This is video #1 of a 2-part series. The videos are:

Part 1 of 2 =    • How to Fix Drywall - Removing Popcorn...  
Part 2 of 2 =    • How to Texture Drywall - Popcorn Ceil...  

To Watch the Popcorn Texture Playlist = http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...

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SCRAPING THE CEILING

Overview:

Acoustic texture, commonly referred to as Popcorn texture, became a popular method of texturing ceilings many years ago because it was cheap and quick. Most houses that have popcorn-textured ceilings have them because of their ease of installation compared with the labor necessary to provide a hand-trawled texture. However, in recent years this hand-trawled texture has become increasingly popular and many homeowners are opting to change out their popcorn ceilings for a smoother hand-trawled look.

Removing the popcorn texture from a ceiling is surprisingly easy and simple. However, before attempting to remove it, ensure that the texture has not been painted over, as paint will render the process infinitely more difficult. In order to remove the popcorn from a ceiling, there are several tools that will be needed.

Tools:

They are: plastic sheeting, masking tape, a light-weight baking pan, a 12-inch taping knife, a garden hose, and a 6-foot ladder.

Repair:

Begin the job by removing any furniture in the room that will inhibit access to the ceiling. Next, take out the plastic sheeting and drape it over every corner of the room, including the middle, so that every inch is completely covered. Make sure that the sheeting runs up the sides of the walls and covers all of the carpet. Secure the plastic to the wall, where the wall and ceiling meet, with masking tape. This is necessary because the ceiling will need to be hosed down in order to loosen the texture and the plastic will protect the wall and any other surface area from exposure to water or texture that may fall off of the ceiling when loose.

Once the entire room is covered with the sheeting, take a garden hose and spray the ceiling enough so that the popcorn darkens and becomes damp. The ceiling should absorb the majority of the water, making this process relatively dry for the rest of the room. Allow about 2 minutes to pass so that the popcorn has enough time to absorb the moisture and loosen. During this time, set up the ladder and make sure the other tools are handy.

Once two minutes have passed, take the 12-inch taping knife and, holding the baking pan directly underneath, begin scraping the popcorn off of the ceiling at about a 30-degree angle. The popcorn should fall loosely onto the baking pan. Continue scraping the entire ceiling. Make sure that if any part does not come off easily, it is sprayed again with water and then scraped off.

Once the popcorn has been completely removed, roll the plastic sheeting into a ball, gathering any fallen debris or water. Once the ceiling is bare and completely dried, the project is complete and the ceiling is ready to be textured and painted.