How do I remove popcorn ceiling texture?

Question:

I’m in the process of modernizing my house a bit and would like to know how to remove popcorn ceiling texture. I want to get rid of the 70’s feel in the house.

Answer:

Removing popcorn texture is relatively straightforward and a quite simple technique. However, it can be labor-intensive, so be aware that it will take longer than you think.

Most of the time, when a house is built, the texture is applied and then never painted. If this is the case in your house, you are in luck. All you need to do is put down a copious amount of plastic and tarps to protect your floor, then spray the ceiling with water from a garden sprayer. Work in small sections and don’t over-wet the ceiling. You want just enough water to loosen the texture but not enough so that it will soak into the drywall. Once the texture is wet, you can easily scrape it down with a mud knife.

If your ceiling has been painted before, the water won’t help very much, you just need to scrape away at it with a 6-inch mud knife until the texture comes off. This will be quite labor-intensive. Another option is to use a random orbital sander and just start sanding. You will have to experiment to find the technique that works best for you.

After you have scraped the texture off, and let it dry completely (at least 48 hours), you can go back with a sander and smooth everything out. Then you can apply your new texture or skim coat the ceiling for a nice flat finish.

Paint the ceiling and you are finished.

If you need help with this project, let us know as our painters are experienced with this task.