Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Everything You Need To Know

The 1930s was the first decade when people placed popcorn ceilings in their homes, and it was a big hit. The trend continued into the 1980s but is rare today. 

If you own a house built during this period, you might have some popcorn ceilings. These ceilings probably looked great when first installed, but they might not look good anymore. 

The good news is that you can remove it. However, the popcorn ceiling removal process can be challenging. Do you want yours gone?

Keep reading to learn more about popcorn ceilings and the procedures used for removing them.

What Is a Popcorn Ceiling?

You can find many ceiling types in homes, but popcorn ceilings stand out compared to most others. A popcorn ceiling earned its name by its looks. Popcorn ceilings have thick, puffy textures resembling popped popcorn.

Popcorn ceilings are one type of textured ceiling, but you can also find other types that aren’t as prominent or eye-catching. Popcorn ceilings tend to look great when first installed, but they lose their luster over time.

The chunks in the ceiling finish might loosen and break off, causing an uneven look. Small pieces also tend to fall off when painting ceilings containing popcorn texture.

If your home has popcorn ceilings, it might also have other textured walls. While the reasons for removing other textures might differ, most textures involve the same steps in the removal process. 

Why Should You Remove It?

Many homeowners decide to remove their popcorn ceilings because they don’t like how they look. Removing them, for this reason, is common and wise, but people also remove them for other reasons. 

Difficulties Keeping Up With It

People might remove it because of its difficulty maintaining it. For example, if you decide to repaint your ceilings, the popcorn might start falling off as you paint it. Additionally, there’s no way to clean these ceilings.

Therefore, if you’re completing home renovations and want to improve the looks of your home, you might decide to remove it to get new ceilings. 

Selling the House

Finally, many homeowners decide to remove their popcorn ceilings before selling their homes. Selling a home with old popcorn ceilings isn’t an easy task, as many homebuyers don’t want these.

Most homebuyers know the health risks of asbestos and that popcorn ceilings could contain this harmful substance. Therefore, you can improve your home’s appeal by removing these ceilings before selling. 

How Difficult is Popcorn Ceiling Removal?

Once you decide to remove your popcorn ceilings, you’ll need to learn how to do it. The first thing to consider is the risks of removing the ceiling.

If your popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, you shouldn’t touch the material, it could be found in homes built before 1978.   Asbestos in your ceilings won’t harm you if you leave the ceiling untouched. However, it generates dust when removed, and breathing this in is harmful.

Therefore, you might want to test the ceiling texture before proceeding. You can do this by removing a small material sample to send to a lab. If it contains asbestos, you’ll need protective equipment to remove it.

Next, it might be helpful to understand the tools you’ll need and the steps you must complete to remove it. Most experts recommend gathering a few things before starting the process, including the following:

• Water bottle
• Scraper
• Drop cloths 

The removal process is extremely messy, and there is no simple or clean way to do it. The best method involves spraying water on it to loosen it. Next, you use a scraper to remove the texture. 

The popcorn comes off easily in some cases but is more difficult in others. When finished, you’ll have popcorn texture all over the floors. 

Why Should You Hire a Professional?

If you own a home, you can choose to remove the popcorn ceilings yourself. After all, it’s your house. However, you might want to consider the difficulties and time needed for the job before beginning. This isn’t an easy task.

That’s why many homeowners hire a painting company to do the job. An expert painter can complete the job faster and produce better results. 

Hiring it out means that a team will come to your home with all the right tools, equipment, and protective materials.

The painters will also clean up the mess when finished.

You can even hire them to paint your ceilings afterward, as they’ll need a fresh coat of paint. 

Get a Quote for Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Whether you want to improve your home’s looks or face fewer challenges selling it, you might want to hire a company for popcorn ceiling removal. Getting rid of those old popcorn ceilings will make a significant difference.