4 Creative Ways To Get Rid Of Your Popcorn Ceiling
If you’re ready to find ways to get rid of your popcorn ceilings, you’re not alone.
When working with clients, one thing we almost always hear is that they want to say goodbye to this bumpy ceiling texture for good.
With so much dislike for popcorn ceilings, we have a few go-to options we can offer to revamp the ceilings while updating the look of the room.
These options can be done by a professional or can be a DIY project for those motivated to make the change themselves.
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What Are Popcorn Ceilings?
Popcorn ceilings are a common ceiling texture used in homes dating back to the 1930’s.
The texture, sometimes also called cottage cheese for it’s appearance, is applied to a ceiling using a sprayer.
This has been a common choice for many builders because it is easy to apply and is effective at covering any imperfections or waviness that might be present in the drywall ceiling.
Why Do So Many People Hate Popcorn Ceilings?
Extreme dislike for textured ceilings is incredibly common in our experience with clients.
As a result, we have often wondered why so many people have such a hatred for popcorn ceilings.
It seems that the common use of this texture in many older homes has caused people to have an association with popcorn ceilings being dated.
Other people may find the look unappealing visually because the texture is unattractive to them.
Things To Consider Before Removing Or Covering Your Popcorn Ceiling:
Asbestos -
Ceilings in older homes can often contain asbestos. Disturbing a ceiling with asbestos can be hazardous to your health and for those who live in your home. Before covering your popcorn ceiling, it is important to test your ceiling. You can hire someone to test the sample, or you can buy test kits like one of the options below. If your results show asbestos, it is important to have a licensed professional remove it.
Stability -
Some popcorn ceiling can be unstable which would make them unable to support being covered and would instead need to be removed. Checking the stability of your ceiling is as simple as pushing on the ceiling with a finger. If your ceiling crumbles when pushed on or falls apart, it will let you know you’ll need to remove it. This can be a big, messy job. Make sure to seek professional help when necessary to avoid getting in over your head!
4 Creative Ways To Get Rid Of Your Popcorn Ceilings
1. Scrape And Refinish Your Ceilings
The most common way we get rid of popcorn ceilings is by scraping to remove the texture and refinishing in either a smooth or knockdown texture, depending on the client’s desire.
This process is especially easy if the ceiling has not been painted. After checking a ceiling for stability and the presence of asbestos, the unpainted popcorn ceiling is lightly sprayed with water and this can often cause the popcorn to start falling off. Then using a scraper, the remaining texture can be removed. Then drywall mud is applied and sanded in layers to smooth the ceiling or the ceiling is sprayed and knockdown texture is created.
If the ceilings are painted, they can still be scraped but it will often be quite a bit more work to remove.
2. Overlay The Ceiling With New Drywall
If the room has a high enough ceiling to allow, another option that we will often use to cover popcorn ceiling is by applying new drywall to the ceiling and then finishing it with the client’s desired texture.
This is especially helpful when we are unsure how the old ceiling will turn out if scraped. New drywall allows a fresh new canvas for the ceiling and helps improve the look quickly.
3. Overlay The Ceiling With Wood Or Wood Products
When looking for a way to dress up a ceiling with texture while also hiding that popcorn texture, consider adding wood or wood paneling.
Covering the ceiling with tongue and groove wood planks, bead board, or another rustic wood plank or panel is a creative way to add interest to the ceiling and update the space. Depending on the product chosen, the ceiling could also be painted or stained a desired color to personalize the look of the room.
4. Overlay The Ceiling With Surface Mount Ceiling Tiles
Different from ceiling tiles used with drop in ceilings, surface mount ceiling tiles are installed by either a glue up or nail up method.
These tiles can be applied to the ceiling to cover up popcorn texture and bring new life and design to any space.
Large tile patterns are perfect for larger spaces, and smaller patterns on the ceiling tiles can work really well in smaller rooms like bathrooms and powder rooms.
How To Calculate Your Ceiling Square Footage:
When planning to buy products you will need to calculate the square footage of your ceiling to ensure you buy enough for the space.
The easiest way to do this is to multiple the length of the room in feet by the width of the room in feet and you will get the square feet of your ceiling.
Length (in feet) x Width (in feet) = # Square feet
Keep in mind - when planning to buy products like wood planks or decorative panels, you will want to add another 15-20% onto that number to allow for the amount of waste that will happen during the installation process.
Conclusion
If you are not in love with your popcorn ceiling, using one of these creative ideas will help bring new life and personality to your home. After taking the necessary precautions to make sure you check for stability and any possible asbestos in the popcorn texture, you can being the transformation process. All of the options above can be done by a professional or can be DIY if you’re skilled and have the patience. Loving your ceiling will improve your enjoyment of your home, and might even improve the salability when you decide to move - considering how many people will appreciate not seeing popcorn ceilings!
Now we want to hear from you - How do you feel about popcorn ceilings? Which of the above options is most appealing for your home? Let us know in the comments below!
