# Popcorn ceilings and what to do with them **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389 "2010-08-25T12:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/1 "2010-08-25T12:45:49Z")
My wife and I moved in to a 25-30 year old townhouse a few years ago. One of the things that has bugged since then is the popcorn ceilings. I’ve got the general idea of how to get rid of it, but does anybody with experience have any tips about doing it? Things I should definitely, or definitely NOT, do? Once it’s all off, we’re going to paint the ceilings white (probably). Anything someone knows will be most appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/2 "2010-08-25T13:53:54Z")
They make a stripper for it and sometimes you can get a broad knife under it and peel it off easily. It depends how well it was applied. Damage to the drywall is all too easy. Sometimes the best way is to apply new drywall. Getting a ceiling straight and level is very difficult, best left to professionals. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/3 "2010-08-25T14:56:05Z")
Be sure it doesn’t contain asbestos. Popcorn ceilings used asbestos up through the early 80s according to Google. [http://www.buzzle.com/articles/popcorn-ceiling-asbestos.html](http://www.buzzle.com/articles/popcorn-ceiling-asbestos.html) ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/4 "2010-08-25T20:46:04Z")
Yeah, that’s the big thing. most of them contain asbestos. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/5 "2010-08-25T21:53:48Z")
After you get it tested, if it’s not asbestos, you can just spray it heavily with water and it will turn to mush, then you scrape it off with a flat broad scraper. You’ll have to wash any residue off well if you want paint to adhere to the ceiling afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/6 "2010-08-26T07:25:33Z")
word of caution, one of the reasons popcorn cielings were so popular was because they hide imperfections really well. No need to do a good tape and bed job on the cieling if you’re going to spray that much gunk on it. So expect it to need some work after. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceilings-and-what-to-do-with-them/551389/7 "2010-08-29T03:18:54Z")
Awesome, I appreciate these responses. This is all helpful.