Removing Drywall Texture
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How to Remove Drywall Texture
Removing an existing textured drywall finish may or may not be possible, depending on the material used to create it. In addition, if the texturing has been painted it will complicate the job further.
Joint compound texturing can sometimes be removed using a spray and scrape method used to remove popcorn textures. In other cases it may be possible to scrape it off with a broad joint knife. For instance, if the mud was applied over a primed or painted surface, it may pop right off of these coatings. If the texture was applied over bare drywall, the texture will not usually come off easily. In some cases joint compound texturing can be sanded down, although this is a very dusty and difficult job.
Skim Coat to Cover Drywall Texture
Another approach to eliminating a textured finish is to skim coat over it with joint compound. This may work well for finer textures liken knockdown but will be more difficult for coarser finishes like joint compound stippling.
If you want to try skim coating over a thick, coarse texture, first sand or scrape to remove as much of the finish as possible. This will minimize the need to fill in with mud. Expect to do at least 4 or 5 skim coats and plan to sand all the ridges in the dry mud and then, if necessary, skim some more to get a smooth finish.
Wet Scraping Popcorn Texture
Popcorn texture can sometimes be removed using a wet scraping method. Before proceeding check to see if your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos. This may be true if it was apply before 1980, at which time asbestos was banned as a building material. If your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos you are prohibited in the US from hiring anyone other than a certified asbestos abatement contractor to do the job for you. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't do it yourself. You are allowed but you must use caution if you choose the diy approach and check your local regulation for the laws concerning asbestos removal in your area.
Have your popcorn texture tested by a lab to see if it contains asbestos. If it does, follow the guidelines and procedures at this link for help with removing asbestos yourself. You will have to block off the room involved and cover every square inch of wall and floor space with thick plastic to contain the asbestos. Wet scraping is the only accepted procedure for asbestos removal. If you are not able to wet the popcorn texture because it has been painted, you will not be able to remove it because any release of the asbestos by dry scraping is prohibited by government regulations.
If your popcorn texture doesn't contain asbestos you can simply spray it with a soapy water solution and scrape off the resulting goo. Use a compression sprayer and warm to hot soapy water to soak the popcorn. Add the water to the sprayer first and then squirt in a about a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Close the sprayer and shake it up a little to mix in the soap.
Work on a small, manageable area at a time. Spray several times with the water and then use a joint knife to scrape the goo off and deposit it into a plastic bag. Also try using a second joint knife to scrape the goo into a bucket or other receptacle. Wipe the surface with a clean, wet rag or sponge to remove all the popcorn residue before moving on to a new section.
