Best Way To Remove a Stippled Ceiling?
Tejanohombre
| Posted in General Discussion on
I have a house built in 1982 and has the old stippled ceilings. For several different reasons I’d like to sand them smooth before repainting. Is there a “best” way to do this? I imagine a sanding pole w/ around an 80 or 100 grit sandpaper would be a good start, then finishing w/ a 220.
I know I’m looking at a LOT of work, not to mention clean-up. But there’s several repairs that need to be made and it might be more of a hassle trying to patch it back. And last but not least, I really hate the look of a repainted textured ceiling!
Any ideas or suggestions???
Thanks!
Replies
Could be full of asbestos. You can have it tested. I'd just cover it.
Asbestos 1982? Not likely.
I hate popcorn ceiling.
I have done several by scraping off the heavy texture and either retexturing or skim coating. I got a little frame (at Lowe's I think) that holds a tall kitchen garbage bag right under the scraper for the last couple. I liked it. Use your scraper on a pole to keep you out of the direct line of fallout. Water will soften it and make the scraping easier but don't overdo it or the drywall paper will be damaged.
I once actually brought in the garden hose and misted the entire celing, once moist it scraped right off.
We often use a garden sprayer to wet down popcorn before stripping, it does cause it to release much easier.
That only applies if the ceiling was never painted though.
That only applies if the ceiling was never painted though.If that is the case then you'll have to upgrade to ####pressure washer--at least 3500 PSI and 15 degree tip.Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Your on the right track--hose with a quick mist or if you aren' t that gutsy--a garden sprayer.
Try a floor scraper--ice scraper around here--and plenty of poly and grind the corners round on the scraper and you'll do less digging in while you scrape.
Mike
" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
The sheetrock sub here uses the Porter Cable drywall sander to remove old popcorn and stipple ceilings on re-mods. Works fast with very little residual mess using the vac.
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2866
Thanks all for the ideas! I especially like the drywall sander and I can rent one at the local HD. I've heard they work really well. (The sander, not HD! :-) I don't believe they've ever been painted so I think I'm in good shape there. Can't imagine there'd be asbestos in jount compound but I have heard that it could be in the vinyl flooring however. I do appreciate the heads-up though!The ceilings in this house just have too many repairs to make it worthwhile to repair and match. I think overall, it'd look worse and therefore it's worth the time and effort to sand them smooth and paint. Would really update the house too to go along w/ the new kitchen cabinets, etc.Ok guys, thanks again!!!
Is your texture made of applied mud or is it a popcorn ceiling?
If it is applied mud in some pattern or texture the water will not help you, I was under the impression it was a popcorn ceiling from the posts here. I did not want to mislead you though.
Hey there!No, it's just your standard "stippled" ceiling done w/ a large "brush" and a thick bed of compound. (Saw a contractor do it once.) It's definitely not a popcorn ceiling though. I've worked on a few of those and I think the idea of wetting them first sounds pretty good.
I have taken a ' square' 'TIDE' or simular large liquid detergent bottle, cut a section out to make a dust pan , cut the hole to fit my shop vac hose & duct tape to seal, turn on shop vac, get scraper in one hand, & made up 'dust' pan in other & move across ceiling, you may have to mist with a spray bottle ahead. Used this method alot. I usually run small long hose ( cental vac 1 1/4" ) to a empty mud bucket with 1/3 full of water, lid has 2 holes, 1 for the 1 1/4 hose, other for the large shop vac hose, put hoses in lid (tight) and set lid. Hoses should not be in water. Heavy dust drops into water as vac runs. Less dust coming to vac, less static elec. created, not as much weight with the lighter hose & a lot less mess to clean after. Dump pail regular.
IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE COULD DO IT!