I'm a handyman with 20 years of DIY experience and have done a few popcorn ceiling removals in the past. This is absolutely the best and most informative video on this topic that I've seen. I learned a few things today! Thanks DIY Duke!
@Kim Troxel Kim, the tool Duke is using looks to be a 10" or12" inch drywall taping knife. You can use any width of drywall taping knife (there are a few) you want. The wider, the better as you want to shave off as much as possible in a single pass.
I've been removing Textures for a long time and This process is exactly how it's done. I just do a few things differently. First I put plastic on the flooring first then the walls so the plastic from walls automatically drapes over plastic on floors. I put an OZ of dawn dish soap per gallon ( a little more if it's been painted and a little wall paper stripper for really tough painted textures). Also at the end of the job you can use your plastic as a trash bag. Just start at a corner and go slow enough not to cause dust...Great video!!
@@dislikebutton1718 According if it's oil base, gloss etc. but Usually when it's thick paint and the stripping process doesn't work, I sand with an orbital then skim coat with all purpose sheetrock compound.
Just did my living room ceiling. They make a angled scraper which you connect a regular plastic grocery bag, which collects 90% of the popcorn. I also sprayed it with water and some vinegar using a cheap pump garden sprayer! Worked like a charm!
Sunken living rooms would give Popcorn Ceiling competition for worst housing invention ever. Why have a nice even floor when you can have an unsuspecting step that trips your grandma and breaks her hip?
@@iviaverick52 If you think about it though, it has probably kept the world from having any more major wars between powerful nations since the end of WWII. I am almost sure that we would have had total war between NATO and USSR if nuclear weapons did not exist.
@@michaeldelavega6976 how do you know we didn't, did you not listen to the video I sprayed the shit on and now I'm taking it off. I've been doing this for over forty years. Do you know anything about asbestos fibers? Do you know what activates them? Do you know what deactivates them? Moisture, wetness, they can't move when they're wet. Just in case you didn't know or haven't research it. It's a marvelous thing we have today a smart phone and it can open up more information than we've ever had access to.
@@michaeldelavega6976 While studies have clearly shown that asbestos poses a serious health risk when it is dry and inhaled, there is very little evidence to show that asbestos fibres will cause any harm when they are wet and swallowed.Jun 22, 2016  ww2.health.wa.gov.au › Asbe.. You do not know what you are talking about. Ignorance is only superceded by the laziness of not taking the effort to find out. You are also misinformed about the legality of removal, how do you know it's not my house? So you have an abatement business and upset about somebody doing your job for you, I get the concept of jealousy but choose a different platform. My channel, I will not tolerate rude behavior. Go make your own video.
@@michaeldelavega6976 oh I get it now. You have two videos worth about 60 seconds and like one subscriber. So how about you show the world how it's done.
*heavy breathing* i'm so glad i came across this video! our offer on a house was just accepted, and i've been thinking about scraping the ceilings ever since. you made sense out of something i had no idea about, explained things thoroughly, and i am now more confident i can do this. THANK YOU!!!
Im an abatement technician who removes asbestos popcorn ceiling fairly often. This video is fairly similar to the way we do it. Main difference is obviously the PPE but also the containment is a lot more detailed, the negative air machines help keep the humidity down preventing the poly walls from coming down while also helping dryout the surface of the sheetrock quicker after the texture is removed.
DUDE!! I've been an Aussie painter since the early 90's, and NO ONE has ever taught me how to remove this stuff!! I was always told that it was Vermiculite, and that you simply had to seal, then paint it - unless the client wanted to Gyprock (your 'drywall') over it. Thank you so much!!! I love you like a Purdy.. !!
Aussies have to be extra careful, cause the most dangerous kinds of asbestos, brown and blue asbestos, were quite commonly used in Australasia. Here in North America, 95% of the stuff used in homes was white asbestos, which while not healthy, is not as dangerous. Even one particle of the wrong type of brown or blue asbestos will give you cancer decades after exposure. Always test if you're unsure.
That's what happens when you have a physical job I've done this same stuff my whole life I'll outwork 5 20-year-olds today and I'm 50. Makes your real man.
Thanks for the great tips! I work in different fields but appreciate when I can absorb info from those well seasoned pros who are willing to pass hard earned knowledge from experience down. I learned alot of what I know mostly from people who are unfortunately now passed away. I've recently been mentoring some in their teens and 20s and it feels good to also pass on what I've learned from old folks, plus my own knowledge gained along the way.
I was thinking of getting into the business, i dont know if youll see this message, but any tips? I wanna do this business solo, all i hear are people complain about their popcorn ceilings
Wow thank you!! We just bought a house built in 1976. Love it BUT popcorn ceilings!!! My husband bought a special sander with a vacuum attachment but I knew there had to be an easier way. Thank you for saving me time, aggravation and money on repairs!!
This was the second video I saw today that has convinced me to save the $5400 for the 2 rooms a contractor quoted me for to “scrape the popcorn and apply two coats of mud”. He seemed like a nice guy but this doesn’t seem like rocket science! Thanks for sharing!!
I'm looking to do this for my living room, dining room, and kitchen area. First source I've come across that warned me that I might want to check for asbestos. Thank you for the heads up!
In Ireland it's not recommended to remove by yourself (popcorn, droplet painting or sprayed on paint) because they use to contain asbestos (I think before the 80s or maybe earlier houses) and also I think there are professions for this which I guess is good in the way it gives jobs to people, I'm just saying this to see if it's the same in other countries if its strict. While I was writing this comment I realised you brought to light asbestos in the paint, I'm glad you did because not many people realise that it came in paint as well. Well made video.
Great video. I have done a few popcorn ceiling removal jobs and offer the following from my experience. I use a 4x8 sheet of thin plywood on the floor below the area I am working for easier sweeping as I go. Also, to avoid going up and down the ladder I use a long-handled floor scraper to scrape off the popcorn (shoulder day rather than leg day!). Thanks for posting.
Amazing video, thank you! My wife surprised me one day when I came home from work. She had watched a RUclips housewife try to take popcorn off her ceiling but without the explanations you have here. She decided she would remove the popcorn too and surprise me! Now I have a large project to remove the popcorn because she only took off a section about 1ft x 2ft before she wore out her shoulder and gouged up the drywall ceiling. Poor woman cried over it. :D This video helps a lot - I think I can fix her attempt and complete it the rest of the way satisfactorily now, which will delight her. Thanks againi!
I've heard nothing but complaints from people about removing popcorn ceilings. I don't think any of them knew to wet it first. You're kinda making me want to get rid of my popcorn ceilings now...
This video not only gave me the info I needed, but also answered a question I had forgotten about. For a year when I was a boy, my family lived in a rental property that had little bits of glitter on the popcorn ceiling. We could never figure out why it was there, but it did lead us to name that house "sparkle cottage". What a surprise to hear you mention that very practice!
We had that horrible popcorn with the gold and silver sparkles in it lol. Me and my sis got creative and used a professional retail clothing steamer and that stuff came off with a nice long drywall trowel like scraping butter off toast in record time. Was super easy, MINIMAL cleanup and left next to no fuss or muss with any fixing/mudding spots or seams afterwards, we then simply painted the bare wall after priming. Worked like a dream, made a very nice/neat looking ceiling after. We kinda amazed ourselves...that was our first "fix it" experience together. Our next was tackling bad 70's paneling. We spackled all the seams, primed and painted added crown molding trim and you'd never know it was paneling...looked great. Pretty good for two gals who's Dad told them women can't do reno work. Our projects looked better than his AND got DONE. He still won't give either of us credit for it looking nice even when ppl have come over and mentioned how nice it looks lol.
DIY Duke thank you so much for your video. I just bought a house with popcorn ceiling. My girlfriend and I did a couple of rooms. I watched your video before and saw how you did it. When I tried it myself I was fighting it getting tired from pushing so hard then me and my girlfriend went back and rewatched your video. I realized I wasnt putting nearly enough water. I went and wet it pretty good let it soak in for about 20 minutes ,came off like butter. Thank you so much for your video.
Best video I have seen on how to remove popcorn , Been painting 20 years and I do it the exact same way . Took years of trial and error to come upon with these technics .
Terrific explanation, Duke! I learned a lot. I made the mistake of sanding a small bathroom before as I didn't have enough time to research. I looked like a snowman. Ah, the ignorance. Then I learned about wetting down the ceiling. I appreciate your video and your knowledge so much!
Thank you for taking the time to share your lifetime of knowledge and experience! This video was so incredibly helpful has motivated me to begin this process in our 1972 ranch. Thank you!
So I did our entryway yesterday. I'd say it went 90% great. The texture mostly came off in sheets but there are quite a few places where I guess I got things too wet and got through to the paper. And a couple spots where the seam tape came up. can I just re-tape those areas and do a skim coat over the paper? I'm not very adept at mudding and taping but I'd like to try. Thanks again!
Great information . I have removed some pop corn ceilings in the past , but never as easy as you have demonstrated. I have determined I believe I did not use enough moisture and did not allow enough time for it to soak . Thanks for your knowledge.
Maybe I'm just biased because I've been removing popcorn the exact same way since 2006, but this is an excellent piece on the messy, but DIY friendly, job of removing popcorn. There were a couple things I saw that he did, but didn't mention in the video. If you'll notice, NO BLUE TAPE. Blue tape has a nasty habit of releasing when moisture is around, and the plastic gets a little heavier. This is especially true if you're applying spray knockdown afterwards. Also, start covering the floor first. Move furniture to the walls and cover the center of the room. Then you can bring everything that won't fit along the walls out to the center and drape it with plastic. And a little tip - it's good to plan for the possibility of the tape removing some wall paint when you take it down.
Thank you for this. I just bought an airless sprayer and it's been sitting in the box. I can't wait to break it out for my ceilings. I was using a garden sprayer and it was so annoying. The spray wouldn't stay consistent and had to waste time pumping it. It didn't seem like it was really penetrating the popcorn so I scraped and created a lof of dust. I wasn't using a big enough knife either. This video definitely motivated me to keep going with the rest of my tien home. I feel like I can scrape the rest of the place in the same amount of time that it took me to scrape just the living room
Thanks for the knowledge dude! My parents asked me if I could do this and I said “I can learn to do anything from RUclips.” That’s possible through fellas like you who share your skill! 😎
This is super helpful. I have a very small bathroom with popcorn ceiling and you can imagine how ugly that looked after decades of moisture from hot showers. I thought about repairing the parts that peeled but this would actually be better overall. Thank you for the informational video!
I’d love a chapter two, doing what needs to be done to the ceiling so it can be painted. I’ve already taken the popcorn off and I “know” what to do but I’m too scared to start.
@@cuztimewilltell Don't be afraid it really is as simple as it looks. Just keep your scraper nice and flat so it doesn't gouge the sheet rock. It's quite the shoulder workout so don't overdue it 😀
Thank you so much my house was built in 1979 & nothing has really ever been removed r remodeled til we got it 14 yrs ago. I just hate the popcorn ceilings & I enjoy doing the things to the house & yard myself so thanks again for sharing this video. I'm going to start cleaning out one room at a time so I can get started in my bathroom & bedroom first so I can get it done that way when I'm working on the rest of the house I know I will have someplace clean done to relax & sleep.
Just bought our first home with popcorn ceilings from the 80s I am super excited to get this down thanks for the tips this looks really awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Excellent description on how to remove this. I rigged my paint pole to hold a 14" drywall knife and then have a piece of a old plastic tub lid I cut to hang under the knife that hooks to my shop vac. I had to get a longer hose for the vac but it makes cleanup almost nothing. I had a hard time getting this stuff off of a tile floor one time, is was stuck in the grout lines.
Thank you for all the knowledge on this , I have watched videos of people sanding and this seems alot easier. I'll be scraping some ceilings in my new home pretty soon now I'm actually looking forward to it. Much appreciated 🙏
This video helped me convince my mother-in-Law to let me scrape the acoustic off of her ceiling. I’m a painter and I told her I could do it for her and she didn’t believe me at first but now she does... mother-in-laws.... sheesh am I right? Thanks for this video Duke, you probably saved her a ton of money. 😂
Wow, I am about to do my brothers home and was really concerned about how to remove this stuff. Super grateful for this video it came in really handy and now tomorrow doesn't seem like such a big project. Thanks
Thank you so much for this video! I think I may have messed up just a bit but this was very informative and I'm so thankful for watching this to ensure I do not destroy any additional walls within my home.
I removed popcorn ceilings after watching your videos. I added distilled white vinegar (5 % acidity, found in the food aisle) to remove painted popcorn and it came right off.
Awesome, awesome video! I'm doing this tomorrow in a rental I'm working on. Wetting it was my first idea too but I wasn't sure if I was crazy or not, so very happy to find this vid. The ease with which he's scraping this stuff off after water absorption settles the matter for me. Great work!
just put me on game for my first popcorn job I've avoided it for 4 years as a painter I was nervous but your sprayer idea is exactly what I'll do thank you so much sir
I guess this is where youtube got me at 1:30 am. I don't believe i'll ever have to scrape ceilings, but you better believe i'll remember those tips just in case. Many thanks here.
This can be asbestos-containing and where I am from these types of materials have to be tested before removal. Also needs to be tested for disposal or else landfill wouldnt accept it
This was really informative and how nice of you to share your inside info!! That's the hardest thing when doing it yourself is knowledge and problems that may arise that you don't think of.
I was quoted $6500 to remove from 840 sq feet. Cost of buying stilts and sprayer less than $500. This was the best video our there, saved me a ton of $$$
Thank you for making this video I feel like I just learned so much. I always wanted to know how this was done and what it would take to get it off as well. This was pretty cool to watch .
Thank you for this video Duke! I always thought popcorn was sprayed on ceilings to cover deficiencies in the drywall process. What a relief to know ceilings are smooth underneath! Just bought a house and it has popcorn ceilings which I am not a fan. I'm going to scrape it off! :) Q: what do you suggest to do before applying paint to a ceiling that has 45 years of popcorn? Is a primer enough? Thank you.
Can't care less about the subject(no offense) but just watched the whole thing because I love listening to Buff Dad. You rock man 🤟🤟 peeling off was exactly quite satisfying to see.
Thank you for this diy video!! Never thought about spraying the ceiling with water before but of course, it makes total sense 😊 Now I can finish scraping my bathroom ceiling...
Thank you very much. Moving into "new" home that has these ceilings. Professional quoted me crazy money to replace ceiling drywall all around the house. Apparently there is something I can try to diy myself ❤😊
I sprayed mine with semi gloss paint and it looks pretty good. Has a little shine to it and for me that was the most practical way of giving it a change.
I agree. I worked 1 week last year in abatement and they found a nodule in my chest in a x ray test. But it says that it's not asbestos in my chest. Something else.
Great video, thanks for the tips! Do you have any tips for how to get water to penetrate better when the ceilings been painted? Also, I’ve seen a lot of people suggest mixing detergent with the water, do you have opinions on that?
@@clambumper6993 asbestos was phased out of popcorn ceilings in 1978. Wouldn't be surprised if it's in that ceiling. But the moisture should lock it in and keep it out of his lungs
Great video, his explaining of the process for putting it on with the glitter back in the day gave me the confidence the ceiling wasn't painted. Bought one of those special scrapers with the bag catch, would not recommend it, not that easy to control and catching the popcorn puts a bit of weight to the process, good basic scraper did the trick. Also play around with how much water to apply (applied too much in beginning) and time to wait is important, I waited 5 plus minutes, I did it in smaller sections rather the wetting whole ceiling, basic sized bedroom took about an hours and half. Put something on floor, place will be a mess otherwise.
Thank you for this detailed video. The idea of removing popcorn ceiling was sounding daunting and I was about to paint over it, but this has helped me avoid what sounds like a real mistake!
Awesome video!! Never removed one before in over 22 years of painting but this makes it look doable! Now...IF there is someone here who thinks nah, I'l paint mine...PRIME WITH OIL PRIMER FIRST! That will seal the popcorn surface THEN the water based ceiling paint won't soften it making it fall off.
Awesome video, so gratifying to see that stuff come off. *DANGER- ELECTRIC SHOCK RISK* I can't search the comments to see if anyone else mentioned it, but it's also worth noting that if the lights are 3 way (two switches controlling them) 4 way (three switches controlling) you need to turn off the power at the breaker. There will always be power in the box even after you turn off one of the switches. That's the nature of this type of set up. Also, it is amusing how many people comment that he doesn't warn about asbestos, which he absolutely does. Why comment if you don't watch the video?
Gave us about 40 years of knowledge in less than 10 minutes.
Saved us a lot of sore arms, messy clean-up, ceiling repairing...
Yeah he’s a really good teacher.
I always watch DYI on 2x speed, so it was even less ;)
This is so helpful and lots of knowledge in a short time. Thanks!
How many inches of flood is acceptable before I stop spraying water on my popcorn ceiling. His 40 years of experience is useless for me
I'm a handyman with 20 years of DIY experience and have done a few popcorn ceiling removals in the past. This is absolutely the best and most informative video on this topic that I've seen. I learned a few things today! Thanks DIY Duke!
@Kim Troxel Kim, the tool Duke is using looks to be a 10" or12" inch drywall taping knife. You can use any width of drywall taping knife (there are a few) you want. The wider, the better as you want to shave off as much as possible in a single pass.
@@timlenz8275 Did this technique work for you as well it did in this video? It came off so easily I'm almost skeptical.
@@sentry8992 Yes. It works really good if the popcorn hasn't been painted before. But If the popcorn has been painted then its not an easy job.
Hi Duke, thanks for the great video! Any tips on the next steps? I assume most ceilings will require painting after the acoustic is removed? Thanks!
@diaml I've seen elsewhere that it said to sand the ceiling using a pole stick afterward, then you can paint as usual.
Watching him scrape off the popcorn ceiling was super satisfying! Thanks for the info!
Unintentional ASMR, and I have no idea why it works for me.
100%
This guy is just so genuine and kind. I trust him already!
I've been removing Textures for a long time and This process is exactly how it's done. I just do a few things differently. First I put plastic on the flooring first then the walls so the plastic from walls automatically drapes over plastic on floors. I put an OZ of dawn dish soap per gallon ( a little more if it's been painted and a little wall paper stripper for really tough painted textures). Also at the end of the job you can use your plastic as a trash bag. Just start at a corner and go slow enough not to cause dust...Great video!!
Asbestos. ?
my home has this on the walls, with years and years of paint accumulation. will this process still work?
@@dislikebutton1718 According if it's oil base, gloss etc. but Usually when it's thick paint and the stripping process doesn't work, I sand with an orbital then skim coat with all purpose sheetrock compound.
I added a fabric softening but I couldn't scrape the paint
Nice!!!!! Thanks. A "garbage bag" never thought of that.
Just did my living room ceiling. They make a angled scraper which you connect a regular plastic grocery bag, which collects 90% of the popcorn. I also sprayed it with water and some vinegar using a cheap pump garden sprayer! Worked like a charm!
How do you know when you sprayed enough water?
@@Afeenag the color changes, if it drips its to much.
Where can you get the angled scraper?? And what about the garden pump sprayer?? Thanks!
@@acuratlnum1 home depot, lowes etc.
@@kfiscal01 do you have the exact name of the angled paint scraper please?
To this day I'm convinced that Popcorn Ceiling is the worst invention in the history of mankind.
Sunken living rooms would give Popcorn Ceiling competition for worst housing invention ever. Why have a nice even floor when you can have an unsuspecting step that trips your grandma and breaks her hip?
I mean, the atom bomb was pretty bad. But I agree.
@@iviaverick52 If you think about it though, it has probably kept the world from having any more major wars between powerful nations since the end of WWII. I am almost sure that we would have had total war between NATO and USSR if nuclear weapons did not exist.
Worked out great for Duke and others like him who get paid to install and remove!
@@andrewcomments5812 while I agree, keep in mind that the comparison is popcorn ceilings lol
I don't plan on ever doing this but here goes your view and like Duke.
And I'm glad you'll never have to scrape ceilings, hard on your neck and shoulders. Thankyou for watching 😀
@@diyduke you're great at what you do
@@michaeldelavega6976 how do you know we didn't, did you not listen to the video I sprayed the shit on and now I'm taking it off. I've been doing this for over forty years. Do you know anything about asbestos fibers? Do you know what activates them? Do you know what deactivates them? Moisture, wetness, they can't move when they're wet. Just in case you didn't know or haven't research it. It's a marvelous thing we have today a smart phone and it can open up more information than we've ever had access to.
@@michaeldelavega6976 While studies have clearly shown that asbestos poses a serious health risk when it is dry and inhaled, there is very little evidence to show that asbestos fibres will cause any harm when they are wet and swallowed.Jun 22, 2016

ww2.health.wa.gov.au › Asbe..
You do not know what you are talking about. Ignorance is only superceded by the laziness of not taking the effort to find out. You are also misinformed about the legality of removal, how do you know it's not my house? So you have an abatement business and upset about somebody doing your job for you, I get the concept of jealousy but choose a different platform. My channel, I will not tolerate rude behavior. Go make your own video.
@@michaeldelavega6976 oh I get it now. You have two videos worth about 60 seconds and like one subscriber. So how about you show the world how it's done.
As a professional drywall finisher and remover of much popcorn, this video is comprehensive.... Good work!
*heavy breathing*
i'm so glad i came across this video! our offer on a house was just accepted, and i've been thinking about scraping the ceilings ever since. you made sense out of something i had no idea about, explained things thoroughly, and i am now more confident i can do this. THANK YOU!!!
let us know how did it go
How did it work out. I’m currently going through the same thing
Im an abatement technician who removes asbestos popcorn ceiling fairly often. This video is fairly similar to the way we do it. Main difference is obviously the PPE but also the containment is a lot more detailed, the negative air machines help keep the humidity down preventing the poly walls from coming down while also helping dryout the surface of the sheetrock quicker after the texture is removed.
DUDE!! I've been an Aussie painter since the early 90's, and NO ONE has ever taught me how to remove this stuff!! I was always told that it was Vermiculite, and that you simply had to seal, then paint it - unless the client wanted to Gyprock (your 'drywall') over it. Thank you so much!!! I love you like a Purdy.. !!
Aye straya
Careful in Australia though sometimes we have asbestos in these types of ceilings always get it tested first.
Aussies have to be extra careful, cause the most dangerous kinds of asbestos, brown and blue asbestos, were quite commonly used in Australasia. Here in North America, 95% of the stuff used in homes was white asbestos, which while not healthy, is not as dangerous. Even one particle of the wrong type of brown or blue asbestos will give you cancer decades after exposure. Always test if you're unsure.
I swear I will never do this in my life but I still watched the whole video, this is so satisfying and Duke is such a cool guy
Thankyou Adam and I don't blame you it's a messy job 😀
I just asked my 17yr old son "how do you feel about helping me do this in the summer?" 😅...his eyes opened wide but he said "ok"..😊 can't wait!
You are National Treasure. We must protect this man at all costs.
😂
"Stay healthy, stay buff, and I'll see you next time"
Words to live by
That's what happens when you have a physical job I've done this same stuff my whole life I'll outwork 5 20-year-olds today and I'm 50. Makes your real man.
Thanks for the great tips! I work in different fields but appreciate when I can absorb info from those well seasoned pros who are willing to pass hard earned knowledge from experience down. I learned alot of what I know mostly from people who are unfortunately now passed away. I've recently been mentoring some in their teens and 20s and it feels good to also pass on what I've learned from old folks, plus my own knowledge gained along the way.
Worked in carpentry , mobile home industry for 30 years. Your doing it exactly the right way ! Sprayed many ceilings and stomp ceilings too . Good job
I was thinking of getting into the business, i dont know if youll see this message, but any tips? I wanna do this business solo, all i hear are people complain about their popcorn ceilings
@@surgeJ popcorn ceilings not real popular right now more stomp and flat
@@jimbo4203 Yeah! I meant to be a popcorn ceiling remover
Wow thank you!! We just bought a house built in 1976. Love it BUT popcorn ceilings!!! My husband bought a special sander with a vacuum attachment but I knew there had to be an easier way. Thank you for saving me time, aggravation and money on repairs!!
This was the second video I saw today that has convinced me to save the $5400 for the 2 rooms a contractor quoted me for to “scrape the popcorn and apply two coats of mud”. He seemed like a nice guy but this doesn’t seem like rocket science! Thanks for sharing!!
Yes, save yourself some money
I'm looking to do this for my living room, dining room, and kitchen area. First source I've come across that warned me that I might want to check for asbestos. Thank you for the heads up!
If your checking for asbestos see if there is an register for it. Pop corn ceiling is generally used for fire proofing.
Anything done pre 70's is almost definitely asbestos containing. 70's to 90's its also a possibility.
@@johnknight8540 Drywall joint compound can have asbestos in it.
@@hotpuppy1 yea if your doing remodeling jobs on older houses/buildings
In Ireland it's not recommended to remove by yourself (popcorn, droplet painting or sprayed on paint) because they use to contain asbestos (I think before the 80s or maybe earlier houses) and also I think there are professions for this which I guess is good in the way it gives jobs to people, I'm just saying this to see if it's the same in other countries if its strict.
While I was writing this comment I realised you brought to light asbestos in the paint, I'm glad you did because not many people realise that it came in paint as well.
Well made video.
Never remove without testing. Most muds from the popcorn era have asbestos.
Mexicans don’t care , we just demolish and live on
Good comment! Thanks for the reminder to at least get it tested to find out if it has asbestos in it!
@@rvmino that a stupid way to live.
Yes in the US they are strict with the asbestos also. Is it super exspensive in Ireland also?
Who the heck gave Duke a dislike! This man is a legend!
The people like me, upset he is showing how to contaminate your home with asbestos, not safely remove popcorn ceiling texture.
@@kintsugifaithful2482 anyone with half a brain will get a sample tested for asbestos
Great video. I have done a few popcorn ceiling removal jobs and offer the following from my experience. I use a 4x8 sheet of thin plywood on the floor below the area I am working for easier sweeping as I go. Also, to avoid going up and down the ladder I use a long-handled floor scraper to scrape off the popcorn (shoulder day rather than leg day!). Thanks for posting.
Hello, do you have a specific name or website link for the long-handled floor scraper?
I feel like the stilts are a must. He's just casually walking the entire length of the room.. Great video!!!
Right. I have been moving the step stool every few feet. Now I want to go buy me some stilts for the rest of it.
I’m a drywall finisher in st.louis journeyed our last year. Never heard of this method it looks amazing ur going to save me a lot of time ! Thanks man
Amazing video, thank you! My wife surprised me one day when I came home from work. She had watched a RUclips housewife try to take popcorn off her ceiling but without the explanations you have here. She decided she would remove the popcorn too and surprise me! Now I have a large project to remove the popcorn because she only took off a section about 1ft x 2ft before she wore out her shoulder and gouged up the drywall ceiling. Poor woman cried over it. :D
This video helps a lot - I think I can fix her attempt and complete it the rest of the way satisfactorily now, which will delight her. Thanks againi!
poor guy having tremors, hate seeing that in passionate hard working people :(
Thanks, but that ain't gonna stop me 💪
I was wondering why he was sounding nervous all the time. It's involutary I see
@@diyduke Hell yeah!
@@diyduke right on Buff Dad
@@MattRoldy350 he is the Chuck Norris of Buff Dads😂
I've heard nothing but complaints from people about removing popcorn ceilings. I don't think any of them knew to wet it first. You're kinda making me want to get rid of my popcorn ceilings now...
This video not only gave me the info I needed, but also answered a question I had forgotten about. For a year when I was a boy, my family lived in a rental property that had little bits of glitter on the popcorn ceiling. We could never figure out why it was there, but it did lead us to name that house "sparkle cottage". What a surprise to hear you mention that very practice!
you sound like you have a lot of wisdom and experiences not just in the field but in life, I could listen to your stories for hours
This is the most satisfaying thing I've seen in a month.
😀
We had that horrible popcorn with the gold and silver sparkles in it lol. Me and my sis got creative and used a professional retail clothing steamer and that stuff came off with a nice long drywall trowel like scraping butter off toast in record time. Was super easy, MINIMAL cleanup and left next to no fuss or muss with any fixing/mudding spots or seams afterwards, we then simply painted the bare wall after priming. Worked like a dream, made a very nice/neat looking ceiling after. We kinda amazed ourselves...that was our first "fix it" experience together. Our next was tackling bad 70's paneling. We spackled all the seams, primed and painted added crown molding trim and you'd never know it was paneling...looked great. Pretty good for two gals who's Dad told them women can't do reno work. Our projects looked better than his AND got DONE. He still won't give either of us credit for it looking nice even when ppl have come over and mentioned how nice it looks lol.
Good job, you gals showed 'em 👏
DIY Duke thank you so much for your video. I just bought a house with popcorn ceiling. My girlfriend and I did a couple of rooms. I watched your video before and saw how you did it. When I tried it myself I was fighting it getting tired from pushing so hard then me and my girlfriend went back and rewatched your video. I realized I wasnt putting nearly enough water. I went and wet it pretty good let it soak in for about 20 minutes ,came off like butter. Thank you so much for your video.
So glad it worked for you 😀
Hi Duke,
I just followed your guide and everything went smoothly! Thanks so much for putting all this information out there for first-timers like me!
Best video I have seen on how to remove popcorn , Been painting 20 years and I do it the exact same way . Took years of trial and error to come upon with these technics .
Always a treat to watch Buff Dad's videos.
Thankyou so much 😀
This guy is so satisfying to watch and to listen to. It comes second to ASMR
Deserves 3 million views for sure. Don’t even have a popcorn ceiling in my house but this is a very entertaining video!
By far the best and most informative video. Thanks!
Terrific explanation, Duke! I learned a lot. I made the mistake of sanding a small bathroom before as I didn't have enough time to research. I looked like a snowman. Ah, the ignorance. Then I learned about wetting down the ceiling. I appreciate your video and your knowledge so much!
Did it contain asbestos though? If it did I hope your life insurance policy covers you.
Now that was funny.....
@@AYTAZED, very thoughtful of you....
The house was built in the late 80s. Asbestos use was long banned at that time.
This is exactly what I needed to see. Thank you, sir! Loving these home improvement videos.
Thank you for taking the time to share your lifetime of knowledge and experience! This video was so incredibly helpful has motivated me to begin this process in our 1972 ranch. Thank you!
So I did our entryway yesterday. I'd say it went 90% great. The texture mostly came off in sheets but there are quite a few places where I guess I got things too wet and got through to the paper. And a couple spots where the seam tape came up. can I just re-tape those areas and do a skim coat over the paper? I'm not very adept at mudding and taping but I'd like to try. Thanks again!
Great information . I have removed some pop corn ceilings in the past , but never as easy as you have demonstrated. I have determined I believe I did not use enough moisture and did not allow enough time for it to soak . Thanks for your knowledge.
Maybe I'm just biased because I've been removing popcorn the exact same way since 2006, but this is an excellent piece on the messy, but DIY friendly, job of removing popcorn. There were a couple things I saw that he did, but didn't mention in the video. If you'll notice, NO BLUE TAPE. Blue tape has a nasty habit of releasing when moisture is around, and the plastic gets a little heavier. This is especially true if you're applying spray knockdown afterwards. Also, start covering the floor first. Move furniture to the walls and cover the center of the room. Then you can bring everything that won't fit along the walls out to the center and drape it with plastic.
And a little tip - it's good to plan for the possibility of the tape removing some wall paint when you take it down.
Thank you for this. I just bought an airless sprayer and it's been sitting in the box. I can't wait to break it out for my ceilings. I was using a garden sprayer and it was so annoying. The spray wouldn't stay consistent and had to waste time pumping it. It didn't seem like it was really penetrating the popcorn so I scraped and created a lof of dust. I wasn't using a big enough knife either.
This video definitely motivated me to keep going with the rest of my tien home. I feel like I can scrape the rest of the place in the same amount of time that it took me to scrape just the living room
Thanks for the knowledge dude! My parents asked me if I could do this and I said “I can learn to do anything from RUclips.”
That’s possible through fellas like you who share your skill! 😎
Hey I hear you I also access RUclips all the time to learn things 😀
I saw this video a few months back finally did a few bedrooms in my house last night really works well thank you for teaching us !
This is super helpful. I have a very small bathroom with popcorn ceiling and you can imagine how ugly that looked after decades of moisture from hot showers. I thought about repairing the parts that peeled but this would actually be better overall. Thank you for the informational video!
Yes, I've scraped ceilings that were yellow from heavy smokers.
Took 10 or so videos but finally found a winner! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you too 😀
Glad to have you back Duke!!!!
Thank you so much for this video! Popcorn ceiling, here I come!🏃🏽♀️💪🏽
I’d love a chapter two, doing what needs to be done to the ceiling so it can be painted. I’ve already taken the popcorn off and I “know” what to do but I’m too scared to start.
@@cuztimewilltell Don't be afraid it really is as simple as it looks. Just keep your scraper nice and flat so it doesn't gouge the sheet rock. It's quite the shoulder workout so don't overdue it 😀
Thank you so much my house was built in 1979 & nothing has really ever been removed r remodeled til we got it 14 yrs ago. I just hate the popcorn ceilings & I enjoy doing the things to the house & yard myself so thanks again for sharing this video. I'm going to start cleaning out one room at a time so I can get started in my bathroom & bedroom first so I can get it done that way when I'm working on the rest of the house I know I will have someplace clean done to relax & sleep.
Just bought our first home with popcorn ceilings from the 80s I am super excited to get this down thanks for the tips this looks really awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Now I just need to learn to walk on stilts 😂
@@ritzbitz1905 might have asbestos
Excellent description on how to remove this. I rigged my paint pole to hold a 14" drywall knife and then have a piece of a old plastic tub lid I cut to hang under the knife that hooks to my shop vac. I had to get a longer hose for the vac but it makes cleanup almost nothing. I had a hard time getting this stuff off of a tile floor one time, is was stuck in the grout lines.
Thank you for all the knowledge on this , I have watched videos of people sanding and this seems alot easier. I'll be scraping some ceilings in my new home pretty soon now I'm actually looking forward to it. Much appreciated 🙏
This video helped me convince my mother-in-Law to let me scrape the acoustic off of her ceiling. I’m a painter and I told her I could do it for her and she didn’t believe me at first but now she does... mother-in-laws.... sheesh am I right? Thanks for this video Duke, you probably saved her a ton of money. 😂
Wow, I am about to do my brothers home and was really concerned about how to remove this stuff. Super grateful for this video it came in really handy and now tomorrow doesn't seem like such a big project. Thanks
This mans Gets my subscription no questions asked lol thanks for information really made things simple
Disposal steps unclear, found out it isn’t like ordinary popcorn (side note: next time add more butter and salt, the taste is very bland)
😂 😂🍻
Come on man not everyone needs their hand held...find out your local regulation says and dispose of it
Rm Rm it’s a joke my guy
@@rmrm1002 Can't even get a joke, smh.
Big whoosh
I don’t even have popcorn ceilings but I felt like I needed to watch this
Thank you so much for this video! I think I may have messed up just a bit but this was very informative and I'm so thankful for watching this to ensure I do not destroy any additional walls within my home.
Now this is who i want to learn from in a youtube video! Thank you!
I removed popcorn ceilings after watching your videos. I added distilled white vinegar (5 % acidity, found in the food aisle) to remove painted popcorn and it came right off.
THANK YOU! I've been looking for that tip, as have others. Will give this a go.
Thank you, thank you! I feel confident now....I'm ready to fix up my new home...you have positive vibes and great advice 🙌
I would love to see how much finishing is required to go back smooth and paint without texture
Just pudy coat it a couple times
Roll the mud on it’s not that hard
Awesome, awesome video! I'm doing this tomorrow in a rental I'm working on. Wetting it was my first idea too but I wasn't sure if I was crazy or not, so very happy to find this vid. The ease with which he's scraping this stuff off after water absorption settles the matter for me. Great work!
just put me on game for my first popcorn job I've avoided it for 4 years as a painter I was nervous but your sprayer idea is exactly what I'll do thank you so much sir
Thanks. I want to do this in our home. God bless you.
I guess this is where youtube got me at 1:30 am. I don't believe i'll ever have to scrape ceilings, but you better believe i'll remember those tips just in case.
Many thanks here.
This can be asbestos-containing and where I am from these types of materials have to be tested before removal. Also needs to be tested for disposal or else landfill wouldnt accept it
This was really informative and how nice of you to share your inside info!! That's the hardest thing when doing it yourself is knowledge and problems that may arise that you don't think of.
I was quoted $6500 to remove from 840 sq feet. Cost of buying stilts and sprayer less than $500. This was the best video our there, saved me a ton of $$$
Wow $6500 that's almost $8.00 a square ft. Talk about taking advantage of people. 🤔
Thank you for making this video I feel like I just learned so much. I always wanted to know how this was done and what it would take to get it off as well. This was pretty cool to watch .
Thank you for this video Duke! I always thought popcorn was sprayed on ceilings to cover deficiencies in the drywall process. What a relief to know ceilings are smooth underneath! Just bought a house and it has popcorn ceilings which I am not a fan. I'm going to scrape it off! :) Q: what do you suggest to do before applying paint to a ceiling that has 45 years of popcorn? Is a primer enough? Thank you.
Can't care less about the subject(no offense) but just watched the whole thing because I love listening to Buff Dad. You rock man 🤟🤟 peeling off was exactly quite satisfying to see.
Thankyou 😀
This is by far the best video I’ve seen yet on this! Thank you!
You make it look so easy. My house was built in 1978 and has this in every room! I hope my project goes smoothly!
Did you make sure there was no asbestos?
How did it go?
I'm just putting a panelled ceiling over mine. Always been a woodworker (since I was 4 years old) so I like everything wood.
Awesome tip. I did this the same way but with a pump sprayer. Thanks man.
You're very welcome Gerald, I know I used a pump sprayer a lot then thought, "wait a sec" 😀
Thank you so much for this video! I knew that it could be done, but missed the wetting part! You saved us SOOOOOO much!
Thank you for this diy video!! Never thought about spraying the ceiling with water before but of course, it makes total sense 😊 Now I can finish scraping my bathroom ceiling...
Thank you very much. Moving into "new" home that has these ceilings. Professional quoted me crazy money to replace ceiling drywall all around the house. Apparently there is something I can try to diy myself ❤😊
Fantastic how to video! 👍Very informative, professional and easy to follow! Thank you so much for creating this!
Clear and to the point. Great video! 👍🏼
Most satisfying work ever, i would do this for living. No doubt.
I sprayed mine with semi gloss paint and it looks pretty good. Has a little shine to it and for me that was the most practical way of giving it a change.
Never thought of using my sprayer to wet it, I’ve always done it with a Hudson pump sprayer. This is an awesome tip!!!
The Asbestos warning should be the first thing on this video, please be safe🙏
I agree, my father died of mesothelioma.
That man definitely should be wearing a respirator
I agree. I worked 1 week last year in abatement and they found a nodule in my chest in a x ray test. But it says that it's not asbestos in my chest. Something else.
@@brianticas7671 that's scary i work apartment maintenance in older construction going to get tested for that stuff
He doesn’t have any mask on or proper goggles my god
Great video, thanks for the tips! Do you have any tips for how to get water to penetrate better when the ceilings been painted? Also, I’ve seen a lot of people suggest mixing detergent with the water, do you have opinions on that?
Just one question, don’t u worry about asbestos when scraping it off since it’s built in late 1970s?
No asbestos in popcorn. didn't come out until the late eighties
@@clambumper6993 asbestos was phased out of popcorn ceilings in 1978. Wouldn't be surprised if it's in that ceiling. But the moisture should lock it in and keep it out of his lungs
@Lynda then they can't afford to have it removed..... We def have moved into the world of bubble people.
@Moonchild No silly, first determine when it was built.
Thank you good sir for the wealth of knowledge. I just purchased a '72 built bungalow and this is the first thing I'll be doing post possession
Great video, his explaining of the process for putting it on with the glitter back in the day gave me the confidence the ceiling wasn't painted. Bought one of those special scrapers with the bag catch, would not recommend it, not that easy to control and catching the popcorn puts a bit of weight to the process, good basic scraper did the trick. Also play around with how much water to apply (applied too much in beginning) and time to wait is important, I waited 5 plus minutes, I did it in smaller sections rather the wetting whole ceiling, basic sized bedroom took about an hours and half. Put something on floor, place will be a mess otherwise.
These videos are so satisfying! Keep up the good work ⚔️
Thanks Arvid 😀
Thank you for this detailed video. The idea of removing popcorn ceiling was sounding daunting and I was about to paint over it, but this has helped me avoid what sounds like a real mistake!
Thanks for the video tutorial! Great tips. After removal can you sand, prime & paint or does the ceiling need to be floated with drywall mud first?
Would also love to know this!
I CREATED THIS PROCESS IN '88, THO MINE IS FASTER, YOUR ON THE RIGHT TRACK ... DID YOU WORK FOR ME?? LOL!
Awesome video!! Never removed one before in over 22 years of painting but this makes it look doable!
Now...IF there is someone here who thinks nah, I'l paint mine...PRIME WITH OIL PRIMER FIRST! That will seal the popcorn surface THEN the water based ceiling paint won't soften it making it fall off.
Awesome video, so gratifying to see that stuff come off. *DANGER- ELECTRIC SHOCK RISK* I can't search the comments to see if anyone else mentioned it, but it's also worth noting that if the lights are 3 way (two switches controlling them) 4 way (three switches controlling) you need to turn off the power at the breaker. There will always be power in the box even after you turn off one of the switches. That's the nature of this type of set up. Also, it is amusing how many people comment that he doesn't warn about asbestos, which he absolutely does. Why comment if you don't watch the video?
Everyone likes a gotcha, I guess? But you are correct, circuit breaker is the way to go.
I was referring to the asbestos comments, not your valid electric concerns when I mention "gotcha".