Features and materials in your home can become outdated after time, and perhaps nothing is more dating to a home’s interior than popcorn ceilings. This sprayed-on material may have been popular back in the day, but homeowners and buyers are no longer seeing it as an attractive feature. In fact, the opposite is true.
Homeowners want to remove their popcorn ceilings to improve the aesthetics of their home, while buyers do not want to see popcorn ceilings in homes they are potentially going to put an offer on. The solution is popcorn ceiling removal.
That said, how can popcorn ceiling material be removed? What is the best way to do it?
There are three common methods of removing popcorn ceiling material, and we’ll go over each one to help you decide which is the easiest way for you.
Scraping
As the name suggests, the scraping method simply involves scraping the sprayed-on material off with a utility knife. Once the material has been removed, it will reveal the surface beneath. It’s the most common method of removing popcorn ceiling material, but as you would imagine, it’s a rather messy job.
As such, you’ll want to cover all surfaces in the room – including the floors, walls, doorways, and furniture – with plastic sheets. These sheets will also serve to catch all the falling material as it is being scraped off and collect it for easy removal once the job is complete. Scraping is also the more cost effective method of popcorn ceiling removal, which is one of the reasons why it is more popular.
That said, it also tends to leave behind imperfections as a result of the scraping being done with a utility knife. Considering this, be prepared to do some patchwork once you’re done scraping the material off to smooth out any damage done.
It should be noted, however, that this method might not be appropriate if it is discovered that there is asbestos contained within the material. If that’s the case, you will either have to call in the experts to remove the material or use another method for popcorn ceiling removal.
Cover With Ceiling Drywall
An alternative to the scraping method is to cover the material with ceiling drywall. That means there will be no scraping involved to reveal a smoother surface. Instead, you would just install drywall directly over top of the popcorn ceiling material.
This method will require some help lifting and installing the drywall. The material is heavy, so a team will be needed. The drywall will then have to be screwed in securely into the framing and taped so that there are no joints or seams evident.
This is a preferred method over scraping if you have asbestos in the material in your ceiling. It is also a good alternative to ensure a smooth surface, as there would be no scraping involved that would damage the surface beneath.
However, covering your popcorn ceiling with drywall is a more expensive option compared to scraping, As such, you’ll need to take that into consideration when you are choosing which method to use for popcorn ceiling removal.
Add a New Layer of Texture
While this method does not leave behind a completely smooth surface, it will be a better alternative to leaving your popcorn ceiling as is. With this method, you would apply a new texture over top of the existing material and create the texture you desire using your own design. Before you do this, you will have to test out a small patch to make sure the existing material is strong enough to hold the new textured material over top.
Otherwise, you will risk applying new material that can become dislodged and fall as a result. Considering this, it might be a better idea to have a professional tackle this job for you. As mentioned, this method does not result in a smooth surface like the previous two methods. This is something that you will have to consider when choosing the best popcorn ceiling removal method to employ.
Which Popcorn Ceiling Removal Method is Best?
To help you determine which method of popcorn ceiling removal is best for you, consult with the experts in this realm if and when you are ready to step in to remove your popcorn ceilings to reveal a much more attractive and modern smooth surface beneath.
The Ceiling Specialists and Orange County Drywall Repair have been providing top quality workmanship and professionalism to each and every one of their customers since 2003.
Do your research and ask around for feedback on contractors in your area. You can do research online as well to see what kind of reviews these contractors have from their previous customers. Check their website and social media presence, if they don’t have any of this then it should make you wonder as to why they don’t have any of that.
