DIY: Covering a Textured Ceiling With Dish Soap

Preparation

• 1

  Test the ceiling with an asbestos test kit to determine whether the ceiling contains asbestos fibers. Ceilings constructed before 1980 are almost always made with asbestos while newer ceilings are less of a risk. All ceilings should be tested for safety before the ceiling transformation process begins. If the ceiling contains asbestos, hire a contractor to do the removal for you as this is a dangerous process and requires the knowledge and experience of an expert.

• 2

  Remove every item possible from the area in which you intend to work. Remove furniture, plants, pets, throw rugs and any other moveable items to protect them from the mess. Remove electric fixtures and place them in a safe location away from the work.

• 3

  Cover anything that cannot be moved with heavy plastic or a drop cloth. This applies to unmovable furniture and carpeting. Tape heavy plastic sheets over carpet to provide adequate protection. Drape windows and doors with lightweight plastic to protect them from messes. Cover all outlets and light switches with duct tape.

• 4

  Put on your protective clothing, gloves, goggles and respirator. Climb your ladder and run your hand over the ceiling to test for paint. If bits of ceiling come off and fall down, the ceiling is most likely not painted. If the ceiling feels firm and does not fall, it most likely has been painted. If the ceiling is painted with oil paint, simply soaking it with a roller and hot water should remove the paint. If the ceiling is latex paint, combine a mixture of 1/2 tsp. dish soap to 1 cup water and spray the ceiling. Once the mixture soaks in, scrape the paint off a little at a time. Mix more soap/water as needed to get the job done.

Removing Popcorn Ceilings

• 5

  Fill your sprayer with water, adding 2-3 Tbsp. of dish soap per gallon of water.

• 6

  Saturate a 4 to 6 foot section of ceiling with the mixture, making it wet enough to loosen the texture without damaging the drywall beneath. Allow the mixture to soak in for 15 minutes.

• 7

  Scrape away the moistened popcorn ceiling texture with a floor scraper, using a putty knife for tricky areas and corners.

• 8

  Repeat Steps 2-3 for the entire ceiling until all popcorn texture is removed. If the texture is difficult to remove, simply moisten that area and try again until the popcorn texture comes off.

Covering Up the Ceiling

• 9

  Hammer nails and screws sticking out of the newly treated ceiling until they are flush with the ceiling. Cover these with joint compound. Smooth any joints on the ceiling with joint compound and replace damaged drywall tape, also covering this with joint compound.

• 10

  Sand the ceiling gently only over the spots newly treated with joint compound to smooth the surface.

• 11

  Apply a coat of latex paint to the ceiling to freshen and finish the transformation from popcorn to smooth ceiling.