Popcorn be gone
#1
04-23-15, 07:27 PM
Popcorn be gone
So I decided to scrape my ceilings on the second floor as there was fancy popcorn sticking from it. Who doesn't love a little popcorn right?
Anyways, I scraped the ceiling as best I could without tearing up the drywall it self. In some spots I tore some of the drywall paper layer and in other spots the pop corn was not scraped entirely off and is still sticking around. What should be my next steps to clean up and touch up the ceilings so they can be primed and painted? Should I buy new for some spots or do something else?
Thanks for any advice!
Anyways, I scraped the ceiling as best I could without tearing up the drywall it self. In some spots I tore some of the drywall paper layer and in other spots the pop corn was not scraped entirely off and is still sticking around. What should be my next steps to clean up and touch up the ceilings so they can be primed and painted? Should I buy new for some spots or do something else?
Thanks for any advice!
#2
04-23-15, 07:30 PM
Group Moderator
You'll need to sand whatever is remaining of the popcorn. You'll also need to use a little Spackle
to fill in where the paper was removed to get a nice flat and smooth finish.
to fill in where the paper was removed to get a nice flat and smooth finish.
#4
04-24-15, 02:55 AM
Asking here first would have saved a lot of ceiling damage. The ideal way to have done this would have been to wet a 3' x 3' area with a spray bottle and scrape the popcorn into a soda drink cardboard flat as you go. It releases really quickly. In either event, you are left with a less-than-perfect ceiling. After all, why do you think they popcorned it rather than finished it smooth. Cutting corners is my best guess.
Do you really want a smooth ceiling? If so, do as Pete suggested. If a patterned look is acceptable, I would suggest a knock down ceiling, then paint. It, too, will cover the boogers and looks rather nice once finished.
Do you really want a smooth ceiling? If so, do as Pete suggested. If a patterned look is acceptable, I would suggest a knock down ceiling, then paint. It, too, will cover the boogers and looks rather nice once finished.
#5
04-24-15, 03:40 AM
I've always used a pump up garden sprayer to mist the popcorn with water. We always just covered the floor and let the mess fly 
Anywhere the paper is torn or missing you need to coat with either an oil base primer or Zinnser's Gardz. That will prevent the moisture in the joint compound or latex primer from causing more paper to separate from the gypsum.
Anywhere the paper is torn or missing you need to coat with either an oil base primer or Zinnser's Gardz. That will prevent the moisture in the joint compound or latex primer from causing more paper to separate from the gypsum.
#6
04-24-15, 04:03 AM
Member
I did this in my kitchen. I tried the water spray and other tricks. Nothing was easy. However, the type of scraper makes the world of difference. I discovered the angle wallpaper scrapper by Zinzer I think worked very well. Very few gouges and I just spackled the imperfections, primed and painted. I did not need or use any sealer. Many people told me I was going to be sorry and it would be a mess. Not so. Hard work but worth it. However, my ceiling were in fact taped and joint compounded before the spray on pop-corn was applied.
#7
04-24-15, 04:12 AM
Ceilings are always taped and usually 1-2 coats of mud applied prior to spraying on the popcorn texture. Often the texture is sprayed so the ceiling doesn't have to have as good of a finishing job. Usually the thicker the popcorn is applied, the less time was spent on the finishing. More times than not a ceiling that has the texture removed benefits from a skim coat before being painted.
If the popcorn has been painted it will be more difficult to remove. Scraping and then misting the texture with water helps.
probably ought to mention that any popcorn that was applied prior to the early 80's has a chance of having asbestos 
If the popcorn has been painted it will be more difficult to remove. Scraping and then misting the texture with water helps.
probably ought to mention that any popcorn that was applied prior to the early 80's has a chance of having asbestos 
#8
04-24-15, 06:32 AM
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the replies.
I did mist it down first with a garden sprayer in some spots (near the ceiling fan) the stuff just feel by itself almost. Other spots like I said a little but of scuffing went on.
But I guess mud the entire ceiling and sand it looks like the way to go.
Thanks
Thanks for all the replies.
I did mist it down first with a garden sprayer in some spots (near the ceiling fan) the stuff just feel by itself almost. Other spots like I said a little but of scuffing went on.
But I guess mud the entire ceiling and sand it looks like the way to go.
Thanks
