if that will aid in removal.
a word of caution. until 1978ish some companies were making popcorn ceilings with asbestos. so if you can't be sure of the age don't tear it down. i would paint it with an oil based paint and then cover it with new drywall. which may prove to be the least work in the long run anyway

Answer 7

Depends. My house for example has popcorn walls and ceilings in every room! Every surface has all these bumps. My problem is its been around forever and has lots and lots of paint on it from decades of people. I couldnt sand it down if I wanted. If its small then take your time and possibly get some help and good luck.

Answer 8

no need to sand. take a straight bladed hoe with a long handel and scrape it off. This is going to be very messy and create a lot of dust, take a spray bottle of water and wet it first. dont soak it, wet it just enoug to limit the dust. You will probably need to put a skim coat of plaster or sheetrock joint compound to make the ceiling smooth enough for just paint. This part shoud be done by a skilled craftsman.

Answer 9

My father had his house remodeled and had someone scrape the popcorn off. I primed and painted it and it looks good. We were worried that the original sheetrockers might not have done such a good job with the seams and that it might show. It ended up look pretty good like it was a planned "slick" ceiling.

Answer 10

That's very strange. Alot of places do but only in living rooms. The ceiling isn't strange, just the fact that you want to sand it down.

hmmm.... if you do chances are it will look terrible.