Can popcorn ceilings be removed after they have been painted?

Yes, popcorn ceilings can be removed after they have been painted. Removing popcorn ceilings are much easier if the ceiling has never been painted, but it can be done. There are a few simple steps to quick and easy removal.

• Step 1 Remove all furniture from the work area
  

• Step 2 Roll out plastic on the floor

• Step 3 Use painter's tape and tape plastic along the edge of the ceiling to drape the walls

• Step 4 Either tape or use spray adhesive to attach the wall plastic to the floor plastic. You are basically turning your room into a pool liner. Be sure to wrap any ceiling fans or light fixtures you don't want to clean later.
  

• Step 5 Place water in a spray container. You can use small spray bottles, but the simplest solution is a pump sprayer which can be found at the local home improvement store. Spray an area of the ceiling until you see the popcorn turn a dull grey color. If the popcorn texture does not change colors, your ceiling has been painted.
  

^{Safety first, some popcorn ceilings built before 1978 may contain asbestos, thoroughly wetting the popcorn helps to keep those fibers from becoming airborne. If you are concerned about asbestos, have your ceiling tested before proceeding. Make sure you wear an appropriate dust mask and safety glasses. Also as the texture begins to fall, the plastic may become slippery, use rolled out rosin paper if you need help keeping your balance}.

• Step 6 Use a finisher's knife, any width will do. Keep in mind the wider the knife, the more area you cover with each scrape. Hold the knife flat against the ceiling and push away from you. Be careful not to gouge the drywall.

• Step 7 Time to clean up and give the ceiling time to dry out. Simply pull the plastic from each wall and roll the edges up headed towards a door. By the time you get to the door, you should have a big ball of plastic and a clean room. Turn on ceiling fans or lights and let the ceiling have a few hours to dry.

• Step 8 If you made any gouges in the drywall as you were scraping, use a sanding sponge to lightly sand the area. Place some spackle, also known as drywall mud or drywall compound on the damaged areas, feather out smooth with a finisher's knife. Take a look at your ceiling and touch up any areas such as nail heads or seams that may need an extra coat of mud. Let dry, sand, repeat if necessary.

• Step 9 Use a sanding pole and some 120 grit sanding paper, lightly sand your entire ceiling for any rough spots. Your ceiling is now ready to paint. If you are applying a new texture finish, such as stippling or knockdown, the sanding may be skipped.

Don't despair, your popcorn ceilings can be scraped and brought up to date also. Begin by following steps one through four listed above.

There are a few things you can try.

Use a large pole type scraper and more muscle. Wet the ceiling, scrape as much as possible, wet and scrape again. Only the areas that the water has reached through the paint will scrape away easily.

Mix 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water and spray on the ceiling. The vinegar may eat away the paint, see the video listed below of the vinegar/water solution in action.

Wall paper stripper, or other paint strippers.

If all else fails, or you are concerned about asbestos in the popcorn. Laminate over the existing popcorn with a 1/4" layer of new drywall or some decorative 2x2 ceiling panels from Armstrong or USG.