The Best Way to Remove a Textured Ceiling

Scrape a small sample of your textured ceiling and send it to your state's testing location for asbestos. If the ceiling contains more than one percent asbestos, you will need to hire a professional contractor to safely remove the textured ceiling. Textured ceilings installed prior to 1980 more than likely will contain asbestos. If the textured ceiling has been painted, you will need to use a compound designed to break down the paint before you can remove the ceiling. If the textured ceiling does not absorb water, it has probably been painted.

Prepare the room by removing all of the furniture, turning off the power to the room, and turning off any heating or air conditioning units (including central units). Cover any vents and electrical outlets with plastic and painter's tape. Cover the walls and floor with plastic to keep them from being damaged as you remove the textured ceiling. Seal all of the seams where the plastic meets with painters tape.

Fill a sprayer with warm water. Add 3 tablespoons of dish washing liquid per gallon to the water. Spray a small area (about four square feet) and allow the area to soak for 15 minutes. The area should be moist but not soaked to protect the drywall underneath. After 15 minutes, gently scrape the drywall, using the dust pan to collect as much of the debris as possible. Dump the debris into a plastic trash bag and seal. Continue to work in small sections until the entire ceiling is finished.

Patch damaged areas of the ceiling drywall with joint compound and lightly sand the ceiling once it is dry. The ceiling is now ready to for prime and paint.