Removing 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 the spray and scrape method described below. In other cases it may be possible to scrape the texturing off with a joint knife. For instance, if the mud was applied over a primed or painted surface, it may pop off with minimal effort.

Test this possibility by using a thin putty knife to chip an opening in the texture and see if the blade will slip under and pop the finish off. If the texture begins to come free using this approach use a wider blade to remove larger sheets. Usually, if the putty knife test works to begin peeling the finish, it's a good bet it will all come off this way. If the finish becomes difficult to remove in places use a chisel blade joint knife and hammer to force it off. This may cause minor damage to the surface but this can be easily repaired.

Skim Coat to Cover Drywall Texture

If a joint compound texture was applied over bare drywall, it will not usually come off easily and a putty knife will not work to remove it. In these cases the texturing can be chipped, sanded and then skim coated. This is a very dusty and difficult way to remove a textured finish and most people choose either to live with it or install a new drywall ceiling over the texture instead.

If you choose to chip and sand, use a chisel blade joint knife to remove the bulk of the texture first and then use a belt or rotary sander to smooth it out as much as possible and minimize the need to fill in with mud. Remove sanding dust with a shopvac and wipe the surface with a damp rag or sponge. Prime with a flat latex paint to ensure a good bond with the new coating and then skim coated with several applications of joint compound. Expect to do 5 or more coats, sanding in between to build up a smooth finished ceiling.

About 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 popcorn 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.

Wet Scraping Non–Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling

If your popcorn texture doesn't contain asbestos you can simply spray it with a soapy water solution and scrape off the resulting goo. First remove as much furniture, etc. as possible from the room and cover all floors and other vulnerable surfaces with plastic drop cloths. 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 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 spraying repeatedly with the water to soak the texture. When it's good and wet use a joint knife to scrape the popcorn finish off and deposit it into a plastic bag. It may be difficult to get the goo off the blade so try using a second joint knife to scrape it off the first and into a bucket or other receptacle.

When all the texture is removed from a section, wipe the surface with a clean, wet rag or sponge rinsing frequently to remove all the remaining residue before moving on to a new section.