DIY Network

Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Scraping Popcorn From "Weekend Handyman" episode WKH-408

Host Paul Ryan begins by removing the furniture and covering the walls and floor. Next, he wets the ceiling surface with a garden sprayer, and begins scraping away the popcorn with a ceiling texture scraper.

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	This living room was suffering from home improvements gone awry.
	Today, this cozy living room is back where it should be.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Time: 20 hours over two days.
Difficulty Rating: This project rates a 2 out of 5 on the Weekend Handyman difficulty scale.

Materials:

Safety glasses
Rubber gloves
Garden sprayer
Cordless drill
Rubber spatula
Ceiling texture scraper
Sanding sponge
Compound miter saw
Wood chisel
Coping saw
Utility knife
Putty knife
Nail gun
Paint stripper
Drywall compound
Plastic sheeting
Tape
Reclaimed crown molding
Drop cloth with waterproof backing
Prybar
Hammer
Clamps
Tape measure

Scraping Popcorn

1. Remove furniture and items in room.

2. Seal off the entire room by hanging two millimeter plastic sheets from the crown molding all the way to the floor (figure A).

3. Put a window fan in the window for added ventilation.

4. Add a drop cloth with a waterproof backing to the floor (figure B).

5. If the popcorn was added before 1979, get it tested for asbestos...by either wetting down a small area with a sponge and scraping off a little and placing it in a small bag, or by having a professional come out and test it for you.

6. Using a basic garden sprayer, wet down the ceiling (figure C). This will soften the ceiling texture and help to break down the adhesive bond and make scraping easier.

7. Work in an area about five feet square. It’s better to make several passes than allow the popcorn ceiling to absorb too much water...which could damage the paper surface and the wallboards underneath.

8. Wait 10-15 minutes for the water to soak in and then start scraping it off (figure D) using a ceiling texture scraper (figure E).

9. Use a smaller putty knife to scrape the corners and crown molding (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

RESOURCES :

Ceiling Texure Scraper
Model Number: 6100

Popcorn Ceiling Texture Removal Solution
Model Number: 8572

Manufacturer: Homax Products Inc.
P.O. Box 5643
Bellingham, WA 98227
Telephone: 1-800-729-9029
Website: www.homaxproducts.com

Mosaico Semi-Flush Ceiling Light
Model Number: 52636
Color: Tiffany

Manufacturer: Bellacor.com
2425 Enterprise Dr.
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
Telephone: 1-877-723-5522
Website: www.bellacor.com

GUESTS :

Jeff Lethinen
Hazardous Materials Expert
Envirobate Metro
3301 E. 26th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Telephone: 1-612-729-1080