How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings in 7 Easy Steps (2024)

They were the height of fashion in the 1950s and 1960s, but well into the 21st century, people are wondering how to remove popcorn ceilings. If you look up to see one of these heavily textured, ultra-dated ceilings veritably dripping down on you and shudder, you’re not alone. And you might be wondering how they became popular in the first place.

Builders installed the textured treatments for a few reasons: They provided some acoustic dampening, absorbing sound from above, and the style was well-suited to covering up imperfections. Skip some steps, like finishing and painting that ceiling, and you save time and money! (But at what true cost?) Like many other what-were-they-thinking trends, the popcorn ceiling has fallen out of favor, and plenty of today’s homeowners still stuck with the 20th-century holdover are looking for DIY ways to remove or cover up the unsightly surface. Removing a popcornceilingcan be an affordableDIYproject, but it is not as simple as dry scraping to reveal a smooth surface.

“A popcorn ceiling can be challenging to remove due to variables such as whether or not it has been painted over, and whether it contains asbestos,” says Julia McAuley, owner of the Cleveland-basedMonarch Home Solutions. “Even in an ideal situation, it can be a messy project.” Hiring a professional, however, can cost between $924 and $2,970,according to HomeAdvisor.

A DIY popcorn ceiling removal is a viable option, even if it is a bit time-consuming. Read on for everything you need to know about how to remove popcorn ceilings without driving yourself up the wall.

Can I remove a popcorn ceiling myself?

You can absolutely remove a popcorn ceiling without calling in a pro. But whether you should embark on this home improvement project depends on a few factors. “Do some research before diving into a weekend project,” says Justin Krzyston, president of Stonehurst, a Studio City, California–based construction company.

Before you start, it’s important to make sure that your textured ceilings don’t have asbestos. “Prior to the early 1980s, asbestos was an ingredient that many used in textured popcorn ceilings,” says Krzyston. “The popcorn texture was used to help home builders deal with sound travel, and it was a great fire retardant.” It can also be present in the sheetrock itself. Krzyston recommends having the surface tested by a professional, or at the very least purchasing a do-it-yourself test kit from the hardware store and sending the samples to a lab. If you go the DIY test route, make sure to use the appropriate safety gear, such as gloves, a ventilator or dusk mask, and eye protection.

If the small area of your ceiling tests positive, you should have a professional licensed in asbestos abatement remove the texture or cover the entire ceiling with paneling or drywall. “If you have asbestos, it is best to leave the ceiling intact, as there is no real danger if it is in good condition,” Krzyston says. (For more information, look to the Environmental Protection Agency’s [EPA] asbestos exposure and removal guidelines.)

You’ll also want to consider your personal limits, even if the popcorn ceiling is covering a small area. Experts estimate that for experienced DIY’ers it can take about 20 hours to remove 500 square feet of popcorn from the ceiling. For the less experienced, it will likely be longer. The process can also be quite difficult on your body, especially since you’re working on a ladder. Plan to take plenty of breaks and don’t overextend yourself.

What is the easiest and cleanest way to remove ceiling popcorn?

Time to get to work. Fortunately, this DIY project doesn’t require any special tools, and you may already have everything you need on hand.

Here is what you need for popcorn ceiling removal:

• Asbestos test kit
• Drywall taping knife or a putty knife
• Plastic sheeting
• Painter’s tape
• Drywall mud pan
• Garden sprayer
• Safety goggles
• Dust mask
• Sandpaper
• Sander
• Ladder
• Paint

Step 1: Test for asbestos before popcorn ceiling removal

If your popcorn ceiling was installed before 1980, it most likely contains 1% to 20% asbestos, says McAuley, who recommends you start with an asbestos test kit before tackling popcorn ceiling removal. If you find that your ceiling contains asbestos, it’s best to call a professional for removal. If it is in good shape, it can be left undisturbed or encapsulated.

If the ceiling has been painted in the past, skim coating with an ultra-light joint compound can be a great way to smooth the appearance without disturbing the asbestos-containing material. “Most popcorn ceilings will require at least two skim coats prior to sanding, as you want to be sure you do not sand down into the original materials,” McAuley says. “After sanding is complete, the ceiling should be primed and painted.”

Step 2: Protect furniture, walls, and floors

Remove furniture from the room, and cover the floors and walls with plastic sheeting. “Scraping the ceilings is very messy, so have plenty of drop cloths and tarps on hand,” Krzyston says. Keep in mind that you’ll likely be spraying water, so if you do put down drop cloths, be sure they are covered with something waterproof. To protect walls from dust, attach plastic sheeting with painter’s tape. This is especially important when you use a sander to create a smooth ceiling at the end of the project.

Step 3: Take down ceiling fans and lighting

Take down ceiling fans or hanging light fixtures to make the job easier—just be sure to cover electrical boxes with painter’s tape to protect the wires from water damage. “Turn off your HVAC system and close and cover all vents and electrical outlets with plastic,“ Krzyston says. Since you’ll likely be using a garden sprayer to soften up the popcorn ceiling texture, make sure to turn off the electricity in the room you’re working in.

Step 4: Protect yourself

Before getting started, open the windows to circulate air. Keeping the space ventilated will help you breathe easier as you scrape away at the popcorn ceiling texture. You’ll also want to wear a dust mask and safety glasses. “Wear a dust mask or respirator specifically rated for fine particles, and dust goggles or full-face shields protect against falling debris,” says Asif Bux of the Calgary–based Comfort Union.

Step 5: Spray the ceiling with water

Fact: A wet scrape is easier than a dry scrape. Use a garden sprayer to wet a small area (four-by-four-foot) of the ceiling. “You will want to wet down and spray the ceiling with water to make the removal of the popcorn easier,” Krzyston says. “Don’t soak it, though, as too much water could damage the sheetrock that is underneath.” You’ll want to work in small sections, otherwise, the areas will dry before you reach them. After you spray with a garden sprayer or spray bottle, wait about 15 minutes to let the water absorb.

Step 6: Create a smooth ceiling

Now you’re ready to start scraping. “Use a wide putty knife or drywall taping knife and gently run it along the wet ceiling,” Krzyston says. Be careful not to gouge the ceiling beneath. Filing the edges of your putty knife can help avoid gouges. Make your way around the room, until all the popcorn texture has been removed.

In some areas, you may need to make a second pass. Remember, you can always spray the ceiling again to help loosen up a difficult area. Let it dry fully before you begin repair work.

If there’s any damage to the ceiling, such as gouges or damaged drywall tape, repair with joint compound before you start sanding. When you remove the popcorn ceiling, you might find hidden imperfections, like visible joints or screws; you can also cover these with joint compound. “Tap exposed nails gently back into place,” says Bux. “If the nail head continues to protrude, remove it and replace it with a drywall screw.” Let dry at least 12 hours and use a sander to create a smooth ceiling that is ready for a fresh coat of paint.

Step 7: Prime and paint

The so-called fifth wall is ready for painting. Use a primer like Kilz Drywall interior primer. Apply two coats of your choice of paint. Once the paint job is complete, reinstall ceiling fans or lights, remove the plastic sheeting, and enjoy your newly smooth ceiling.

Should you cover up a popcorn ceiling?

Should your ceiling need more TLC than just scraping and painting, wood paneling, pressed tin tiles, or new drywall are other design-forward options for covering up popcorn ceilings.

If learning how to remove popcorn ceilings by scraping away their texture sounds like too much of a mess (and you should definitely prepare for a mess), or your ceilings are particularly damaged, it may be easier just to cover the whole thing up. Although installing a new layer of drywall is possible if you want a fresh start, there are also a few potentially simpler options. For instance, you can find some pretty convincing faux-tin tiles that can be attached to the ceiling with construction adhesive. If you favor wood paneling, you can attach wall planks directly to the ceiling with a nail gun.

With highly textured ceilings, you’ll need to install furring strips to your ceiling and then attach the paneling to the strips to avoid an uneven look. Note that with this method, you will need to remove small sections of the popcorn texture in order to attach the furring strips, so testing for asbestos is still essential.

What is a popcorn ceiling?

Popular in the middle years of the 20th century, popcorn ceilings are those heavily textured ceilings that approximate the look of popcorn. They were usually made from compounds like drywall mud and were popular because they helped dampen sounds and because they were easy to install without intensive finishing work. You can’t see imperfections when the entire ceiling is an irregular jumble of dotty texture, after all.

What is dangerous about popcorn ceilings?

“The process for popcorn ceiling removal is actually pretty easy, but it is truly messy, and it can be dangerous too,” says Brandon Walker of the Tempe, Arizona–based ASAP Restoration LLC. “That’s because popcorn ceilings almost always have asbestos fibers embedded in them. Because of this, the only truly safe way to remove popcorn ceilings is by wearing a protective suit, and using a p100 respirator. These two items will be the most important of anything involved in the process just because they are the only thing keeping you from asbestos exposure and contamination.”

Can I remove popcorn ceilings without wetting them?

Yes, by all means, but it will likely be harder to do. “There are two methods for removing popcorn ceilings: the dry approach, which simply removes it dry, and the wet method,” explains Shawna Guevara, managing director of Landmark Structural Builders, which operates out of California and Texas. “Don't underestimate the potential mess if you use the wet method to remove popcorn ceilings. Typically, I start with the dry approach, scraping a little portion without water to evaluate how easy it is to remove. If it comes off quite easily, you may not need to use much water. If it is difficult to remove and results in blotches, be prepared to utilize the wet approach.”

How long will it take to remove a popcorn ceiling?

It depends on the size of the ceiling, of course, but there are other factors as well. For example, you should try to leave the work space in which you’ll be removing the popcorn ceiling open to fresh air for several hours before you commence work to ventilate it, and you need to wait at least 12 hours after applying spackle or joint compound before you sand and paint the ceiling. As for the actual process, plan for 20 hours of work to remove 500 square feet of popcorn ceiling. It’s a weekend project, if you’re lucky, and definitely not an afternoon project.

What is the best tool for removing a popcorn ceiling?

“For scraping into corners, you can use a drywall knife or a paint scraper as these are the most effective tools for removing the popcorn texture,” says Jay Sanders, owner of both Castle Dream Construction and Maryland Contractors. “For best results, I recommend you use a six-inch putty knife.” You can also buy a dedicated ceiling texture scraper, but many people find these no more effective than those other tools you likely have already, and some prefer them less.