I've already tackled the popcorn ceiling on my first floor, but I'm staring down the same issue upstairs and I'm really dreading scraping all that off. I'm looking for options that can help me avoid the hassle of scraping, mudding, sanding, and then painting the ceiling, especially since we use that space every day. For a 700 sq ft area, are there alternatives like painting over it with a heavy nap roller, or maybe installing a beadboard ceiling? What do you all suggest?
3 Answers
One solid option is to just put up 1/4" drywall over it. It’s a cleaner way to go and saves you from all the mess of scraping and repainting!
You could try using a garden sprayer to mist it with water first. Just cover the floor with painters plastic, and start spraying the ceiling. It might be hard work, but once it soaks up the water, the popcorn should come off easily with minimal damage!
Honestly, I think it's kind of strange how much people want to get rid of popcorn ceilings. They can really help with sound! But I get it if you're bothered by dust and cobwebs—or if you've had a pest problem like a bad roach infestation, which sounds awful! It’s about finding a balance; sometimes aesthetics win out.
For me, it's about the build-up of dust and how hard it is to clean. Plus, I had a similar bad experience where I tried to clean mine and ended up ruining part of it, making it flat instead! Not fun!
I did that downstairs! My only worry was the finishing part since that can be tricky but it can look pretty good if you manage the drywall mud and sanding.