Knowing how to remove a textured ceiling will provide you with good guidance but it won't necessarily cut down on the amount of work. Textured or popcorn ceilings are a feature which came into existence during the 1950's and 1960's. They continued to be included in contemporary construction through the next couple of decades. Today, textured ceilings are avoided because of their appearance. However, popcorn ceilings are not only unsightly, but also, typically contained asbestos.
How to Remove a Textured Ceiling
If you are dealing with water damaged carpet, chances are excellent the ceiling is also damaged. Of course, there are ways to repair a water damaged ceiling but it's also an opportunity to remove that awful texture to give the entire space a new lease on life. Water and wind are powerful forces and when these enter the interior of a house, can result in serious damage. But, if you are just tired of looking at the eyesore, you can remove a textured ceiling with some can-do spirit and a lot of elbow grease.
Very few things date a space like a popcorn ceiling—and not in a charming way. They're difficult to repair, hard to clean, and catch dust easily; but despite all these cons, their popularity exploded beginning in the late 1950s because they made easy work of finishing ceilings and hiding imperfections. If it's time to bid farewell, there are three popular ways to take on the challenge: scrape, cover with a new layer of drywall, or skim coat with plaster to create a new texture. Which is best? Depends on a lot of things, including the age and condition of the substrate (ceiling). --This Old House.com
There are more reasons to rid your home of a popcorn ceiling. For instance, it is difficult to maintain and clean. Also, if it does become damaged, you can fix it but even a pro will probably leave signs of a patch. That's because it must all be applied at one time or there will be physical indicators left behind. In other words, ceiling texture is unique and only one application will look uniform, even if you do not care for the popcorn effect. Here are some helpful tips on how to remove a textured ceiling:
- Perform an asbestos test on the ceiling. If the home dates back to any time before the 1990's, it's a good idea to perform an asbestos test before you start removing the ceiling texture. There is simply no reason to avoid this step, so take the time to learn if asbestos is present. If it is, hire a professional service to remove it.
- Protect the floor and other nearby rooms. Empty the room of everything, including furniture and decor. When you begin to scrape away the texture, even if it's wet, small particles will broadcast all over the room. Put a protective plastic or drop cloths over the floor and hang plastic in the door(s) to ensure dust travel is minimized.
- Use a solution to soften the ceiling texture. There are different solutions and mixes to use to spray onto the texture to soften it for removal. When you do spray the texture, do so just to create a small amount of moisture but do not soak it or the ceiling itself will absorb the water, creating stains and compromising its strength.
- Scrape the texture away from the ceiling carefully. Not only should you use caution when softening the texture, you need to carefully scrape the texture away from the actual ceiling material. If you don't, you'll have to dedicate a lot of time to repairs or replace the ceiling itself.
If you are tackling a home improvement project and need construction and remodel debris removal, just phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services. We’ll haul away all the debris as well as any junk garbage and provide you with appliance removal, if needed.