Popcon ceiling, new texture/?
Question:i had a contractor tell on answers last night that i could just retexture a ceiling withpopcorn instead of removing it. He said something about using a texture roller to change the appearance of it, how do i do that?
Answers:
I don't see how you could possibly get a good result applying topping compound over an acoustic (popcorn) ceiling. The "popcorn" bits are much to large to simply skim over with a top coat.
Oh- wait a minute -- when you say "instead of removing it" -- do you mean removing the popcorn, or the entire ceiling?
Typically, you wet and scrape the popcorn to remove it, and then either skim coat the ceiling to create a smooth finish, or apply a texture coat to match the walls (orange peel, knock down, etc).
Removing the popcorn isn't difficult, it's just messy. cover everything in plastic drop cloths (preferably, emptying the room first), use a garden sprayer to spray the ceiling, and in a few minutes the popcorn will come loose. Use a wide putty knife to scrape it off.
The easiest texture for a DIY'er to apply would be a roller finish. Use "topping compound" and a paint roller, and apply it just like paint. A 1/8"-3/16" will create a light orange peel texture. 1/4-3/8" heavy orange peel to light knock down. Get a few rollers and experiment. It scrapes off easily while it's damp - and you can wipe it with a wet sponge and scrape it once it's dried.
If you want to exactly match the texture on the walls, you'll need to rent a compressor and texture gun and shoot it on, just like it was originally applied. You can rent texture guns at your HomeDepot, and most rental yards.
All that aside, it's a messy job and it's hard on your neck, back and shoulders working overhead like that. If you can find someone that will scrape and texture for under $0.30/sqft, it would be worth while.
Finally, if you want nice, smooth, plaster looking ceilings- hire it out. It takes a skilled hand to create a flat, smooth ceiling. A DIY'er can stick plaster on the ceiling, but they'll end up with visible dips and trowel marks.
My father had a texture ceiling that was peeling. I didn't want to get involved in tearing it down, especially with all the stuff he has in the attic. I came up with the solution of putting a layer of 1/4 inch sheetrock right over the old ceiling, then respackling. It came out really good and saved a lot of clean up, and got rid of the textured ceiling. If you do this, go with 1/4 inch as to not add too much weight to the ceiling. You'll probably have to go to a real building supply for 1/4 inch sheetrock because Home Depot does not carry it.
spay it with water, you may need a big pump sprayer, then when its mushy use a texture roller to smooth or change the appearance. But you should take it all down, spay it wet and scrape it off and replaster a bit and paint.
this can open a can of worms. It may work it may not . it depends on whats on the ceiling and how you do this. trial and error
I wouldn't mess around. It scrapes off real easy.
Then have the drywall textured and repaint.
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