Painting Popcorn Ceiling?

[Beemer]

The question is how to paint previously unpainted popcorn ceiling.
I recall painting apartment ceilings but I'm pretty sure they were previously painted, actually with each new tenancy.
Will a deep or split foam roller do it without destroying the texture?

 

[crguy]

The question is how to paint previously unpainted popcorn ceiling.
I recall painting apartment ceilings but I'm pretty sure they were previously painted, actually with each new tenancy.
Will a deep or split foam roller do it without destroying the texture?

It will depend on the texture. Bear in mind that if you get the texture very wet, it will come off on the roller.

 

[cgrutt]

This guy is good for painting (sorry you have to click link).

Takeaways
1. Scrape walls at corners and apply light bead of caulk.
2. Use flat ceiling paint with no acrylic.
3. Roll lightly with split-foam roller.

I'd probably spray it with airless painter though.

 

[mike93lx]

Unpainted is the best time to remove it. So much easier than painted...

 

[racecougar]

If you're keeping the texture (I'd remove it), I suggest spraying it.

 

[welder4956]

I have done several with a roller. I used a 1/2" nap roller. The first coat needs to be one roll over area just to get some paint on the surface and not too wet or the texture will peel off onto the roller. Second coat is for coverage and less likely to peel, but still try not to get too wet or roll back and forth in the same spot.

 

[driftpin]

Ther are a few specific tools for removing popcorn ceilings, I suggest that you use them.

 

[yatg]

Done it a couple of times with an airless.
First coat one direction, second coat at a right angle from the first coat.
Get a spray tip extension tube, especially for a taller ceiling.
Even for an 8' ceiling so you're not holding your arm at a weird position over your head.
Flat white ceiling paint.

 

[The Cobbler]

if you're going to roll it use oil for the first coat . otherwise you'll end up with a mess .
if you're spraying, latex will be fine

 

[mike93lx]

Besides asbestos, the only downside in removing is that the finish quality underneath is likely ****. You'll probably need d to do some mudding and sanding work, but it's worth it

 

[The Cobbler]

Besides asbestos

yes, it very likely has asbestos. unbeknownst to me that it had asbestos, I have scraped & sanded tons of it , mostly for repairs from water leaks . so far my lungs are good.

 

[mike93lx]

yes, it very likely has asbestos. unbeknownst to me that it had asbestos, I have scraped & sanded tons of it , mostly for repairs from water leaks . so far my lungs are good.

With lots of water, the risk of dust is pretty low. But it makes an awful mess.

I chose to encapsulate asbestos popcorn in my last house

 

[The Cobbler]

With lots of water, the risk of dust is pretty low.

yes, but I was sanding it with a power sander so we could blend the patch into the existing . always used a mask but not asbestos rated nor any other asbestos procedures .

 

[mike93lx]

yes, but I was sanding it with a power sander so we could blend the patch into the existing . always used a mask but not asbestos rated nor any other asbestos procedures .

Yeah, that ain't good.

Not all popcorn has asbestos, at least.

 

[The Cobbler]

true, but the projects I was working on later got tested & found to contain. (3%) if I recall . so our procedures changed dramatically, but that was 2015ish.

 

[mike93lx]

but that was 2015ish.

Ah the olden days

 

[Lassen Forge]

I've dealt with it a few times. First time was watching a neighbor with a roller, and he totally screwed up the surface - the more he worked, the worse it got. He eventually took it down to ceiling board, and retextured it. Second was an almost pristine late 60's ceiling with a LOT of the original mica/asbestos "starscape' flecks... I didn't want to lose it, so I used my regular spray gun and clear coated it 3-4 times - turned out surprisingly well, BUT... the room needed to be aired out a couple weeks, I should have been wearing a hood, a real PITA. I would think long and hard before doing that again. The last was using regular ceiling paint and an airless (it was an in-law bungalow, and whoever lived there you'd think used it as a cigar lounge... Ugh!) and that actually was fastest, easiest, and decent results.
Personally, unless I had a place I wanted that 60's-70's cocktail era vibe, I wouldn't touch that **** again. God, what a hassle.
Side Note - I found you can still source the mica flakes for that 60's-70's sparkle. How "groovy" do you want your "pad"???

 

[dukes909]

Misted and scraped the popcorn ceiling in 5 rooms, a hallway, and a foyer in our house. The worst ones were the ones that had been painted. Did not like the mudding & sanding but there are worse things in life...

 

[Skellyii]

Unpainted is the best time to remove it. So much easier than painted...

What he said ^^^^^^^

Popcorn ceilings, at least in my area hurt resale value. Best to remove it while it' still relatively easy.

 

[rsparks64]

As opposed to some, I don’t mind the look- but my wife hates it. So we know what that means. As stated above, if you paint with a roller or brush go very light first because if it gets wet it will start coming off. I know.

I have also removed it multiple times and do not enjoy doing that. Although some comes off when wet, not all does very easily when you want it to. Dry scraping works some, but depending on the tool you can gouge the ceiling and that could happen many times. l know that too. Then you have to go back and spackle or mud all of the gouges.

I hate dealing with popcorn as much as I hate removing wall paper, particularly when it is old or when you find it there are one or more layers of paper beneath it.

 

[four.cycle]

I've done several.
Maybe I'm lucky, but I never had any problem at all with KILZ interior latex primer and a long-nap roller.
As noted, DON'T try to "work" it. Just lay it on and keep moving. Do NOT get the ceiling too wet or you'll have drywall coming down. (Don't ask me how I know this.)
As much as I hate popcorn ceilings (this house has them in every room except bathroom, kitchen, and garage) I look at it as just too damn much work to fiddle with - just paint it and be done.
Who's looking at the ceiling, anyway?
Seriously?

 

[crguy]

Unpainted is the best time to remove it. So much easier than painted...

Definitely. When I removed ours, one area had been painted and it was a lot harder to get off.

 

[crguy]

I've done several.
Maybe I'm lucky, but I never had any problem at all with KILZ interior latex primer and a long-nap roller.
As noted, DON'T try to "work" it. Just lay it on and keep moving. Do NOT get the ceiling too wet or you'll have drywall coming down. (Don't ask me how I know this.)
As much as I hate popcorn ceilings (this house has them in every room except bathroom, kitchen, and garage) I look at it as just too damn much work to fiddle with - just paint it and be done.
Who's looking at the ceiling, anyway?
Seriously?

Just wait until you try to sell that house. Those ceilings will seriously devalue the house and you may end up paying to have it professionally removed at big bucks price. Much smarter to deal with it yourself while you still can.

 

[MovingAlong]

Will a deep or split foam roller do it without destroying the texture?

No. The paint will bridge between individual pieces and to the ceiling as well. I've painted many ceilings, little pieces will come off on the roller, land in your hair/on your shirt/on the floor, but most will roll right back on... The texture will change - for better or worse is an individual opinion.

For the record, I've also applied popcorn along with the sparkly bits! It's a fun look when brand new.

*the advice to remove it is good too...

 

[four.cycle]

Just wait until you try to sell that house.

No problem.
The house has no value.
The value here in the dirt under it.
The house is a negligible issue.
I'm not living out in the weeds.

 

[Beemer]

yes, it very likely has asbestos. unbeknownst to me that it had asbestos, I have scraped & sanded tons of it , mostly for repairs from water leaks . so far my lungs are good.

Built in '83 and what I have read asbestos was banned in in the finish by 1980 here because our state followed Federal standards but it's worth a look.

 

[Beemer]

Just wait until you try to sell that house. Those ceilings will seriously devalue the house and you may end up paying to have it professionally removed at big bucks price. Much smarter to deal with it yourself while you still can.

I doubt it has any effect here for the age of our house.
I have never seen a house without it and I've been around for what seems like forever.
My father was nomadic and we moved every two years. No smooth ceilings in our lives.
Perhaps things are different in other areas of the country.

 

[Beemer]

Misted and scraped the popcorn ceiling in 5 rooms, a hallway, and a foyer in our house. The worst ones were the ones that had been painted. Did not like the mudding & sanding but there are worse things in life...

That removal picture looks involved. Seems it must have needed quite a bit of repair.

 

[Beemer]

No. The paint will bridge between individual pieces and to the ceiling as well. I've painted many ceilings, little pieces will come off on the roller, land in your hair/on your shirt/on the floor, but most will roll right back on... The texture will change - for better or worse is an individual opinion.

For the record, I've also applied popcorn along with the sparkly bits! It's a fun look when brand new.

*the advice to remove it is good too...

So, if it's dampened does the sprayed on finish easily scrape off?

 

[CGT80]

Who's looking at the ceiling, anyway?
Seriously?

I'm looking at the ceiling, walls, trim, cabinet finish, electrical, plumbing, warped fascias, concrete finishing, concrete cleanliness, lighting color and other aspects, floors, any welds I come across, and everything else.

30 years of trades work in many of the trades (many years spent in paint and finish) and being a perfectionist..........there is no way I can't notice all of it, because I have done all of that.

I have never bothered to roll them as it is too much work with too much chance of something going wrong.

Grinding (5" gv5000 makita disc sander with 7" resin discs) and scraping painted popcorn is miserable. An airless sprayer with an extension works great to spray naked popcorn with water and not completely soak the floors the way a garden hose can.

When painting them, I just sprayed a good water based primer and then paint, alternating the spray direction on each coat.

 

[mm08822]

So, if it's dampened does the sprayed on finish easily scrape off?

Yes, very much so. Painted popcorn won't absorb water as quickly and would be a bigger PIA.

Plan on at least skim coating once after removal.
Some tape may also be impacted.

 

[mm08822]

For all the drywall patching I do, I learned to really appreciate non-textured surfaces!

 

[MovingAlong]

Built in '83 and what I have read asbestos was banned in in the finish by 1980 here because our state followed Federal standards.

Testing is how you "know"..

So, if it's dampened does the sprayed on finish easily scrape off?

I've never scraped one before, but that is my understanding. Get it the least bit moist and it comes off easily.

 

[Beemer]

Plan on at least skim coating once after removal.

Sounds like a job for a pro.

 

[MovingAlong]

Sounds like a job for a pro.

A good drywaller is some of the best money you'll ever spend on a contractor.

 

[mm08822]

Sounds like a job for a pro.

Skim coating is pretty easy. 12 or 14" knives may fast work of it.

A drywall "paint" roller can get the mud up there quickly.