Popcorn Ceiling: How To Remove and Make It Smooth

Popcorn ceilings (or stucco ceilings) used to be standard in American homes, but now, they give a house a dated look. If you are looking to update your home but want to do this yourself and save the cost of a decorator, here is the process to remove the stipple of this treatment and give your ceiling a fresh, smooth look.

Preparing To Get Rid of The Stale Popcorn

The following are the things you will need for this DIY project:

• mudding knife/scraper
• vinegar
• water
• spray bottle
• topping compound
• sandpaper
• tarp/floor covering
• safety mask

How To Remove a Popcorn Ceiling And Change Into a Smooth Ceiling

Removing a popcorn ceiling and transforming it into a smooth, elegant-looking ceiling is no easy feat. Although it can be a 100% DIY job, it can be messy – and most of all can be a dangerous DIY project.

That is why it is important to evaluate in advance what you can do and what you can do when removing your popcorn ceiling. If you are up for this DIY project, here are the steps you can follow to successfully remove your popcorn ceiling and make your space more cozy and clean-looking.

Step 1 – Cover the floor

This project will result in a lot of the stippling treatment on the floor. For personal protection, wear a safety mask to shield yourself from any dust in the process.

*Incredibly important, if you are in an older house, popcorn ceilings potentially had asbestos fibers in them. Exercise caution and if in doubt, consult a home improvement technician.

Step 2 – Spray down the ceiling with a vinegar mixture and let soak

In our project, Dillon encountered a popcorn ceiling that was coated with oily semi-gloss paint. To remove this, create a solution made of 10 parts water to 1 part vinegar and put into a spray bottle.

Spray onto the ceiling and let soak to 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3 – Scrape the paint from the ceiling

If your ceiling is coated in oil-based paint like in our example, take a mudding knife and scrape the soaked area at a 45 degree angle. Use force to remove the first coat of the oily layer paint to get to the popcorn treatment itself.

Step 4 – Scrape the popcorn texture from the ceiling

Without the paint in the way, repeat the process from earlier and spray the 1:10 vinegar-water solution on the texture and let soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

THIS time, the popcorn texture should remove more easily and peel off.

Step 5 – Coat the ceiling with topping compound

Topping compound is specifically made to provide a smooth finish. In the process of removing the rough texture, you may have noticed an uneven result or even dark brown spots where the outer layer of the drywall was cut.

Apply one layer of topping compound across the entire ceiling with your mudding knife.

Step 6 – Sand the ceiling

Once dry, sand using drywall sandpaper to make the first coat even.

Then applying a second layer of topping compound to finish replacing the texture.

The ceiling is now ready to paint!

For more videos by Dillon in his home remodeling series, go to the Best Online Cabinets YouTube channel and subscribe!

Ryan

Ryan is an experienced writer and kitchen renovation expert who loves sharing his knowledge with others. His background in construction and design gives him a deep understanding of what it takes to create functional and beautiful kitchens. Ryan's articles are filled with practical advice and step-by-step guides, making them a valuable resource for homeowners. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

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