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Why You Should Conduct Popcorn Ceiling Removal ASAP

Worker removes popcorn ceiling with sander

Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

If you’re a homeowner who has been living with an outdated popcorn ceiling, it may be time to consider its removal. Popcorn ceilings were popular in the 1970s and 80s, but they have many downsides that make them undesirable today. Not only are they difficult to clean, but they also contain asbestos, which can be dangerous if disturbed. Fortunately, replacing popcorn ceilings with a smooth finish is an easy way to make your home look more modern while also enjoying the many benefits of having a smooth ceiling. 

Smooth ceilings

Smooth ceilings provide a fresh, clean appearance and can help bring out other features in the room, such as natural woodwork or decorative moldings. In addition, they are easy to clean, and they don’t collect dust or allergens like popcorn ceilings do. And since smooth ceilings have minimal texture, they reflect light better than popcorn ceilings, making them more energy efficient and helping you save on your electricity bill. 

Reasons for popcorn ceiling removal

This could be a cause for sickness since the texture can retain moisture. Also, the popcorn ceiling can get dirty easily. Also, it is very hard to repair if you have any type of ceiling damage, such as water damage to your textured ceiling. Popcorn ceiling removal is an important project for any home. Not only does popcorn ceiling material get old and worn out over time, but it is also very difficult to paint a fresh, never-before-painted textured ceiling. As a result, a popcorn ceiling can easily become outdated and may be more hassle than it’s worth regarding upkeep. It can be especially hard to fix popcorn ceilings because it is so hard to match the texture with new material. If you are considering an update to your home or just want to freshen up the look of your popcorn ceiling, you should consider removing it and replacing it with a smoother finish.

Popcorn ceiling removal

Popcorn ceiling removal is not a simple task, but with the help of an experienced professional, you can quickly and safely make the switch from popcorn to smooth. 

If you have popcorn ceilings with asbestos

Popcorn ceilings should be tested for asbestos before removal, which is an important safety measure. Once your ceiling has been tested and cleared of asbestos, a contractor can begin the process of popcorn ceiling removal of texture and installing new drywall or plaster over it.

 Worker removes popcorn ceiling with sander

Popcorn ceiling removal process

Removing popcorn texture from your ceiling is a delicate process that requires attention to detail. The popcorn texture creates an eye-catching effect on the ceiling. Wet scraping, dry scraping, or sanding by hand or machine are all effective methods for removing popcorn texture. Wet scraping consists of spraying water on the area and gently scraping it off with a putty knife; this is the safest option for removing popcorn ceilings as it does not involve creating dust. Sanding by hand or with a machine is an effective removal method as well; if you use a sander, it must be equipped with a special round pad attachment to limit any damage to the ceiling surface. Using a hand-held orbital sander is not advised if you are doing more than a couple of square feet. First, it is far too slow, hard on the arms, and creates way too much dust. Scraping involves using an adhesive remover spray and then carefully scraping away the particles with a putty knife. It should only be used as a last resort if other methods fail.

Our favorite method for popcorn ceiling removal

It is a professional and expensive drywall sander specifically used for popcorn removal. Professionals use the Festool Planex System 225, which uses a high-quality adjustable handle with a motorized sanding head that is equipped with a vacuum attachment. This tool can remove popcorn ceilings with the least amount of dust possible, leaving a smooth, even finish with no damage to the drywall. This smooth ceiling will leave a much nicer look and feel in the space. The amount of dust when using this system is at a bare minimum, nothing like wet scraping, which leaves a huge amount of wet debris everywhere, or dry scraping, which leaves a lot of scraped popcorn and dust everywhere.

How much does it cost to have popcorn ceiling removal done in the home?

There are several reasons why you might think popcorn ceiling removal is costly. First, there is considerable preparation work before removing the texture. It could take up to half a day to get the room ready to safely remove the popcorn ceiling texture without messing up or damaging your belongings. Everything must be covered, including furniture that cannot be removed and anything on your walls and floors. No matter what methods are used, inevitably, there will be some type of cleanup. The better everything is covered and protected, the less the cleanup, but this takes time to do such a good cover-up.

So, what will it cost me to get the stucco removal done?

So, getting to the cost somewhat depends on how much popcorn ceiling work you want to have done. If you were looking for only one room, let’s say, for example, that the absolute minimum will cost, no matter what, around $1500. But if you decide to do more, obviously the better, in terms of cost per room. It can be calculated at around $6 per square foot. Plus $ 2 / square foot for painting

Remove popcorn ceilings/ textured ceilings

Some people decide they want to remove their old popcorn ceiling on the main floor of their home, which is quite common. This will include the vestibule, hallway, living room dining room. And some want to remove the entire ceiling. This usually ends up being around $5000–$6000 in some cases. Doing entire homes may cost around $12,000–15,000, depending on different variables.

Plastering and skim coating over popcorn ceiling

Skim coating is the process of plastering; it is placing a layer of drywall compound to cover imperfections and make your ceiling or walls smooth. A good contractor with experience in plastering and drywall repairs and applying joint compound. When they are finished with stucco removal, there’s always a little bit of joint compound work.

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