Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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ehhh, my girlfriend did all the scraping on our bathroom ceiling. She said it came off super easy (huge mess though).
Larger rooms would be more of a pain because of the area. I guess physically it is not hard labor, but it is mostly having to be on a ladder and basically your neck and back hurting like crap after having to be at the angle to scrap it off. Like you said though, it is not "hard" work though just not "fun/easy" work.
Hey all,
Would any of you happen to know how much it would cost to hire someone to remove the popcorn ceilings of a 2,703 sqft home?<>
It is very common around here. If you search the forum with key words, popcorn, texture, and ceiling you will find hundreds of threads on this.
To summarize, either live with it or try to find a house without it, of which there are damned few.
After a few months it becomes invisible. Get over it. (in My Experience)
"Meant in the nicest way"
Larger rooms would be more of a pain because of the area. I guess physically it is not hard labor, but it is mostly having to be on a ladder and basically your neck and back hurting like crap after having to be at the angle to scrap it off. Like you said though, it is not "hard" work though just not "fun/easy" work.
Cleanup is a b****. Mask off windows, air vents, and doorways before you start.
Having removed popcorn myself, I'd say $1.50 per s.f. is very reasonable - perhaps if I'd known that, I would have hired somebody.
Definitely test for asbestos if there's any doubt. I believe homes built in the mid 80s and earlier are highly likely to contain it. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry and just have it tested regardless of home age. It's so cheap to have it tested anyway - only $25.
Also - LOTS of dust. Remove everything you can - furniture, blinds, curtains, etc. EVERYTHING else should be covered. Drywall dust will seep into your kitchen cabinets if they aren't covered too. Due to the use of water and dust, be aware that your walls will also get dirty. Either be prepared to thoroughly wipe your walls down, or insist that they are covered with plastic. It may not be obvious with the walls - but when you get the right angle and light, it will be very clear.
AND... don't use a household vacuum to clean up - that will surely ruin the vacuum. Make sure a shop vac is used and that the proper filter is also used. I purchased 2 drywall filters. When the first one got dirty, washed it off with the hose really well and let it dry while using the second one.
Basically, popcorn removal is a huge pain - I still have two rooms left to do and am not looking forward to it. If you can get somebody to do it correctly for the right price - go for it!
And get lots of huge plastic sheets to cover everything up or better yet take it out of the room you are working on.
With that said if I found a house I was going to buy, popcorn ceilings would not even be a factor in refusing to buy the home or making an offer. That's just crazy. It's like you do all this searching and then find the perfect home until you see the popcorn ceilings and say, well I'll just keep searching. You won't even notice the popcorn ceilings after you get settled in.
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