Popcorn ceiling removal is one of the must do items in any remodel or update project. Scraping off your popcorn ceilings provides a very visible, and therefore profitable upgrade to your home or flip project.

The task of removing an acoustic ceiling is not complicated but it is very hard work and is best done by a qualified expert.

Here is a video taken onsite where the process of ceiling texture removal is nearly completed. The popcorn has been scraped from the ceilings and an oil based primer has been applied.

Preparing The Jobsite

Before work can begin it is necessary to create a walking path from the work vehicle to each of the rooms to be worked in. The process of removing popcorn ceilings creates a mess that easily spreads to other areas and outdoors! So to ensure that home remains clean we cover floors in every area of the house that will be passed through.

Preparing the Room

For a day or two the work areas will look like a scene from the movie E.T. Your entire room will be wrapped in plastic, floor to ceiling, creating a containment vessel for the acoustic-popcorn as it is removed from the ceiling.

All Light Fixtures, Plant Hooks, Smoke Detectors, Alarm Sensors and Ceiling Vents will need to be removed before work can begin.

The Process

Removal of the Acoustic-Popcorn Ceiling begins with applying water to every inch of your ceiling. This is done with an airless spray rig that sprays warm water evenly over the ceilings.

When the water has soaked into the ceiling the process of scraping begins. This is done by hand, and usually atop a ladder, scaffold, or lift as necessary.

When the acoustic is substantially removed you will begin to see the results and beauty of this process. But often the ceiling has been slightly damaged in the process.

Repairing the Sheetrock, Recoating the Joints and Nails and smoothing out uneven areas is the final step in the removal process. As you can see this is quite a job!

Texture, Prime, and Paint.

With the popcorn gone you will see a noticeable improvement!

If you have textured walls it is often appropriate to match the ceiling texture to the wall texture. Common forms of texture are Knockdown, Crow's Foot, and Orange Peel.

If you want a smooth ceiling your project will require skimcoating. This is the process of applying a thin layer of compound over the ceiling and then sanding it smooth.

With your ceilings textured or skimcoated, all there is left to do is prime and paint! Visit the Image Portfolio to see the results of a popcorn removal job.