Alternatives to Popcorn Ceilings

When you hear the word popcorn, what do you think about? Most people think about going to the movies, while some home owners remember their popcorn ceilings.

If your house has popcorn ceilings, you’ve probably thought about getting rid of them as as the texture is dated, difficult to paint and almost impossible to match color and texture following repairs.

Why Popcorn Ceilings?

Where did popcorn ceilings come from? During the construction boom following World War 2, popcorn ceilings were popular as they helped speed up construction … when they were building 100s of homes. It’s faster to spray on a popcorn ceiling texture which can be done after the the second coat of mud. Popcorn is also good at hiding minor defects in the ceiling, i.e. uneven seams where the sheetrock meets. Popcorn ceilings continue to be popular in warm climates where high ceilings are used to draw hot air away from the living space below.

Popcorn texture helps reduce noise, so it’s used more often for bedrooms and hallway ceilings. Kitchens and living room ceilings where they’re seen more often, will be given a flat or smoother texture for higher durability and ease of cleaning. Acoustic ceilings came next and evolved into the metal grids and drop down panels we now recognize in schools, offices and businesses where they need noise reduction. Acoustic tiles remain popular for home basements where there are plumbing, heating and cooling structures to hide.

Steps to Removing Your Popcorn Ceiling

Many home owners who want to remove their popcorn ceilings, aren’t sure what’s involved or the cost.

1. Asbestos - Similar to lead paint, if your home was built prior to 1978, you need to test (typically $25 per sample) to see if your popcorn contains asbestos. Asbestos (learn more at www.epa.gov/asbestos) should be removed by qualified professionals, adding to projects costs.
2. Install a Second Ceiling - Instead of removing the popcorn, you can install another ceiling right over it, which might be a good alternative when there is asbestos.
   • New sheetrock? This approach works best when you’re planning to paint the entire room as the seams where the new ceiling and walls meet, will need to be taped, and thus require painting. A half inch of sheetrock works well with higher (more than 8 ft) ceilings. The challenge comes with open concept homes where you might have to install new sheetrock in multiple rooms and/or hallways … but you can creatively add ceiling trim to separate ceiling areas.
   • Decorative ceiling tile? As building materials continue to evolve, some of them draw from the past like the tin ceiling tiles shown here. These photos are from the Seacoast Repertory Theater in Portsmouth, NH. My Handyman remodeled the bathrooms and picked tin ceiling tiles which are less vulnerable water leaks from above. While the rooms have been painted, and the sheetrock needs to be replaced again the tin ceiling looks as good as the day we installed it (2006). There are many choices for ceiling tiles from tin ceiling to aluminum, plastic, foam, wood and mirror tiles in hundreds of colors and styles. Many of these tiles are glued up while others use a tongue and groove design similar to engineered flooring.
   • Remove the popcorn? Hopefully your popcorn ceilings haven’t been painted. The popcorn comes off more easily when you’re able to saturate it with water, to start the glue letting go. When the ceiling has been painted, it will be difficult for water to reach the ceiling side of the popcorn to start this process.

If you’re thinking about removing popcorn ceilings, plan the project out and tackle one room at a time. Review the steps to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling, to get an idea of how much time you’ll need.