Popcorn Ceiling Removal: DIY Methods And Total Cost

Expect to pay no less than ,000. If you don’t have asbestos, doing it yourself is the better option. But to each their own, there’s nothing wrong with hiring a pro if you can afford it.
Cover the room in plastic and apply paint stripper. You can scrape the popcorn off. For difficult areas, use a heat gun. Open a window and have a box fan flowing outward.  

What Are Popcorn Ceilings?

If you want an older ceiling, plaster is a good choice. Plaster walls and ceilings last longer if taken care of and are like drywall. Find out more about plaster walls and ceilings compared to drywall here. 
You may be wondering why people remove popcorn ceilings. Since the asbestos ban, people began removing them from their homes. Popcorn ceilings are few and far between. But why? Popcorn ceilings aren’t ugly or unappealing.
Sand The Ceiling

Why Remove Popcorn Ceilings? 

Create The Tool

Dated

The cost is to per square foot. But this doesn’t include refinishing and painting. when you add everything up the cost can change. 
Using a floor scraper is easier since you can get the work done faster, but not everyone can do this. Putty knives are cheaper if you have a small area, and they will work fine. 

Pesky Texture

And don’t forget to wear eye protection.

Asbestos 

Start Vacuuming 
 
Prepare The Area

• Shortness of breath.
• Dry cough or wheezing.
• Crackling sound when breathing.
• Chest pain or tightness.
• Pleural plaques.
• Respiratory complications.
• Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the space. surrounding a lung).
• Pleural thickening.
• Asbestosis.
• Abdominal swelling and distention.
• Abdominal or pelvic pain.
• Bowel obstruction.
• Hernia.
• Weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Hoarseness.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Clubbed fingers.

If you notice yellow stains on your ceiling, then you have a leak. Water leads to mold. To remove it, you’ll need bleach or hydrogen peroxide to kill the mold.  

How To Remove A Popcorn Ceiling

For this method, stilts will help you can move as you vacuum, and it will feel like vacuuming a floor. A ladder will work, but it will take longer. 
Popcorn ceilings have been around since the 30s. From the 50s to the 70s, they were popular. Since the first popcorn ceilings were used with asbestos, they were banned in ‘77 and new popcorn ceilings didn’t have asbestos. 

Method 1: Most Efficient Method

Popcorn ceilings are dated. They are out of style and will remind anyone of the 1970s. They don’t look modern and don’t work with other design styles.
This will include paint to repaint when you’re finished. But that’s small compared to hiring a pro. With them, you will pay for materials and labor. The workers charge per hour, and you’re paying for whoever they bring with them. 

• Sprayer, a garden, or paint sprayer.
• Putty knife (and floor scraper if needed).
• Dropcloth.
• Catch tray or pan.
• Ladder.
• Sander or sandpaper.

Start Scraping
Start Scraping
This method is more complicated to set up but easy once you get it right. If you don’t have a ShopVac, this may not be ideal as you’ll need to invest in one.
If all you’re paying for is materials, expect to pay less than you’d pay for a pro to remove popcorn ceiling. The average cost is 0.
Using a mask is a good idea for remodeling work. However, it’s necessary when there will be dust or harmful particles in the air. If you do a lot of renovating, keep a box handy.
It depends on the size of the house. For smaller homes, you’ll need to determine if it would be worth it. If you’re trying to sell a large home, it is harder if you haven’t removed the popcorn.
You want to play it safe and do it right, so your best bet is to call a professional. If you ruin your ceiling, it wouldn’t be worth it.
There are two ways you can do this. For smaller areas, use the tray and putty knife to scrape off the wet ceiling. You can also use the putty knife for touch-up work and remove most of the ceiling with a floor scraper. 

Method 3: Mess-Free Method

Wetting the ceiling is recommended. It will ensure the ceiling scrapes right off. Since you’re using a ShopVac, the moisture won’t affect the machine. 
You won’t be wet the ceiling. Instead, you’ll be doing it try. Wear a mask, use a drop cloth, and point a fan so it blows out a window. Stay away from the room if you have asthma.

• Duct Tape.
• Drywall Taping Knife.
• ShopVac.
• Wide ShopVac Wet/Dry Nozzle.
• Extension Tube.
• Extra ShopVac Filter.
• Ladder or Stilts.

Prepare The Area
Scrape The Ceiling
How do you know if your home is affected by asbestos? You can tell by the appearance of pre-1970s construction. But in some cases, health conditions appear with little to no sign of cause. 
Another reason to remove popcorn ceilings is because of the texture. Unlike smooth walls, popcorn ceilings are a hotbed for spiders, cobwebs, and dust. Not to mention, the top layer can peel or flake off and release harmful particles. 
Today, popcorn ceilings are made with Styrofoam or similar material. They are one of the least popular types of ceilings. However, most people that have them, want them removed asap. 

Cost Of Popcorn Ceiling Removal 

Before you do anything, have your ceiling tested for asbestos. You could rip the ceiling off, do not scrape it. Replace it with drywall so it matches your connecting ceilings.
Here are the three main reasons people remove them. 
Spray The Ceiling
Popcorn ceilings are easier to remove when wet. Don’t let the water soak through the drywall beneath it. Use the sprayer on one area at a time so it doesn’t soak long. 
Here is the list of symptoms of asbestos exposure. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor. Though they may or may not be caused by asbestos, they should not be left untreated. The respiratory symptoms are more common and more serious. 
Wet The Ceiling

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Conclusion

This method is easier, but it leaves a rough texture that looks like stomped drywall. It won’t leave a smooth ceiling, but it can be done quick and cheap. If you want texture, then you’ll love how it looks. 
This will be difficult, but you can scrape dry popcorn ceiling. You won’t get all off it but removing the top layer can make a difference. You can try more, and if so use the first method. 
If your floors aren’t finished or you’ll replace them, leave the drop cloth out. Disposable dropcloths are cheap and make for easy cleanup. 
After that, they became less and less popular. People believed they were perfect for hiding flaws and offered insulation for upper stories. This may have been true, but they found out the cons outweighed the pros.