Planning on running crown around a main floor, open concept. It is currently a stiple or popcorn ceiling. Can I do a decent job of this without removing the popcorn. Take possession July 1 and wife is due with our first child July 5 so time does not allow the removal of the popcorn. Plus I actually don’t mind it. Also considering adding a fake beam or bulkhead to break the ceiling height between the living and dining rooms. Is it possible to frame, drywall and mud this with the existing popcorn. I think I am afraid of the advice I will receive on this one.
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Can I do a decent job of this without removing the popcorn.
Probably, but it truly depends on your definition of 'decent'.
Is it possible to frame, drywall and mud this [fake beam] with the existing popcorn.
No, infact it's not even a good idea to do it with the existing drywall in place.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Think you can do both. Make up a dummy piece of crown and use it to mark the ceiling. Carefully remove the popcorn where the edge will contact. After installation, mix up some texture and use a paper towel to replace what's missing. The paint is gonna be tougher. I'd suggest spraying the whole ceiling again.
The beam shouldn't be any problem. Make it as light as possible, out of 1/2" ply. Prime, paint or texture. Did the same in my house with 4"X8"X 22'. Ripped the pieces, glued and bradded them together. Blocked the ceiling, slid the sections up and screwed them in. Taped the holes and seams, primed, textured, and painted.
Along the lines of what Tom said, find out how far the crown will stick out from the wall, and grind down an old mud knife or scraper to this width and dry scrape the popcorn til the ceiling perimeter is free of the large stuff--you can also rip a 1x downn to the correct width and cut a sharp bevel on it in a pinch. That's what I did for the crown in my office, and it looks fine. Just run a light bead of caulk between the top of the crown and the popcorn.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
Use blocking behind the crown and set the crown to the blocking and down with 1/4" a reveal at the ceiling level.
Clean away a strip of texture to mount the blocking to which you hang the hollow box beam. Then the last piece of trim from the beam to the ceiling (3/4" cove, base shoe, or custom) drop the 1/4" for a reveal.
Fine moulding appplied in a fine manner cover a good carpenter's problems!
............Iron Helix
Kids come early sometimes. I'd forget the whole thing if it was me. But hey wadda I no?
Thanks for the advice. Looks like I have some options to go with. Regarding the timeline we take possession July 1, baby due July 5. We are not giving up our existing place till the 15 so I have some time to paint, run crown and baseboards, maybe some wainscotting in the baby's room if my wife gets her way. After all that(with help from friends) we will move in. Thanks again for the ideas.