How to Remove Acoustic Popcorn Textures

Acoustic popcorn texture ceilings are not difficult to remove, although the process is time consuming, messy and labor intensive. Before beginning any work, It is vital to have the ceiling tested for asbestos. Popcorn or sprayed texture ceilings put in place before 1978 are very likely to contain asbestos, and homes constructed through 1986 may also contain asbestos. If your ceiling tests positive for asbestos, do not attempt to remove it yourself, or you could risk breathing in dangerous cancer-causing asbestos fibers. If your ceiling does not contain asbestos, this is an ideal do-it-yourself project.

Garden sprayer or spray bottle
Plastic sheeting
Masking tape or painter's tape
Dust mask
Goggles
Putty knife
Ladder
Plastic gloves
Plastic baggie

Instructions

- 1
  Move furniture out of the room, or out of the way to one side.
- 2
  Cover with plastic and masking tape all electrical outlets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, furniture and any other items that could be dangerous or damaged by contact with water.
- 3
  Cover the floor with plastic sheeting and masking tape. Secure the plastic a few inches above the baseboard so that it will catch water and debris rather than letting it run out along the edges.
- 4
  Turn off electricity to the room by flipping the breaker switch that controls the flow to the area where you are working.
- 5
  Put on goggles or eye protection, dust mask and any other protective clothing you wish to wear.
- 6
  Spray a small area of the popcorn textured ceiling, about 4 by 4 feet, with water using a garden sprayer or spray bottle. The ceiling should be saturated, but not dripping wet.
- 7
  Wait about 15 minutes for the acoustic material to soften.
- 8
  Scrape away the popcorn acoustic material using a putty knife.
- 9
  Repeat Steps 7 through 9 on each section of the ceiling until all of the popcorn texture is removed.

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