There has to be a better way to remove the popcorn from ceilings other than spritzing with water and then hand scraping. Talk about time and labor intensive.
Anyone have a better solution? I am arm weary.
Who ever came up with this idea had to be a sadist. Knockdowns are more asthetic, less messy when bumped, and can be easily painted without having to break out the spray guns….Grrrr!
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I preferred the old sand texture. Easily paintable with a roller, and not too difficult to repair in small patches with the right sized grit in the paint.
Would still be a pain to remove, of course.
There is the possibility that vermiculite containing asbestos was used for your ceilings, just so you know. If the ceilings have been painted, they can be more difficult to wet down. This PDF covers it but with a heavy emphasis on the asbestos abatement issue. Everyone wants easy, if it was we wouldn't call it work.
http://www.pscleanair.org/regulated/asbestos/.../asb-popcorn.pdf
Reply to comment Popcorn ceilings
I have tackle this many times and the most common solution is to scrape it to knock off the highest bumpbs then put 2-3 coats of joint compound over it. In the end it is the quickest way. In really bad cases, I have installed 1/4" drywall over the existing ceilings then tape the seams. Good luck!
1/4 mightbe a little thin and prone to show bumps if the texture is really coarse - like mine is.
I think 3/8" to 1/2" plywood would be safer to give a more even finish.
Or rip the ceiling out and replace it.
That's what I'm doing with mine.
Why exactly did popcorn ceilings become popular again?
You have to be doing something wrong. We do popcorn ceilings fairly often and while it's messy I wouldn't call it hard or labor intensive. 2 of us just did a large L/R, 12 X 36 in about 3 hours including clean up. We let it dry for a day, hit it lightly with a pole sander and rolled on a coat of thinned drywall compound. One of us rolls while the other hits it with a trowel. That took another 90 minutes. Skip troweling took one guy an hour. The self-professed picky owners are thrilled.
I did my entire house last spring with the help of one other guy. The ceiling has got to be wetted but don't think your gonna do this with some plant mister or even a garden sprayer. Those take forever. I used a new garden nozzle on the hose. Put the nozzle at the end of one of those two foot long extension waterers so that you can easily reach the ceiling without ruining your arm. Mist the entire area, wait a half hour, do it again.... repeat. The gunk will come off in sheets with no dust.
All great responses. Thanks for all your inputs.
Cannot tear out ceiling without all the blown in cellulose creating a mess.
I think I will check the garden shop to see if there is mist attachement for the hose. Not sure what was used with the popcorn when applied. It is harder than hell like somone mixed setting compound then shot the ceiling. Have gotten 3/4 ceiling done half dozen more rooms to go. The previous owner did some real creative stuff when he renovated. What can you expect from a socioligist turned remodeler. Silicon jammed in everywhere. Now these darn popcorn ceilings.
Last resort may be to beltsand with fine grit plus a couple coats of joint compound and call it a day. Hate popcorn....
JUst any other work day