Taking Down a Styrofoam Ceiling

Firefighters are not fans of styrofoam ceiling tiles, because during a fire, they melt and drip burning plastic, giving off carcinogenic fumes. Most polystyrene ceiling tiles are used in industrial buildings, but were at one time used to cover damaged ceilings in homes. When homeowners and renovators run across these tiles, they usually want them removed. That can prove to be quite a chore, as they have to be slowly and methodically scraped off the ceiling, leaving behind some rather difficult-to-remove glue and ceiling damage.

Tarps
Mask
Safety goggles
Head cover cap
Coveralls
Gloves
Ladder or scaffolding
Scraper
Hot air gun or wallpaper steamer
Plastic scrubbing sponge
Paint thinner

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the furniture from the room if necessary. Cover the floor with tarps. Don protective clothing and accessories. Styrofoam tiles can be very messy; if the glue gets onto your clothes, it's almost impossible to remove. Protect your eyes with safety goggles.
- 2
  Place your ladder or scaffolding on a stable, flat surface near a corner of the room. Use a scraper at a shallow angle to scrape the tiles from the ceiling. Work carefully, trying not to damage the ceiling. Most of these tiles were glued onto plaster ceilings, which are easily gouged.
- 3
  Use a heat gun or a wallpaper steamer to soften and scrape away any remaining glue. If using a steamer, be careful of the steam coming back onto your face.
- 4
  Scrub the remaining glue from the ceiling with a plastic scrubbing sponge and paint thinner.

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