Replies

1. 
   BobKovacs | Aug 18, 2003 05:43pm | #1

   There was a recent discussion here on this topic, and the concensus was to mist it with water and scrape it off- try doing a search for that post.  If the house was built before about 1980, I'd have the material tested to make sure it doesn't contain asbestos.

   Bob

2. 
   OregonBob | Aug 18, 2003 07:43pm | #2

   ditto Marko's post.  Get it tested, but after that, it's really easy.  I use my garden sprayer filled with pretty warm water.  You can add a little vinegar or bleach.  They help cut through the paint. 

   I use a wide wallboard knife for the removal.

   The stuff is messy and heavy.  I put down 6 mil plastic on the floor and haul in a couple plastic garbage cans.  With the garbage can about half full, it is almost too heavy to lift.  Once the stuff is wet, it weighs as much as an equivalent volume of water.

   Have fun!  This is really an "instant gratification" job.

1. 
   CAGIV | Aug 19, 2003 04:08am | #4

    This is really an "instant gratification" job.

   I've un-popped a few cielings, not once did the word "gratification" come to mind, yet a few others sure did.     ;)

   oh, and wear a hat.Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.

3. 
   ken1putt | Aug 18, 2003 08:14pm | #3

   I tried the wet-down-and-scrape method, but getting it cleaned up was a real bugger, so I ended up "building" a combo tool for my shop vac.

   By using one section of extension pipe, the 6" floor tool, and a short-handled floor scraper, I was able to fashion a device that scraped and collected the dust in the shop vap.

   It too a fair amount of duct tape, but it sucked up 99 percent of the popcorn.

   I used the yellw Shop Vac drywall bags in the vac to cut down on dust.

   K

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   "Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from -- self righteous sixteen-year-olds posessing infinite amounts of free time." - Neil Stephenson, Cryptonomicon

4. 
   Mooney | Aug 19, 2003 04:24am | #5

   The above posts are good if the ceiling hasnt been painted . If it was ever painted with oil from smokers , or water stain to seal the ceiling , you are stuck with it. The only thing to do then is to lath over it and rehang . Try a spot that doesnt matter so much and just try a little bit. You might want to live with it. Most ceiling that old have been painted 3 or 4 times. Post back when you find out.

   Tim Mooney

1. 
   MarkinMD | Aug 20, 2003 01:41am | #7

   What a great forum!  Thanks for the insight, Tim.  My first thought is that the ceiling has not been painted since the house was built.  I'll try a few different methods and post back when I figure out what works.  Seems like everyone has the same idea--scrape it off and be ready for a mess!  Thanks for the all of the technique suggestions!

5. 
   hoyt | Aug 20, 2003 12:52am | #6

   I asked essentially the same question on 5-August and received some very helpful replies.  The primary cautionary concern pertained to the POSSIBILITY of asbestos being present.  The remaining replies emphasized the need to go slowly, and be careful to cover every possible surface the you do NOT want to get burried in debris.  We would like to learn how your efforts pan out.

6. 
   Manchild | Aug 20, 2003 03:25am | #8

   I wached a guy do it that did it for a living and it didn't seem too bad. He just wet it down with a sprayer and he scraped it with a long handled scraper. He didn't even climb a ladder. The long handle was the trick and he took his time.