How NOT to Remove Your Popcorn Ceilings

We’ve all been there: as homeowners, sometimes we may get a little too confident in our handyman capabilities and wind up with a bigger mess than we started with. When this happens, don’t worry–you’re not alone! When you have the time and determination, it can be exciting to experiment with a home improvement project and learn a few skills in the meantime. However, it’s always best to have a plan B on hand, just in case.

To all those home repair pioneers out there, we salute you. If you’re preparing to tackle a little popcorn removal in Orlando, we’ve got your back. Here are a few things NOT to do when you attempt to eliminate your ceiling texture:

• Don’t forget to cover your walls. Many overeager Weekend Warriors think that the most important thing to keep covered are the floors. While this is an important step, especially if your floors are carpeted, it’s so crucial that you don’t forget to cover up your walls. After you wet the popcorn texture, once you begin to scrape it, it will fall off in clumps–and it’ll be sticky. Don’t let it cling to your walls for dear life–keep it off in the first place.

• Don’t scrape too hard! While popcorn texture needs to be thoroughly scraped off the drywall once it’s wet, it’s an easy mistake to dig too deep and puncture your ceiling. Take care to angle your scraper or putty knife as you remove the popcorn, and get a feeling for the depth of the texture.

• Don’t forget to test your popcorn for asbestos. This one is no laughing matter. As we’ve discussed before, certain popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos fibers, which have been proven to potentially cause lung cancer. Always test your ceiling for asbestos before you begin the removal process; if you do detect its presence, you’ll need a hazmat team to take it down.

• Don’t forget to take all of your furniture out of the room. It can be easy to think that you can simply cover up your furniture pieces with sheets and keep them clean and protected. However, drywall dust from sanding has a nasty habit of sneaking into any creases and crevices it can find. It’s best to simply move all the furniture out of the room and bring it back in later.

Don’t be fooled: popcorn removal in Orlando is no simple task. It requires a lot of preparation and a steady hand to wind up with a smooth, clean ceiling. Instead of breaking your back, why not get in touch with a professional popcorn removal team to get the job done? New Ceilings has years of experience removing popcorn ceilings. Call (407) 378-6040 to learn more or schedule your initial consultation today.