Scraping ceilings?

[REItobe]

how hard is it to scrape popcorn off the ceilings and make them smooth? I would normally hire a contractor but I think I made a boo boo on this house and need to keep the costs down.

[Debbie]

how hard is it to scrape popcorn off the ceilings and make them smooth? I would normally hire a contractor but I think I made a boo boo on this house and need to keep the costs down.

Pretty hard to scrape as well as pretty difficult to make the ceiling smooth.

Depending on the age of the house, beware of potential lead and asbestos!

On our experiences---we learned to put drywalls onto the ceilings. Much safer, cheaper but lots of labor!!! :SM069:

[JR_FL]

Its messy. Take a pump sprayer and spray the pop corn and with a 6" drywall knief and have fun. Be sure to wear a hair net and goggles and a mask. But keep it wet.

To finish you can either stomp or texture. You can slick also.

Just a few ideas.

[Jeffery (LCLA)]

Concur with JR FL. When he says pump sprayer I'm sure he means one of those one or two gallon garden sprayers. If that's not what he meant, then that's what I recommend. Lots of water. Spray the whole ceiling until water starts to drip and then start scraping. You'll also want to spray while you're scraping. I recommend stomping the ceiling, too.

Agree some with Debbie. Check for lead in paint. If it tests positive for lead, you must must must keep it wet. The lead poison comes from the paint dust getting into your lungs. (even if it's not lead, you don't want that crap getting into your lungs so wear a mask anyway)

Don't wear a hair net, it's more fun washing that stuff out of your hair and make sure you post pics. :SM083:

[Burke]

I recommend stomping the ceiling, too.

This is a new term for me. Can someone explain "stomping" or point me to an appropriate website?

Thanks!

[Debbie]

This is a new term for me. Can someone explain "stomping" or point me to an appropriate website?

Thanks!

Borrow that spider web thingy from Spiderman, hang upside down and stomp as if you're throwing a temper tantrum! Works well! Ask my hubby!

[REItobe]

i did a google search and found basically the same thing. The major issue is if the popcorn is painted, it is supposedly much harder to scrape since it doesnt get wet.

The house was built in 2000 so i doubt lead and absestos are an issue.

yeah, can someone explain stomping to me as well?

[Jeffery (LCLA)]

it's a method of texturing a ceiling. You use a brush to stomp the joint compound on the ceiling. Or, bump and drag. Same as stomping, only you use a knife to drag the joint compound flat.

[Debbie]

Jeez!

What's wrong with a smmmooooooth ceiling? Don't you guys know that it's sooooo much cleaner looking, no spider webbers hanging from the ceiling (considering that it's too smooth for them to attach onto), easier to paint and clean?????

Smooth ceilings actually makes the room looks bigger, don't you guys know?

Or, is it that you need to count those bumps in the ceilings to help you sleep?

[Jeffery (LCLA)]

Textured ceiling doesn't echo and flat ceiling is just plain looking.

[dealmaker]

Something I learned about 3 houses ago is that dust is always going to be a problem. One thing I do is when I start the actual scraping is I hold a "dust collector" as close to the ceiling as possible, 6-8 inches is not hard to do.

The first time I discovered this was when I used a rectangular trash can lid. Im about 3/4 of the way through doing our 2300 sq ft house and I made one out of the box that a dishwasher came in. I just rigged up a handle for gripping it and left a 3 inch side on it.

The dust from scraping that crap is very fine and it gets everywhere when it falls the 8' or more to the floor. Since I'm doing our house room by room I've found this is easier than having to evacuate the house or have my wife kill me.

dealmaker