Blue Bedroom - Part 2 of 7 - Acoustic Ceiling Removal

By Gary Boutin

Joint compound knives

Supplies and Tools:

Bug spray hand pump - portable

Broom with dustpan
Coveralls disposable Clear plastic  

Duct tape
Gloves disposable
Joint knives 3-inches (scraper) 

Ladder 6 feet or kitchen ladder
Plastic bag - cover shoes

Tarp (the size of the room)

Vacuum

Warm water

Tyler Zowat 's home is in Perris, California. He drive a commercial truck all week long, and to get ahead he even does odd job most weekends.Tyler wanted his little girl to have a grown up room and one thing he really wanted was to have the acoustic ceiling (popcorn) removed from her room. Tyler's home was built in the late 1990 and popcorn was used to hide ceiling flaws.

This post shows the fifteen steps on how to remove acoustic ceiling texture.

• What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral fiber.  
• Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.  
• Residential homes built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.
• The Environmental Protection Agency states not dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
• One rule of thumb is if your residential home is built before 1980 then pay for the asbestos test. More questions?  Check this web site: www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome
• The most important STEP is to TEST the acoustic ceiling to make sure there is no asbestos. If the test shows that the ceiling has ASBESTOS then a contractor needs to remove the ceiling acoustic. 
• www.asbestos-abatement.com/state-resources/california

Step 1: Put a hat on your head, shower cap, something to keep the mud that is being scrapped of your head.
Step 2: Purchase coveralls, some paint stores sell disposable so after the job just toss them into the trash. 
Step 3: Get some gloves, kitchen plastic gloves are great, just make sure they are not too tight.
Step 4: Do the same for your feet, shoe cover your shoes, or cover them in a plastic bag.
Step 5: Safety glasses to protect your eyes.
Step 6: Tarp the entire room, including taping the edges of the tarp with duct tape and remove all the furniture.
Step 7: If the furniture can not be removed, the furniture must be taped with clear plastic to protect it from the mud that will fall from the ceiling.
Step 8: A powerful vacuum cleaner attached with a floor hose.
Step 9: Fig.1 shows a portable bug sprayer with warm water.

Fig.1 Gray tarp
water bug sprayer

Step 10: Fig.2 shows the ceiling with acoustic ceilings, textured ceilings also known as popcorn.

Fig.2 Ceiling popcorn to be removed

Step 11: Fig.3 shows an industrial vacuum cleaner.

Fig.3 Vacuum removes popcorn dust

Step 12: Fig.4 shows dark portion on the ceiling has been sprayed with warm water.

Fig.4 Let water soak

Step 12: Fig.5 shows a water spray is sprayed on the ceiling.

Fig.5 Spray water spray

Step 13: Fig.6 shows a drywall knife pushing the wet popcorn off the ceiling.

Fig.6 Peel popcorn

Step 14: Fig.7 shows the mess from this job.

Fig.7 Popcorn on tarp

Step 15: Fig.8 shows the ceiling with no acoustic ceiling texture.

Fig.8 Ceiling finished

Now the ceiling needs to be sanded and there will be joint knife damage needs to be repaired. There is a plus to this job the person who does the removing has a great upper body workout, this job is done. 

Blue Bedroom:

• Part 1 of 7 - Wallpaper Border Removal
• Part 2 of 7 - Acoustic Ceiling Removal
• Part 3 of 7 - Sanding and Priming the Ceiling
• Part 4 of 7 - Ceiling Painting
• Part 5 of 7 - How to Paint a Closet Blue 
• Part 6 of 7 - Painting the Walls Blue
• Part 7 of 7 - How To Paint White Baseboard

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Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-