Is It Easy to Take Popcorn off a Ceiling?

Asbestos Warning

• Many popcorn ceilings applied during the 1970s --- and even as late as 1986 --- contain asbestos, which is poisonous if inhaled. Removing the ceiling will create a lot of dust, and the dust from an asbestos-laced ceiling will put your entire family at risk. Before you start any work, scrape a tiny piece of the popcorn ceiling into a plastic bag, and seal it up tight. Send the sample to an Environmental Protection Agency office or a local science lab for analysis. If the ceiling contains asbestos, contact a professional contractor who is licensed to deal with asbestos.

Protection

• Once you get the all-clear that your ceiling does not contain asbestos, you still have to ensure your safety during the removal process. You will use water to loosen the popcorn, and the water will drip from the ceiling. Therefore, turn off all electrical power to the room to prevent water from getting into outlets and causing an electrical fire. You should also plug up the outlets with childproof protectors so that dust doesn't get in. For yourself, wear protective goggles and a dust mask to avoid damage from the dust.

Preparation

• Remove all furniture from the room. Cover the floor and walls (up to about 1/4 inch below the ceiling) with protective plastic sheeting to stop the dust from settling on the surfaces and to avoid intensive cleanup later. Cover the plastic on the floor with rosin paper, which will stop the plastic from getting slippery, which is important because you will use a ladder to reach the ceiling, and slipping can cause serious injury.

Operation

• Spray the ceiling --- one area at a time as you work --- with warm water from a garden sprayer or spray bottle, which loosens the hold of the popcorn on the ceiling. Simply take a scraper or putty knife, and scrape the popcorn off the ceiling. When you have removed it all, simply roll up the plastic -- rosin paper and all removed popcorn -- and dispose of it in a garbage dispenser.