How to Apply Joint Compound Over a Popcorn Ceiling

With a series of thick coats of joint compound, you can hide a popcorn ceiling. The process is going to be messy, so cover the floors with drop cloths. Fabric drop cloths hold their positions well, but they are expensive and you must clean them. Plastic drop cloths shift easily, but they are disposable, which is convenient when cleaning up. Use all-purpose joint compound. Ceiling projects typically take a long time, so the compound's long drying time will make the job easier. If you notice the compound start to streak while you wipe it, the drying process has begun.

Drop cloths
Spray bottle
Warm water
Detergent (optional)
All-purpose, ready-mixed joint compound
6- and 10-inch drywall knives
100- and 150-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the room by setting up drop cloths across the entire project area. Move furniture items out of the room to avoid damaging or tripping over them.
- 2
  Spray about a square foot of the popcorn ceiling with warm water. Add a little detergent to the water if you find clean water to be ineffective. Allow the water to soak in for a few minutes.
- 3
  Scrape the popcorn off with a 6-inch drywall knife. Repeat the soaking and scraping process until the ceiling is as smooth as possible. Leave as few gouges and marks as possible.
- 4
  Apply a thick layer of joint compound across the ceiling. Use a 12-inch drywall knife. Make the layer of compound just thick enough to conceal the remnants of the popcorn texture.
- 5
  Let the compound dry for a full day.
- 6
  Sand the ceiling smooth with 100-grit sandpaper. Repeat the coating, drying and sanding process until the ceiling is flat and even. After the final coat, use 150-grit sandpaper to ready the surface for paint.

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