Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I just scrape down to the sheetrock and avoid the heavy sanding. Once the popcorn (even popcorn that has been painted with latex paint) looks like the way the OP scraped it, I spray more water on it and scrape it all off. Then I skim over the ceiling a paper-thin layer of mud with a 16" knife. I set the knife loaded with mud on the ceiling at an angle so that the leading edge or corner barely touches the fresh finish mud from the last pass. Tapers know this technique, and it almost does not leave any ridges. I let it dry for a night or so, and all I have to do is to sand the ridges. Not much dust is created this way.
Our method was to hold a bucket underneath the scraping to catch most of the popcorn. We weren't able to remove the furniture, draping it with plastic. Ours were painted, but likely not fully sealed. The popcorn came off easily in strips after soaking. We'll be doing the bedrooms next, removing all furniture. We'll skip the bucket in those rooms.
Our method was to hold a bucket underneath the scraping to catch most of the popcorn. We weren't able to remove the furniture, draping it with plastic. Ours were painted, but likely not fully sealed. The popcorn came off easily in strips after soaking. We'll be doing the bedrooms next, removing all furniture. We'll skip the bucket in those rooms.
I have done some rooms in my house that way, but used one of the plastic "RubberMaid" containers, and secured it to the top tray of a 6" construction ladder I have. This ladder is made of steel, is heavy, and the tray can hold a lot of weight without tipping if I am standing at the other side.
An option for those with asbestos popcorn ceilings is to sheetrock and tape/float over it. At that point it is sealed in and cannot create a health problem. Should be much cheaper than having certified asbestos removal.
An option for those with asbestos popcorn ceilings is to sheetrock and tape/float over it. At that point it is sealed in and cannot create a health problem. Should be much cheaper than having certified asbestos removal.
Good tip, and I've done this in the past. It's also an option for ceilings that have been heavily painted (or painted with oil-based paint).
Nice tutorial. I have had it done on a couple of commercial projects previously, it makes one heck of a mess.
Agree that sheetrocking over it is a good option also. If you use 1/4" rock it will hardly be noticeable as far as ceiling height.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
