Who To Hire To Remove Popcorn Ceiling

Exercise you dread looking upward at your habitation's popcorn ceilings every solar day? You're definitely not alone!

Popcorn ceilings accept fallen out of favor in the world of interior design. Although they're easier to make clean, they may harbor dangerous compounds similar asbestos.

Despite what y'all may believe, learning how to remove a popcorn ceiling is relatively easy. (Simply you admittedly must examination for asbestos and pb earlier taking on this projection past yourself.)

What You lot'll Need To Begin

Popcorn ceiling removal requires just a few basic tools and, as a result, is not very expensive.

Many of the required tools and supplies are items you'll already have on hand:

Hose or spray bottle
Putty or taping knife
Plastic drib cloths
Painter's record
Protective gear (coveralls, grit mask, goggles, gloves, etc.)
Drywall joint compound
Pole sander
Primer
Paint

half dozen Easy Tips On How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling Effectively

1. Examination for Pb and Asbestos

Earlier you can even think about removing a popcorn ceiling, you demand to know if it's safety to do and then. Popcorn ceilings installed earlier the 1980s may contain asbestos.

Ceilings painted pre-1978 may besides comprise lead. Asbestos and lead are oftentimes "treated" by sealing the offending textile below a layer of paint.

So even if the outermost layer of your ceiling is lead- and asbestos-complimentary, the same isn't necessarily true of the layers underneath.

If you are 100% sure your home is free of these compounds — newer builds are the near common exception — testing may not exist necessary. But it never hurts to perform a examination but to be safe.

Can You Remove Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling Texture Without a Professional person?

DIY removal of asbestos from a single-family unit dwelling house is legal in the U.s. (local laws may vary). It is non, still, recommended.

Extreme intendance must be taken earlier disturbing asbestos-containing materials. Not but do y'all need to protect yourself through the process just you as well demand to ensure that asbestos does not contaminate the rest of the building.

Legality aside, many municipalities require a building permit to remove asbestos from a home.

There's also the matter of how the removed ceiling texture volition be disposed of. Asbestos cannot be thrown in the regular trash.

Instead, it must be carefully transported to a qualified waste facility.

2. Prep the Room

Anyone familiar with popcorn ceiling removal knows that it's a very, very messy process! Prepping the infinite earlier you showtime volition save you lot a major headache later on.

Brainstorm past removing as many items equally possible. This includes decor, furniture, appliances, and all other portable objects.

Annihilation that cannot be moved should be covered with a plastic drop cloth. Employ tape to secure the plastic and create a makeshift seal around the item.

Use plastic (taping equally needed) to all other surfaces in the room — i.e., windows, floors, walls, and doors.

Seal off any open hallways with a piece of plastic to prevent dust and debris from spreading throughout the home. On a similar note, be certain to close and cover all vents in the room.

3. Wear Protective Gear

Fifty-fifty if your popcorn ceiling is free of lead and asbestos, exposing your body to all of that dust is far from platonic.

Wearing the appropriate protective gear will not but keep yous safe only also keep y'all relatively make clean throughout the removal process.

four. Dampen the Ceiling

A wet popcorn ceiling is much easier to remove than a dry one! Water is the secret to making popcorn texture removal as quick and stress-free every bit possible.

Using a hose or handheld spray canteen, dampen the ceiling one section at a time. The goal is to scrape the entire section earlier the ceiling has plenty fourth dimension to dry out.

Start with sections that are a few feet beyond — you tin adapt the size of each section equally needed.

Pro Tip: Do not soak the ceiling. Excess moisture could seep through and damage the layer of sheetrock above the popcorn texture. Warm h2o may be slightly more than effective than cold water.

five. Scrape, Scrape, Scrape

Now it's time for a scrap of elbow grease. Using whatsoever drywall knife feels most comfortable to piece of work with, begin gently scraping the popcorn texture from the ceiling's surface.

Pay close attending to the amount of force per unit area applied as you scrape. As well much pressure could damage the textile underneath the textured cease.

Pro Tip: File downwardly the corners of your putty or taping knife before scraping your ceilings. This can help preclude gouges in the ceiling that must exist filled subsequently.

Depending on the texture's thickness, more than 1 laissez passer may be needed to remove it all. Don't hesitate to re-spray each section as the surface dries to brand removal a bit easier.

half dozen. Refinish and Paint

While scraping will remove the unwanted popcorn texture, information technology's unlikely to exit y'all with a totally smooth ceiling. Make full any scrapes or gouges on the surface with a joint compound. Allow to dry.

Sand the ceiling using progressively effectively grits until the surface is sufficiently fifty-fifty. Keep in mind that particularly small imperfections may be invisible after painting.

Prime and paint your new smooth ceiling to match the residuum of your home decor.

Is There a Special Machine to Remove Popcorn Ceiling Texture?

Special machinery isn't required for popcorn ceiling removal. But using a vacuum attachment tin can make the process easier and less messy!

The POPeeze Popcorn Ceiling Scraper attaches to a shop vac to remove and collect the popcorn texture all in i pace. While there are several similar attachments out there, this 1 is a top option among DIYers and professionals alike.

Average Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

Removing a popcorn ceiling may non cost every bit much every bit y'all recollect, especially if you're willing to complete the labor yourself!

Homeowners can expect DIY popcorn texture removal to price $.50 per square human foot on average. This judge covers the necessary tools and supplies.

If you lot already have a large collection of tools, the overall toll may be cheaper. Also, since most of the supplies are reusable, working on a larger area will lower the boilerplate price per square foot.

The cost to hire a professional for popcorn ceiling removal is a bit higher. On boilerplate, this service volition cost around $1 or $two per foursquare foot.

Before hiring a professional person contractor, keep in mind that several factors tin affect the concluding price.

If your home features vaulted ceilings, water impairment, or you plan to apply a new finish in the popcorn texture's place, you should expect to pay a premium.

The presence of asbestos in your popcorn ceiling tin can likewise raise the price significantly.

How Much Does Information technology Cost to Remove an Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling?

The cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture containing asbestos is between $five and $fifteen per square foot on average.

Most of the additional price goes toward protecting the rest of the home from airborne asbestos particles.

Does Removing Popcorn Ceiling Add Value?

Usually, yes! Merely you shouldn't go into this projection expecting to profit. On average, removing popcorn ceiling texture will increment a home's value by a few thousand dollars.

When you account for the materials and labor required to remove a popcorn ceiling, whether y'all tackle this project as a DIY or hire a professional person, well-nigh homeowners volition break even in the stop.

Removing a popcorn ceiling containing asbestos may accept a bigger impact on the home's value. At the very least, potential buyers will experience more comfortable placing an offering on a house that has been properly treated for asbestos.

Terminal Thoughts

Removing popcorn ceiling texture tin completely transform a living space. At that place's actually no amend mode to make an outdated home feel fresh and modern!

The biggest obstruction in popcorn ceiling removal is the potential presence of asbestos or lead. Fortunately, testing for these substances is fairly easy.

In one case you know the contents of your popcorn ceiling, you can bound correct into DIY removal or hiring a professional abatement service. Before you know it, those bumpy old ceilings will be a thing of the past!