Popcorn Ceiling Removal: How the Process Works, Step by Step
Popcorn ceiling removal looks like a simple scraping job, but the scraping is the easy part. What makes the ceiling look good afterward is everything that comes before and after it. Here's how the process works from start to finish, and a few things that surprise homeowners.
Why popcorn ceilings were everywhere
Spray-on texture was popular from the 1950s into the 1980s. It went on fast, covered uneven drywall and seams without careful finishing, and softened echo. It fell out of favor as tastes shifted to clean, smooth surfaces, and because texture applied before the mid-1980s can contain asbestos. Our article on the life of a popcorn ceiling has the full history.
The removal process, step by step
- Test older ceilings. If the texture may predate the mid-1980s, a lab test of a small sample comes first. See testing for asbestos.
- Protect the room. Floors, walls and anything left in the room are covered, and the work area is contained to keep debris and dust in.
- Soften and scrape. The texture is misted with water and left to soak, then scraped off the drywall. Unpainted popcorn usually comes off easily once it's wet.
- Repair the drywall underneath. Popcorn often hides rough seams, nail pops and dings. These get taped, floated and patched.
- Refinish. The ceiling is skim-coated and sanded for a smooth finish, or a light texture like knockdown or orange peel is applied.
- Prime, paint and clean up. Primer seals the new surface, the ceiling is painted, and the room is cleaned.
Things that surprise homeowners
- The drywall under the popcorn is rarely perfect. Builders sprayed popcorn partly so they didn't have to finish the ceiling carefully. Expect some repair work once it's off.
- Smooth is the hardest finish to get right. A flat, smooth ceiling shows every flaw under raking light, so it takes careful skim coating and sanding. Read about the levels of drywall finish.
- Painted popcorn is a different job. Paint seals the texture so water can't soften it, which makes removal slower. See removing painted popcorn.
- The mess is real. Wet popcorn falls everywhere. Good protection and containment are what keep it out of the rest of the house.
What affects the cost
Square footage, ceiling height, whether the popcorn is painted, how much repair the drywall needs and the finish you choose all affect the price. A written quote should spell out each part of the job.
Before your project
A few simple steps make the day go smoothly. See how to prepare your home for popcorn removal.
Popcorn removal in Orlando
New Ceilings removes popcorn ceilings across Orlando and Central Florida. We cover and contain the work area, sand with dust-free tools, refinish smooth or with a light texture and paint with Sherwin-Williams paint. Every job starts with a free written quote, and the number we quote is the number you pay. See popcorn ceiling removal.