Textured Ceiling Removal: Ask Tim
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Recently, Tim and I talked about his having a somewhat regular column on my blog. He has consented to answer questions my readers and others might have about DIY home repair, painting (his business), products and anything else you might be curious about!
Tim’s first question from a reader:
I have a large long living room 14×28 and a center room between it and kitchen, the ceiling is all but level but several years ago when it was the style, we had the popcorn ceiling done. Over years it has dried and cracked. To make a long story short I have removed all of the popcorn by spray misting with water and a putty knife. It was fantastic not bad work because it would fall off in layers. My only problem is in 2 areas it was repaired by spray and I dont know what else but it is almost like cement (area 1 is approx. a 2-2 1/2 foot wide by 3) the 2nd area is maybe a foot and a half wide to 2 feet and approx. 6 feet in length. I have used everything I can think of even to course sanding with elec. sander but no help. Any suggestions?
Tim says: They key here is to get behind the medium that is on the surface, just like you do with removing wallpaper. You’ve done everything correctly, but you just appear to have a couple bad spots that require extra work. Chances are the repair work was done with a mixture of spackle/water/ceiling texture and/or covered with oil-based paint. The fact that you didn’t have success with the palm sander makes me think that you will need to be very aggressive at this point. That can mean really going after it again with the sander and a heavy (60 grit) sandpaper or the ultimate sacrifice of going all the way through to the sheet rock paper and removing that. I would try the heavy grit sandpaper first. The second route will demand skim-coating a couple times to repair the damage. One last option just popped into my head; are you familiar with a “paper tiger” (http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1274700&cagpspn=pla)? This is a wallpaper removal tool that scores the wall with metal teeth. It allows the liquid/water to penetrate through the surface to the sub-surface, thereby forcing a release behind the trouble spots. You might give that a shot. Again, the trick is to get behind that surface stuff! Sorry to be so long, and good luck!
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I still don’t know how to start. Tim, how do you remove POPCORN ceiling?
I just had a handyman walk around in the attic…LOL
Seriously, though, you can spray it with a mixture of vinegar and water, wait 30 seconds and scrape it with a putty knife. Be sure and put painters plastic down or your floor will have streaks of paint on it. Personally, I have found that it is not worth the monumental effort. I am searching for something to cover the whole mess with.
1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Gigi. Have a great day!
Fun idea for a column. Thanks for linking up to my special About Me Pity Party last week. I loved reading about you! And admire that you’ve homeschooled all these years- awesome!
Hi, Mique. Thanks for reading our Ask Tim column on textured ceilings. Hope you learned a little something or maybe found some new information. Hope you’ll join us again next week!
Marty@Marty’s Musings
How nice of Tim to do this! I know his expertise will be very helpful to us. Blessings