Page 7 - Real Estate Now-Mar/Apr 2022

1. Test a small area first
Once you’re ready to dive into smoothing out your popcorn ceilings, start by testing out a small section. Mist a small
inconspicuous area with water, allow the moisture to absorb for about 15 minutes, then use a flexible putty knife at a
low angle to scrape the texture free.

Pro tip: closets make the perfect test subjects as they will often have the same ceiling texture as the room they are in.

If the stipple comes off easily, then you’re looking at smooth sailing with this project. However, if you encounter a lot
of resistance, or the water does not soak into the texture at all, this means it’s either been painted over or paint was
mixed in with the material when it was applied—a serious wrench-in-gears situation.

What if there’s paint or asbestos?
If paint was mixed into the popcorn ceiling texture, if it’s been painted over, or if there’s asbestos present, it may
just be simpler to cover over the ceiling with fresh drywall panels. This achieves your goal without disturbing any
asbestos, dealing with the high costs of abatement, or heavily involved removal in the event of paint.
2. Cover everything
To save yourself a clean-up nightmare, remove large
furniture pieces and cover the floor with plastic sheeting.
Use painter’s tape and sheeting to line the walls, then cover
all electrical outlets and light fixtures (remove any lights or
chandeliers first).

Safety tip: Because you’re spraying water near
electrical outlets and fixtures, it’s recommended
to turn off the breakers for the room.
3. Spray, wait, scrape, repeat

Working in sections, use your spray bottle to moisten the stipple. As with your earlier test, wait 15 minutes and then
use your scraper to remove the texture while holding the mud pan underneath to catch it. Repeat the process and as
you near the edges and corners, switch to the smaller putty knife to avoid damaging your walls.

Pro tip: If you use a popcorn ceiling scraper, you can attach a bag to it to catch
the material, negating the need for a mud pan.

4. Sanding
Some rough patches or gouges are inevitable, and you can repair these easily with a drywall sander. If you wish to
avoid excessive dust, aim for a sander that attaches to a vacuum or has a built-in vacuum assembly. Don’t forget to
wear a dust mask or respirator!

5. Touch-ups
If the underlying drywall tape gets damaged or if the seams become visible in the drywall, apply fresh drywall tape to
affected areas and apply joint compound with your putty knife. If necessary, sand the areas smooth again.
At this point you’re ready to paint, clean up, replace the furniture and fixtures, and enjoy the smooth fruits of your
labour. If you don’t mind getting a little dirty and incorporating some elbow grease into your efforts, this is a great
project to handle on your own. Just don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals if needed, because safety always
comes first. ■

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